The «Diversity Project» was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme "Europe for Citizens"
Applicable to the Strand 2 – Measure 2.2 "Networks of Towns" Measure 2.3 "Civil Society Projects" Strand 1 – "European Rememberance" 20 events have been carried out within this project:
Event 1 Participation: The event involved 155,659 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 3/10/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Is the EU turning into ‘Fortress Europe’ for migrants?”, was to provoke discussion on Europe’s migrant crisis one year after the Lampedusa tragedy, in which a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank with the loss of over 360 lives. We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Cécile Kyenge MEP • Ska Keller MEP • Dr. Carlos Vargas-Silva, a senior researcher at Oxford University’s Centre on Migration Policy and Society (COMPAS)
Event 2 Participation: The event involved 52,148 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 20/10/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Are young Europeans becoming racist and bigoted?” was to ask young Europeans whether they are growing more intolerant and close-minded about diversity. We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Sajjad Karim MEP • Androulla Vassiliou, then EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth
Event 3 Participation: The event involved 113,133 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 4/11/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate was to discuss “Should EU migrants be required to pass language tests?” It looked at freedom of movement within the EU, and the barriers to integration (such as language). In particular, it asked whether language tests should be a requirement before moving to another European country. We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Marian Harkin MEP • Brian Hayes MEP • Claire Fernandez, Deputy Director of Policy at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) • Remus Pricopie, the Romanian Minister of Education
Event 4 Participation: The event involved 12,548 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 24/11/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Is the European crisis leading to greater racism in the workplace?” was to look at diversity in the workplace, and whether austerity and economic crisis were placing pressure on that diversity. We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Kari Käsper, co-founder and the Executive Director of the Estonian Human Rights Centre • Claire Fernandez, Deputy Director of Policy at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Event 5 Participation: The event involved 194,667 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 9/12/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the event “Should English be the only official language of the EU?” was to look at linguistic diversity within the European Union. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this diversity? Would it be easier to have one official EU language? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Androulla Vassiliou, then EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth • Patricia Ryan, a language teacher at Zayed University in Dubai
Event 6 Participation: The event involved 77,742 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 19/1/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Does ethnic diversity cause conflict?” was to look at whether diverse societies are more peaceful than homogeneous ones. Does ethnic diversity lead to instability, or is it a source of dynamism and resilience? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham • Bashy Quraishy, a Danish-Pakistani author and campaigner who specialises in issues of minority rights
Event 7 Participation: The event involved 133,579 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 26/1/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Is tolerance born or learnt?” was to examine the origins of intolerance. Are children naturally intolerant, or is it something they learn from adults? If so, how can tolerance be best promoted to young people? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Pascale Mompoint-Gaillard, Pedagogical Consultant for the Pestalozzi Programme of the Council of Europe • Dr Richard Harris, Associate Professor at the Institute of Education of the University of Reading • Ildikó Lázár, Lecturer in Foreign Language Teaching & Communication and Intercultural Competence Development at the Department of English Language Pedagogy of Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest
Event 8 Participation: The event involved 115,301 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 2/2/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Should people keep their religious beliefs private?” was to look at religious diversity and secularism in European society. How should religion interact with the public sphere? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers -
• Alan Murray, President of the European Network on Religion and Beliefs • Elsa Ray, from the Collectif Contre l’Islamophobie en France (CCIF) • Robin Sclafani, Director of CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe…..Is the EU turning into “Fortress Europe” for migrants?
Event 9 Participation: The event involved 1,129 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 9/2/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Why are so many European politicians middle-aged, white men?” was to look at ethnic, generational, and gender diversity in politics. How can greater diversity in politics be promoted? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Tibor Navracsics, former Hungarian Foreign Minister and the current European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport • Victor Negrescu MEP
Event 10 Participation: The event involved 45,746 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 3/3/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Should there be quotas to ensure ethnic diversity in the media?” was to look at diversity in European media. Should there be quotas in place to ensure greater diversity, or are there better ways to guarantee better representation of minorities? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Samantha Asumadu, a documentary filmmaker who campaigns for greater media diversity in the UK and is founder of the website Media Diversified • Anne-Claire Orban, a media educator based in Belgium
Event 11 Participation: The event involved 61,990 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 26/3/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Is interculturalism a better social model than assimilation?” was to look at different models of integration, comparing and contrasting “interculturalism” with “assimilation”. Should societies try to assimilate minorities? Or is it better to promote integration while preserving minority identities? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Daniel De Torres Barderi, former Commissioner for Immigration and Interculturality at the city of Barcelona • Christy Burke, Lord Mayor of Dublin • Mirna Safi, Research Fellow at the Institut d’études politiques de Paris
Event 12 Participation: The event involved 27,255 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 8/4/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Should the EU do more to support young people from ethnic minorities?” was to look at poverty and exclusion among young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and examined what the EU is doing (and what it should do) to provide support. We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Luis Alvarado Martínez, Vice President of the European Youth Forum • Ewelina Baliko, Attorney’s Assistant at the European Foundation of Human Rights.
Event 13 Participation: The event involved 59 citizens, involving participants from across the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Belgium and France. Location / Dates: The event took place at the University of Maastricht’s Brussels campus on 15/4/2015. Short description: This debate consisted of a livestreamed event, co-hosted by Debating Europe and the Student Forum Maastricht looking at multiculturalism, asylum and migration. Taking part in the panel discussion, and answering live questions from young Europeans, were Rebecca Harms MEP, Marian-Jean Marinescu MEP, Michael Theurer MEP, and Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE).
Event 14 Participation: The event involved 21,083 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 19/5/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “How can we tackle unemployment among Europe’s Roma?” was to look at poverty and social exclusion among Europe’s Roma population. What is being done to reduce unemployment among Roma and improve life chances, and what more can be done? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Andrey Ivanov, Head of Sector responsible for Roma and migrant integration at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) • Astrid Thors, the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Event 15 Participation: The event involved 93,098 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 26/5/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Does high unemployment make people more racist? was to look at whether the economic crisis led to greater intolerance towards diversity. Do people become more close-minded when they perceive that society’s resources are limited? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Emanuel Ksiazkiewicz, a young Swedish politician with the Social Democrat party in Botkyrka municipality • Dr. Robin Wilson, a leading European policy analyst and expert on intercultural dialogue
Event 16 Participation: The event involved 128,285 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 4/6/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Where should the limits to freedom of speech be set?” was to look at freedom of speech and hate speech. What is acceptable in modern political discourse? Are some ideas and policies completely taboo? Who draws the line? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Paul Coleman, Senior Legal Counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International • Valentin Le Dily, Chief Legal Officer of the French anti-racism organisation SOS Racisme • Bridget O’Loughlin, Campaign Coordinator of the No Hate Speech Movement for the Council of Europe
Event 17 Participation: The event involved 63,354 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 15/6/2015 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Should recent EU migrants be denied entitlement to welfare?” was to look at the question of so-called “welfare tourism”, presenting facts and evidence suggesting it is largely a myth. Would clamping down on freedom of movement harm the economy, instead of providing financial benefits to society?
We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Martin Kahanec, Scientific Director and Research Fellow from the Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI) We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers -
Event 18 Participation: The event involved 142,524 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 2/7/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “How can Europe better integrate immigrants?” was to look at integration of migrants into society. What is the best way to facilitate that transition? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Dr. Robin Wilson, a leading European policy analyst and expert on intercultural dialogue • Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers -
Event 19 Participation: The event involved 67,627 citizens, involving participants from across the whole of the EU. Location / Dates: The event took place online, from 31/8/2014 to 31/3/2016 Short description: The aim of the online debate “Should minority languages be given legal protection and subsidies?” was to look at linguistic diversity across Europe. How can this diversity be protected and fostered, and who should pay for it? We put questions from our community of citizens to the following experts and policymakers • Tanel Kerikmäe, Director of Tallinn Law School in Estonia • Rafael Ribó, the Catalan Ombudsman
Event 20 Participation: The event involved 57 citizens, involving participants from Malta. Location / Dates: The event took place at the European Commission delegation in Malta, on 29/9/2015. Short description: The aim of the event “How should Europe respond to the refugee crisis?” was to look at Europe’s response to the refugee crisis. Has the response been effective? And what steps should be taken now? Taking part in the live panel discussion, and answering questions from young Europeans, were • • • •
Carmelo Abela, Malta’s Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Miriam Dalli, MEP for Malta, Socialists & Democrats Roberta Metsola, MEP for Malta, European People’s Party Mark Micallef, Chief Editor of Migrant Report