Descrescere e Stili di Vita, Sostenibilità Ambientale, Partecipazione e Convivialità… in Europa!

The project starts: 01/09/2008 The project ends: 31/07/2009

The present proposal aims at offering to all the citizens (involving different generations and people with different walks of life) and civil society (associations, NGOs, citizens groups, etc.) an opportunity to reflect, discuss, debate - both at the local and at the European level - the most vivid topics related to ecology and environment, in order to promote new lifestyles that facilitate social cohesion and sustainable development.

• To promote citizens' participation at the local level, raising awareness on the importance of their active role in the policies related to environment;
• To inform citizens and civil society organisations on the main environmental policies of the European Union;
• To encourage new lifestyles and to promote sustainable development in Europe, creating a positive impact on the daily lives of all the citizens involved;
• To develop networking and cooperation on environmental issues at the European level (cross-border cooperation).

The project will be implemented in 3 different countries, two Member States (Italy and Austria) and 1 official candidate (Croatia), granting an added value related to the EU enlargement.

The present proposal is addressed to all the citizens of the local communities involved; particular attention is given to the involvement of different generations and a particular effort will be guaranteed to promote equal opportunities for all: at least 470 persons will be directly involved in the activities while we estimate to reach indirectly almost 6.000.

The project, which lasts 11 months, from September 2008 to July 2009, is structured in 5 different main phases:

• a coordination meeting of the partners, to plan and define in details the whole organization of the activities and to exchange ideas and opinions;
•  the 4 local workshops, to raise awareness on environmental issues at he local level;
• the International final workshop, to disseminate the results of the activities carried out at local level, gather and discuss experiences and best practices;
• the publication, structured as a hand-book that could serve as a tool for multiplying the effects of the proposal;
• the final evaluation meeting, including the exchange on he follow-up of the action.

The main expected outcomes of the proposals are:

• Citizens' awareness about environmental issues, promoting a methodology based on their active participation;
• Relations and partnerships at the European level;
• Exchange of experiences, best practices and policies at the European level in the field of environment.