COMMUNE DE STRASBOURG

description of organisation

As European Capital, seat of several European institutions such as the Council of Europe and the
European Parliament, the City of Strasbourg aims at promoting the European ideals such as
intercultural dialogue, the defense of Human Rights and education to the European citizenship. In
that perspective, the City of Strasbourg European and International strategy for 2014-2020 stresses
the importance of the definition of concrete projects, which would make it possible to:
- illustrate the city's will to make the most of its cross-border territory in terms of attractivity and the
building of a political project for Europe.
- reinforce the city's partnership with the European institutions in order to affirm their central position
within the city and make them accessible by all the citizens.
- highlight the city's capacity to promote exchanges of mutual experiences.
- reinforce the participation of citizens in the definition and realisation of the European and
International strategic actions.

In conformity with the City of Strasbourg European and International strategy, the following actions
have already been regularly implemented:
- Since May 2010, the City of Strasbourg has been working in close partnership with the Council of
Europe to develop joint actions in areas which include the promotion of democracy, Human Rights,
education to citizenship. In this respect, the City of Strasbourg co-organises the World Forum for
Democracy, in partnership with the Council of Europe and the Région Grand Est. This event is an annual
gathering of leaders, opinion-makers, civil society activists, representatives of business, academics
and professional groups to debate key challenges for democracies worldwide. In 2017 the forum
theme was : " The role of political parties and media in the context of rising populism", and in 2018
“Gender equality: whose battle?”.

With the Council of Europe Youth Service and with the European Youth Center, the City of
Strasbourg works on the promotion of the "No hate Speech Movement" among young citizens from
Strasbourg. This Youth Campaign aims at reducing the levels of acceptance of hate speech and to
develop youth participation and citizenship, including in Internet governance processes.

- Every year in May, the City of Strasbourg organises the "Festival of Europe" in partnership with the
European institutions, the Information Centre on European Institutions (CIIE) and local associations
promoting the European ideals. The Festival provides an excellent opportunity to experience and
learn about European unity and its fundamental values through a host of cultural and sport events, as
well as debates. The Strasbourg Lieu d'Europe, where an important part of these actions take place,
plays a major role in the definition and realisation of the Festival actions. In this framework,
Strasbourg welcomed more than 9 000 young Europeans in 2018 during the "European Youth
Event" (EYE) organised with the European Parliament. It was the 3rd edition.

- Last but not least, the City of Strasbourg works in partnership with the European Parliament to raise
awareness of the Sakharov Prize, awarded each year to honour exceptional individuals who combat
intolerance, fanaticism and oppression. The 2018 Sakharov Prize was awarded to the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov.

Volunteering project