Maicen Ekman, Hélène Clark and Åke Gustavsson. Photo: Christine Cars-Ingels.

At the 5th of November the conferences appeal was handed over to Hélène Clark and Judit Safrany, at the European Commissions’ directorate of Education and Culture, and to the Swedish Members of EU Parliament Cecilia Wikström (FP) and Göran Färm (S).

The response was very positive, especially the proposition to launch an adult education initiative, that invests in the education and learning of citizens, where shown a great interest.

Göran Färm accentuated that the appeal races important issues at the right moment and said that now it is time to influence the Swedish Government before the European Councils decision of a new Lisbon strategy (March 2010). He also thought that it is possible to have an impact on the EU budget for 2011 so that non-formal adult learning is given a higher priority within the field of Education.

Hélène Clark said that the adult education initiative would fit the EU and both the Swedish Members of EU Parliament explain themselves to be ready to act as ambassadors for such an initiative.

The appeal was initially handed over at the conference to the EU minister of Sweden, Cecilia Malmström. She agreed that non-formal adult education can play an important role to promote active citizenship in Europe. Cecilia Malmström emphasized that Swedish non-formal adult education organisations are important channels between citizens and decision makers. She explained that this is why the Swedish Government has given extra funds to the organisations to arrange Europe related activities.

Download the appeal here, appeal_EN and in easy read English here, Appell_lattlast_engelska.

Medborgarskolans Dance to Democracy was a much appreciated part of the conference. Dance to Democracy consists of young peopole who have danced all over Sweden to convince the citizens to vote in the European elections. Medborgarskolan then had a competition where the winning contribution went to Gothenburg and danced before the conference. Watch Uppsala, the winning dance movie and more, here.

The photos are taken by Salla Järvinen.

You can download the US expert Niklas Nordströms presentation of Active Citizenship in the US here. The presentation is related to the Barack Obama campaign, his methods and what we can learn by it in Europe.

Download the presentation here, Active_Citizenship_in_the_US.

The photo is taken by Salla Järvinen.

Active Citizenship in Europe was a European non formal adult education conference which took place at the Musem of World Culture in Gothenburg with a total of 400 participants, on September 29-30 2009. The participants came from around twenty different countries, from non formal adult education organisations, other NGOs, civil servants and decision makers from municipalities, regions, the Swedish parliament, the European Commission and Europe Direct offices. Organisations such as SALAR, the City of Göteborg and the municipaliy of Västra Götaland, the European Economic and Social Committe and the European Commission were among the partner organisations. On this page you can find all material from the conference and information on how SAEA c0ntinues to promote active citizenship in Europe.