EUNITY – European Citizens Brotherhoods Express and Nurture the Europe’s Future they Want is a Town Twinning project funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme. The project brings together municipalities, civil society organisations, and citizens from Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Italy to strengthen European cooperation and encourage citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of Europe.

Built on the principles of solidarity, democracy, and intercultural dialogue, EUNITY creates opportunities for citizens from different countries and backgrounds to meet, exchange experiences, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Europe today. Through a series of transnational events, citizen-led debates, thematic workshops, cultural exchanges, study visits, and collaborative activities, participants engage in meaningful dialogue on key topics including democracy, peace, social cohesion, climate action, and youth engagement.

As a Town Twinning initiative, EUNITY promotes long-term partnerships between municipalities and local communities, encouraging the exchange of good practices and strengthening mutual understanding across borders. By fostering active citizenship, democratic participation, and a shared sense of European identity, the project empowers citizens to contribute to more inclusive, resilient, and connected communities while helping shape a stronger and more united Europe for future generations.

Objectives

• Strengthen European identity and active citizenship by encouraging citizens to engage in dialogue on the future of Europe and participate actively in democratic processes.
• Promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding by bringing together citizens from different European countries to exchange experiences, perspectives, and good practices.
• Foster democratic participation and European values by creating inclusive spaces for discussions on democracy, peace, solidarity, human rights, and the rule of law.
• Enhance cooperation between municipalities and civil society organisations through Town Twinning activities that support long-term partnerships and community engagement across Europe.
• Encourage citizen-led solutions to common European challenges by facilitating debates and collaborative activities on social cohesion, climate action, youth engagement, and inclusion.
• Develop policy recommendations reflecting citizens’ voices through participatory discussions and transnational exchanges, culminating in the Citizens’ Brotherhoods Manifesto to support a more inclusive, democratic, and resilient Europe.

EVENTS

Work Package 1: Debatable Europe’s We Want Citizens-Driven Conference: “Let’s Shape our Tomorrow Together, Validating our Citizens’ Voices for Europe’s Future”

The Debatable Europe’s We Want Citizens-Driven Conference was held in Kastoria and Siatista, Greece, from 18–20 May 2026. The conference brought together citizens, local authorities, youth representatives, civil society organisations, and stakeholders from Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Italy to engage in meaningful dialogue on the future of Europe.

Implemented under Work Package 1, the conference was structured around the project’s five thematic pillars—democracy, peace, social cohesion, climate action, and youth engagement. Through citizen-led debates, thematic discussions, political culture exchanges, cultural activities, and study visits, participants shared experiences, identified common European challenges, and developed recommendations reflecting citizens’ expectations for a more democratic, inclusive, and united Europe.

The event provided an inclusive platform for intercultural dialogue, active citizenship, and cross-border cooperation, while strengthening partnerships between municipalities and local communities through the Town Twinning approach. The outcomes of the conference directly contributed to the development of the Citizens’ Brotherhoods Manifesto Policy Brief, ensuring that citizens’ voices and recommendations were incorporated into the project’s policy outputs and future vision for Europe.