Jena, September 11, 2026. – Students presented the results of the European CERV project “CITIZEN – European Perspectives: Citizens shape the future” at the Jena City Hall. Accompanied by their teacher Pascual Moderegger and Dr. Oliver Thümer from the association Recht in Europa, they presented their recommendations to Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche.
- Who: 12th-grade students from Jena and project partners
- What: Presentation of policy papers on European future topics
- Where: Jena City Hall
- Background: European CERV citizens’ project with partner cities
Focus on the results of the policy papers
As part of the project, citizens were surveyed about their expectations of democracy. Based on this, the young people developed concrete policy papers. The papers contain central recommendations in the following areas:
- Migration and social coexistence
- Strengthening democratic participation
- Promoting European identity
- Gender equality in politics
The findings emphasize that accessible information, political education, and genuine opportunities for participation are essential to secure the trust of young people in political processes.
Significance for local democracy
Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche explicitly praised the commitment of the young people. “Europe and democracy thrive on people getting involved and contributing their perspectives,” he emphasized during the meeting at the City Hall. He noted that the direct exchange between young people and local decision-makers is an important building block for a vibrant and sustainable urban society.
The CERV project connects Jena with cities in Romania (Timișoara), Slovenia (Izola), Greece (Kifissia), and Ukraine (Brovary). The cross-border exchange is intended to continue throughout the project to learn from one another and develop shared perspectives.
Further information, project backgrounds, and the complete policy papers are available on the official project website at citizenforyou.eu/.
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Understanding Democracy: Background on European Politics
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Background: The CERV Program
The EU program CERV (“Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values”) funds projects that support the protection and promotion of EU rights and values. By involving citizens at the local level, the program aims to strengthen awareness of the European Union and its democratic foundations.
Source:
Young people bring European perspectives to the Jena City Hall
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