EUROPE DIRECT centers actively and continuously engage citizens to ensure their greater identification with the European project. By organizing information and civic engagement activities, EUROPE DIRECT centers enable citizens to make informed decisions about the future of the EU by fully participating in the European democratic process.

By developing a better understanding of how the EU and its parliamentary democracy work and for which issues the EU is responsible, EUROPE DIRECT centers raise citizens’ awareness of the benefits of the EU they enjoy on a daily basis, while highlighting its added value.

EUROPE DIRECT centers help to identify aspects of EU policies that are important at local level and can design messages and activities that respond to local needs. Through outreach and civic engagement activities, the EUROPE DIRECT centers help prepare the ground for the Commission’s and Parliament’s strategic political priorities.

EUROPE DIRECT centers also listen to citizens’ expectations and enable the provision of feedback to the EU institutions.

EUROPE DIRECT centers cooperate closely with Commission representations and liaison offices of the European Parliament (hereinafter referred to as “EP liaison offices”) in individual member states. They also seek cooperation with other EU information and advice networks and local contact points, including relevant local networks (where they exist), and promote exchanges between them as well as their coordination.

Five main tasks

• Task 1: Informing and involving citizens
• Task 2: Relations with national and/or local media and multipliers
• Task 3: Awareness of sensitive EU topics at the local level
• Task 4: EU in schools
• Task 5: Support of the regional network of networks