General information

The project is co-funded by the "Europe for Citizens" programme of the European Union.

The aim of the BIDS project is to stimulate the involvement of local communities in formulating and understanding the policy concerning the development of the Danube strategy which the EU is bringing out in 2010. The partners in this project are convinced that there needs to be an awareness of the stakes for the local population of the Lower Danube region, and the messages of central government need to be adapted to a more explicit dialogue with civil society. The project relates on a bottom-up approach to generate useful and relevant project proposals to implement the strategy. Local communities can learn through this experience how best to understand EU policy formulation, how to inform themselves and contribute views in a timely fashion and how to develop structures at local level which can remain involved in policy implementation. The project will involve questionnaires, press editorial coverage of the subject and panel sessions in three major cities along the Danube.