EIT Supports Innovation Ecosystem in Europe: Sasha Bezuhanova
Ms.Bezuhanova, an EIT Board Member, has presented the the institute's work during an international academic conference in Bulgaria.
A programme engaged with the standing European questions and the challenges faced by the European Union. Within this programme we have conducted conferences, discussions, and debates about the Bulgarian citizens’ position and role in the European integration process. The results of the programme have been summarised in Move BG’s publication “Visions for Europe: the Bulgarian Perspective of the European Priorities”. Image: ©️European Union - source EC.
The programme “You Move Europe” aimed to address the unresolved European issues and challenges the European Union faces, focusing on the role and contribution of Bulgaria and its citizens to the European process. In the context of the European elections and the appointment of the new European leadership, MOVE.BG sought the Bulgarian interpretation and expert analysis of the most important European questions and issues with the intention to be actively engaged in the public debate on the future directions of the EU and discuss the forms and mechanisms of civil participation.
The planned activities and initiatives within the programme were meant to contribute to the ongoing debate in Europe on the need of feasible reforms to be adopted and implemented so that the European Union could be more effective in tackling the social, economic and political challenges, taking into account the national and public specificities. Being deeply convinced that as Bulgarian and European citizens the European Union is our responsibility, we also believe that we must be active participants in the formulation of clear recommendations and messages on the future of Europe. This is why, our efforts within our three-month programme were focused on awareness-raising initiatives and the promotion of civic engagement on important European topics.
In the course of the months prior to the EU elections MOVE.BG organised several in-house debates with experts and citizens with the possibility for online participation and attendance. The topics covered the main issues of the European democratic process and the dimensions of our European citizenship, the opposing views on more or less European integration as well as the benefits and costs for Bulgaria and its citizens of being part of the EU. Our organisation also sought out the youth perspective on the opportunities and initiatives that Europe and Bulgaria offer to the young travelers and active European citizens.
As part of the European Programme, MOVE.BG carried out an online promo campaign “You Move Europe", which aimed at encouraging Bulgarian citizens to describe their idea of how they move Europe forward by uploading a photo on our website. In the course of the campaign more than 50 ideas for the country's contribution to Europe were collected, which were finally presented at the exhibition on the Day of Europe on May 9th, 2014 at MOVE.BG's home.
The conference "Visions for Europe" was the closing event of MOVE.BG’s European Programme "You Move Europe" which aimed to seek together with Bulgarian experts and partners sustainable solutions and models for the future development of the European Union and the role of Bulgaria. The participants addressed important questions related to the integration process and presented different perceptions and visions for the European Union, outlining the possible directions for Europe’s future and our European membership.
The conference presented the Bulgarian perspective of the socio-economic and geopolitical challenges facing Europe, the role of democracy and civil participation, emphasizing the need for a more pro-active position of our country in overcoming those challenges. The focus of the panels were the economic challenges and deepening economic disparities between Member States, the risks facing the regional and global influence and role of the EU, the energy policy and the question of a common European foreign and defense policy.
The Open Society Institute annual report of the project “The Catch-up index” was also presented at the conference where the cluster analysis made it clear that there is “catching up” between the new and old Member states, but it is still not sufficient. The index demonstrates the progress (or regress) of a country compared to a total of 35 European countries in four basic categories: Economy, Democracy, Quality of Life and Governance.
The conference was organized in partnership with the "Open Society" Institute, The Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria and www.euinside.eu.
As a result of the conference MOVE.BG will prepare a publication with the main messages, conclusions and recommendations shared at the conference.
In MOVE.BG we believe that the European path is the only way for Bulgaria, therefore we will continue to work on the topic of Europe in our future initiatives and activities.
Thirteen Bulgarian experts define the future of the EU by sharing their views on several priorities and policies where the EU can play a significant role. They formulate concrete messages that contribute to the search of a new common reading of the European development path. With this valuable expertise MOVE.BG reaffirms the importance attributed to the European topic in its mission and activities, offering a platform to both experts and progressive citizens to seek and find together adequate, balanced and long-term solutions for the country and society on the basis of a consensus and common action for the development of Bulgaria and Europe.
"Visions of Europe: the Bulgarian Perspective of the European Priorities" is the first MOVE.BG publication on European issues and comes as a natural continuation of the ‘You Move Euope’ Programme and the ‘Visions for Europe’ Conference, the latter being organised on the eve of the European Elections of 2014.
