CAMELOT (Cities and Metropolis in Europe Labouring Onward Together) is a project developed in the framework of the Europe for Citizens Programme. The project stems from the need to tackle Euroscepticism and to encourage democratic and civic participation of citizens at a European level, by developing citizens’ understanding of the Union policy making process and promoting opportunities for societal and intercultural engagement and volunteering.

To that end, the project seeks to shorten the distance between citizens and the different European funding mechanisms available in order to facilitate their active participation, their understanding of the matter and to foster a feeling of inclusion and proximity to Europe. This will be achieved through a partnership between nine European Metropolises, that will work together as a network.

Description: More and more… citizens of Europe through Camelot

The final conference of the international project took place in Milan
The great international adventure of Camelot project (Cities And Metropolis in Europe Laboring Onward Together) ended on Thursday 16 February at Palazzo Isimbardi, the institutional headquarter of the Metropolitan City of Milan.

The goals
The project has been developed in the framework of the Europe for Citizens Programme, to tackle Euroscepticism and to encourage democratic and civic participation of citizens at a European level, by developing the understanding of the Union policy making process and promoting engagement and volunteering. A deeper knowledge of the Eu institution to be more aware citizens, thorough a new feeling of inclusion and proximity to Europe.

148.680 euro available, 36 months of work, 9 European partners and 500 people involved: financed by the  Europe for Citizens Programme 2014-2020,  Camelot has been a network activity, in which different metropolitan areas have been involved (Metropolitan City of Milan, as project leader, Area Metropolitana do Porto, Verband Region Stuttgart, Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Association des Agences de la Democratie Locale – Strasbourg, Grad Zagreb, Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area, Metropolitan City of Bari, Consiliul local al municipiului Craiova).

Through these activities, as we learnt during the final conference, it has been possible to to strengthen the network of metropolitan cities, to exchange experiences and good practices on the management of European funds, stimulating consciences to understand how the correct use of European funding can improve citizens’ lives even in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

The tools

Different multilingual tools have been used in the project:  thecamelotproject.net website (available in English, Italian, Croatian, German, Polish and Romanian) which describes the project, shows the metropolitan areas involved and schedules the events promoted in 36 months of work; social channels; a video report and a publication. Beyond this communicative activity, the project has been developed through international conferences, targeted local activities, seminars and workshops, which have involved the various local stakeholders (citizens, students, universities, economic operators), stimulating participation and civic awareness.

The general director and secretary of the Metropolitan city of Milan, Antonio Sebastiano Purcaro, has opened the final conference and welcomed the partner on behalf of the Metropolitan Major: “Today we’re concluding this project, which has been able to promote eight events ad lots of local activities, despite the pandemics. Camelot has favoured the cooperation between active citizens and public bodies   in the process of building a metropolitan European identity. Actually, the Metropolitan city of Milan has, among its fundamental functions, the development of relations with other European cities. So a European network has been created, sharing needs and opportunities, in the perspective of collaboration and cohesion.  Thanks to all the European partners for the wonderful cooperation”.

Servizio comunicazione Città metropolitana
stampa@cittametropolitana.milano.it
Valentina Pagani