“Live Here. Speak, Hear.” – a voice for EU citizens in Brussels

Pascal Smet, Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, launched a new platform aimed at allowing EU citizens living in Brussels to express their opinion as regards issues in the Belgian, and European capital.

“Smet is in favour of a United States of Europe, where people would be able to vote in the place they live. But until then, this is a way to gauge how European citizens feel about the Brussels region,” we could read last week in The Bulletin.

For Jean-Louis Hanff, JEF Brussels’ president, the richness of Brussels lies in its 190 nationalities. Seat of the European institutions, our capital shines every day with its diversity, in particular its multiculturality, which anchors our city-region in the reality of the 21st century.

As JEF, we work every day for a European construction by the citizen and for the citizen, dreaming of a more concrete Europe, close to the people and truly inclusive, allowing everyone to have a voice. Convinced that citizens must express themselves more than every 5 or 6 years on a Sunday, we support any initiative from municipalities or the region which would promote the expression of all citizens, whether they are Belgian or not. Municipalities like Ixelles or Etterbeek, for example, have set up advisory councils for European and even non-European citizens, so let’s go one step further.

We therefore applaud the “Live here. Speak, hear.” platform set up by Pascal Smet, which is a real step forward. JEF will always support any initiative that burst the bubbles and bring all Brussels residents closer together.

#BrusselsVoice

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Happy Europe Day!

“The unity of Europe was the dream of a few. She has become the hope of many. Today it is a necessity for all.”

These words, which are those of Konrad Adenauer, former German Chancellor and one of the founding fathers of European construction, take on particular importance on this Europe Day. What could have been only a dream, a utopia at the end of the Second World War is now a necessity: climatic, health, migration, social, fiscal issues … show us that it is only together that we can go further.

As young people, it is on a daily basis that we commit ourselves to a Europe that is more ambitious, more united, but also closer to its citizens: so many struggles that must be placed at the heart of this project.

Equality of opportunities, inclusiveness, acceptance of everyone, citizen participation must be realities for all Europeans, much more than just slogans.

It is up to our generation to propose a new vision of European construction. Together, we are ready to take up this challenge!

Jean-Louis Hanff, JEF Brussels’ President –

From JEF Belgium and all its local sections, we wish you a happy and sunny Europe day!

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