Deadline: 17 February 2014
Open to: participants from the Council of Europe countries, priority will be given to nominations from young delegates (under 30 years old) with a minority background
Venue: 7-12 April, Athens, Greece
Description
In May 2014, a few months from now, the 28 EU countries will vote for a new European Parliament. Populist and extremist parties tell you they don’t like Europe, whilst at the same time doing everything to win more European influence. A shift towards a more extremist EU parliament is expected. This will have a major impact on the policies of the EU and its neighbouring countries. It will lead to more hate speech, to worse treatment of migrants and minorities, to more division across the continent.
“Your vote can UNITE” Campaigning against Populism and Racism offers you the opportunity to get involved in the UNITE campaigns against extremist and populist parties and movements. The conference will tackle questions such as: What can you do against intolerance, racism, and xenophobia? How can you become active on a European level or in your own country? How can you get involved in our European campaign?
Practice and theory are offered. A series of methods, trainings, lectures, (political) debates for people from all over Europe: the EU, Russia, Balkans and Caucasus will be organized. Participants from all these regions are invited to apply for this conference. The conference will take place near Athens (GR) and will start on Monday 7 April 2014 at 18:00 with a transfer from Athens to the venue. Departure from Athens is foreseen for 12 April 2014 after 12:00.
Eligibility
The conference is planned for around 75 participants (living in the countries of the Council of Europe) who represent (inter)national human rights, antiracist, antifascist, refugee, and minority rights organisations. Active grass-roots groups from all over Europe are also invited. Participation is rotated from one conference to another. Priority will be given to nominations from young delegates (under 30 years old) with a minority background. Preference is given to those organizations that are interested in actions against racism and populism around elections.
Participants should act as multipliers, spreading the information to as many people as possible. The organizers will try to reach an equal balance of female/male participants and a good geographical distribution. Each organization can nominate only one delegate. The conference language is English. All participants are expected to have at least basic knowledge of English.
Costs
Participation fee
The participation fee of the conference depends on the country where the nominating organization is based:
- 120 Euro for participants from: A, B, CH, D, DK, F, FIN, GB, I, IS, IRL, L, N, NL, S;
- 60 Euro for participants from: BG, CY, CZ, E, EE, H, HR, LV, LT, M, P, PL, RO, SI, SK;
- 50 Euro for participants from: AL, ARM, AZ, BH, BY, GE, KZ, KY, MK, MNE, MD, RS, RUS, TR, UA, UZB, XZ.
- It is free for participants from Greece.
Full board and lodging as well as bus transfer to the venue and complete program are included. Organizations that paid their 2014 supporter fee to the UNITED Network will receive a 50% reduction of the participation fee.
Contribution to travel costs:
- For participants travelling from: A, B, CH, D, DK, F, FIN, GB, I, IS, IRL, L, N, NL, S UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to the costs of your travel, not more than 250 Euro;
- For participants travelling from: BG, CY, CZ, E, EE, H, HR, LV, LT, M, P, PL, RO, SI, SK, UNITED can contribute maximum 80% to the costs of your travel, not more than 280 Euro;
- For participants travelling from: AL, ARM, AZ, BH, BY, GE, KZ, KY, MK, MNE, MD, RS, RUS, TR, UA, UZB, XZ UNITED can contribute maximum 85% to the costs of your travel, not more than 325 Euro;
- For participants travelling from Greece, UNITED can contribute maximum 80% to the costs of your travel, not more than 50 Euro.
Please look for the cheapest and most environmentally friendly possibility to travel. The organizers strongly encourage you to travel by night-train, bus or other cheaper means of transport to Athens. For distances (one-way) under 800 km they can only contribute to costs of train or bus.
In order to be eligible for a contribution to your travel costs you are expected to attend the whole meeting and to prove your travel expenses providing an original invoice and all original tickets to UNITED. The organizers can only contribute to travel costs made for the direct return route between your place of residence and Athens. UNITED also asks you to find out if there are alternative possibilities of funding your participation. Since there are limited sponsored places, delegates that can cover (part of) their own travel costs have a higher chance to be selected. The cost of your visa can be reimbursed by UNITED on the base of an original invoice from the Embassy.
Application
In order to apply, please fill in the application form until 17 February 2014.
Visit the official web-site.
