The project aims to promote civic awareness and active participation in decision-making at local, regional, national and EU/international level. The main project activities will be implemented in Latvia, while some specific activities will take place abroad/with foreign colleagues.
The main activities include strengthening partnerships and work with target groups (members, employees, volunteers, experts, NGOs and NGO networks, young people, decision-makers, society), provision of information and dialogue, participation and promotion of participation under thematic priorities of the association, advocacy, monitoring, enhancing the participation of co-operation with authorities and measures to increase the EU capacity.
The project activities will raise civic awareness, improve abilities and willingness to participate in decision-making in Latvia and the EU and actively use opportunities provided by the EU.

Project results: The project “Active civic participation: Latvia = EU(Me)” fostered civil society’s civic awareness, provided relevant information and promoted active participation in decision-making on the national and European Union/international (not excluding local/regional) levels. The program will basically be realized in Latvia’s territory (in Riga and regions), with some specific activities abroad/with foreign colleagues.
During the project the European Movement – Latvia closely cooperated with Latvian and European NGO’s and networks, volunteers, civil society, decision-makers, public sector, youth and experts in different sectors.
The main activities and results:
Information provision via Newsletter, Homepage and Social Networks: throughout the project the EML issued biweekly Newsletters informing about current events, EU related news, features and participation opportunities and the project (total of 82 Newsletters). The number of receivers steadily increased form approx. 2300 to an amount of approx. 2500 direct recipients (including members of European Movement – Latvia, students, youth, decision-makers, politicians, employees of public sector, members of academic environment, members of NGO’s and others). The Homepage provided space for in depth information as well as a special section on the project –prominently visible in the head slider. Social media/networks (Twitter, Facebook, Draugiem.lv) where used for fast information and as a tool for feedback and exchange. Twitter follower amount grew from approx. 1000 to more then 1400, Facebook from 250 to 596, Draugiem.lv is losing importance in Latvia and stayed with less than 300 followers. As example within only one year (2015) 86 unique news where published in Facebook, 476 original tweets where tweeted, gaining 439 likes and 6526 profile visits with 327 900 “Tweet impressions".
Cooperation with Latvian and European NGO networks and EU information providers in Latvia: Throughout the project the EML closely cooperated with Latvian and European NGOs and their European networks. The main cooperation partners in Latvia and the EU where the following: European Year of Citizens Alliance, Civic Alliance – Latvia, the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation, European Latvian Association, Delna/Transparency International Latvia, Pensioners Federation of Latvia, Klubs “Māja”- Jaunantne vienotai Eiropai/Young European Federalists, Latvian Institute for International Affairs, Eastern Policy Centre, Latvijas Lauku Forums, European Movement International, European Movement Germany, Ireland, Finland and Denmark, CONCORD, the Confederation for relief and Development and the European Economic and Social Committee. EU informers in regions helped in identifying EU related needs and interests of people. They helped to exchange and circulate information.
Through the close cooperation with its partners it was possible to initiate and support several important changes at national and EU level such as the renewal of documents regulating the work of the Government and NGO Cooperation Council which now allow an effective work and are an important step towards a new model of civic participation in Latvia and on EU level the initiative and successful coordination for a European Year for Development 2015.