Informational Reference Book

Project

"Alliance of citizens for real democracy"

Association „Club canoe kayak Levski”

Programme Youth In Action

BG12/A1.3/398/R3

"Alliance of citizens for real democracy"

The project “Alliance of citizens for real democracy” aims to encourage the participation of young people in democratic life, at local, national and international level, using the experience, ideas and methodologies of the partners. Specific objective of the project is to reflect the principles of non-formal education and practice.

The project is related to civil rights and the rights of citizens, as well as ways to actively participate in shaping policies.

The project is intended to involve actively all organizations, namely: Association “Club canoe kayak Levski” -

Bulgaria Association "Sports Club Wrestling Simeon

Shterev - Levski"- Bulgaria The Local Employers Organization for Small and

Medium Enterprises – Romania A.T.R.E.C.O. – Romania

Association „Club canoe kayak Levski”

Non-governmental organization" Club canoe kayak Levski "was created in 2002. Association has the following objectives: development and validation of youth actions, canoeing and kayaking in all varieties and forms part of physical education and culture for young people and also to represent its members about the activities of the club before the state authorities, national and international sporting organizations and other individuals and entities.

The main objectives and scope of activities of the non-profit association is to develop and promote youth activities through sports and rowing in particular sport canoe and kayak. These are goals in the interest of a healthy lifestyle for young people in their physical education and culture.

Association "Sports Club Wrestling Simeon Shterev - Levski"

Main activities of the association "Sports Club Wrestling Simeon Shterev - Levski" are:

Promoting sport fight among all age groups in Bulgaria

Providing methodological and consultative assistance to qualified members.

Provide an opportunity for the expression of its members in wrestling competitions at home and abroad

Developing effective programs for reconstruction and modernization of the equipment.

Promoting social inclusion and personal fulfillment through the creation of opportunities for the NSA students - future sports educators in this area.

To represent and protect the interests of its members before state and other institutions.

The Local Employers Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises – Romania

The Local Employers Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises is a non-governmental organization that actively works to improve and expand international contacts among young people in Europe and helps to create understanding and exchange between different cultures, and to encourage young people to participate actively in social and economic life of the country in which they live. Another major goal is to support the social and personal development of young people, including young people with disabilities, but also helps to improve the level of culture and education of the society and the development of active citizenship and the development of creativity and entrepreneurship. The organization is in lasting relationships with many Romanian NGOs - CNIPMMR, F-PRO, FRIM "Oltenia" and others.

А.T.R.E.C.O.

Mission, goals and activities of А.T.R.E.C.O.:

Awareness, promotion and development of rural, eco and cultural tourism..

Publication and distribution of brochures and advertising for tourism product in Oltenia area..

Access and attract funds for finance programs and to improve the quality of tourism in Oltenia region and cross-border tourism.

Organizing training courses in the field of tourism.

Organizing conferences, debates, scientific sessions, symposia, colloquia, etc.., independently or jointly with other organizations at home and abroad.

Organization of environmental activities in the tourist areas.

Organize exchange in different parts of the region Oltenia in different parts of the country, as well as similar organizations in other countries..

The project “Alliance of citizens for real democracy” aims to encourage young people from Bulgaria and Romania to explore the EU and to search mechanisms for active involvement in shaping the policies that will make a better Europe. It will increase the interest of young people in social and political processes that will encourage them to participate in public life. This will motivate them to take advantage of their civil rights, to participate in elections and initiatives of NGOs.

Democratic Citizenship

Democratic citizenship is a process of personal development and training of the young person for

social events, dialogue and cooperation on the basis of knowledge and respect for human rights and the laws of a democratic state.Responsible citizenship involves understanding the roles, rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic society and the citizen in an increasingly global human society, constructive participation in the democratic process by making rational and moral choices, respect their dignity and values and the dignity and values of others. When people understand their rights and when they you use them, this will be a big benefit for the economy and society. Citizens who are informed are motivated to participate in the democratic life of all levels. People must know very well their rights as citizens to be able to take full advantage of them in their daily lives.

Each of us must be an active citizen, which means to be accountable to the society in the most ordinary situations. But the rights that we have raise many responsibilities.

The first and most important thing for democracy is freedom, equality and respect for the individual sovereignty. The rights and obligations of citizens in a democratic society are linked. Civil rights are rights guaranteed to citizens by the state. While human rights are naturally inherent to the people, the civil rights are defined by the State and they are guaranteed by law. Every citizen has rights such as:

give opinions;

personal freedom;

protection from the state;

right to vote;

Freedom of religion;

Freedom of association.

In the context of civil society and civil rights, the European Commission defined 2013 as the "European Year of Citizens". The aim is to raise awareness of civil rights in the European Union in shaping the future of Europe.

The better the five hundred million Europeans understand their rights as EU citizens, the decisions that they can make in their personal lives will be more informed.

During the European Year of Citizens the attention will be focused on the rights that all people have in the European Union, because of their status as citizens. Every day these rights are of benefit to all 500 million Europeans, and the European economy.

The rights of EU citizens are defined in the Treaty on European Union and they complement rights under national law. If people are aware of these rights and use them, this is not only beneficial to them as individuals, but also for the EU as a whole- economically and in terms of greater citizen support for the European project.

Because to EU citizenship – which not replace national citizenship, but compete it - EU citizens have access to a wide range of rights in all Member States. It includes:

• Consumer rights - access to goods and services in other Member States;

• Rights as citizens - access to education, the recognition of professional qualifications;

• Rights of access to health care, acquisition or maintenance of social security rights;

• The right to vote and stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and in municipal elections in their Member State of residence.

European youths are often not aware of these rights. That is why the European Year of Citizens aims to inform the public, particularly young people how to use them.

One of the innermost rights derived from citizenship of the EU is the freedom of movement. More and more Europeans take advantage of this law and live in another Member State. Free movement of persons and the abolition of internal border controls are part of a broader concept - the domestic market, where internal borders can not exist and people can not be prevented in the movement.

The purpose of the European Year of Citizens is to facilitate Union citizens to exercise their right to move and reside freely within the EU, ensuring their easy access to information about their rights. More specifically, the goal of the year is:

To raise awareness of the right to reside freely within the European Union;

To raise awareness of how they can benefit they rights and policies and to promote their active participation in the development of Union policies

To stimulate debate about the impact and potential of the right to freedom of movement, particularly in terms of strengthening social cohesion and mutual understanding.

The strong political impact of the European social model has influenced on the development of the civil sector.

The European social model is based on and operates through the mechanism of social dialogue. The new paradigm of society social construction and its efficient management requires a qualitative change in the mechanisms of social communication.

The emergence of the EU’s unique political not only adds a level of the new pyramid of public debate, but also qualitatively change the nature of the debate.

The public communication has gradually increased its degree of freedom, has grown in intensity, included in new civil and social rights. Additionally, characteristics of the subjects of the debate has grown and changed.

The main actors in the social dialogue are:

• The state

• The representative organizations of employees

• The representative employers' organizations

Basic principles of democracy

Firstly, when we talk about democracy, it is necessary to distinguish political, social, economic and religious democracy. Secondly, it is whether democracy means participation in the government or a way to protect the governed by the governing.

Thirdly, we should answer what is the historical form of the democracy, whether Athenian democracy existed in the years BC or the modern liberal democracy. Additionally, it is still unclear what is the degree of contrast between democratic and dictatorial forms of government. To answer all these questions we must take into consideration the principles of democracy throughout the long historical path it has walked.

1. The principle of majority

In accordance with etymology, this principle means that all decisions are taken through vote, as only the will of the majority is of importance. This principle mainly refers to the way of making decisions. Creating a political majority gives legitimacy of the followed politics.

Figuratively speaking, the majority is always right even if the decision taken is incorrect. The majority principle is a fundamental for any democracy. However under certain conditions it can lead democracy to its opposite. This means not just making wrong decisions, but also occupying the power of the majority by a minority. Consequently, the principle itself is not enough and it does not always work in favor of democracy.

2. Political pluralism

The principle of the political pluralism (sometimes identified with the principle of multi-party) is feasible when the modern political parties have already emerged. This principle was unknown to ancient democracy, because there was no political party in the modern sense of the word, because democracy was based on the spontaneous participation in government and was not organized institutional process.

The principle of pluralism, means diversity not only of the political parties but also of the political views. The policy should represents to the entire range of public opinions, values, interests, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs. This means that even if the will of the political majority is dominating, all other political wills are able to be expressed and presented.

3. Separation of Powers

The separation of powers is the third basic principle of democracy, which was also unknown to antiquity. It was formulated by John Locke and Charles Montesquieu as a principle aimed at overcoming tyranny. Its essence is to prevent abuse of power. In modern time, the legislature / parliament / executive / ministerial council / Judiciary should not be concentrated in one center of power, and should be separated from each other in order to restrain and balance.

4. Behind the fasade of law

The fourth principle of democracy is the principle of legality. It is a integral principle because it means not only the existence of certain laws, but also their observance. Democracy, besides all the rights and freedoms it provides, means and order. Namely the legality is the order that integrates community.

5. Political equality

Political equality is the next fundamental principle of democracy, because it means equality of all, and not only not only before the law, but much more. But does equality means providing equal opportunities and conditions? To answer this question, we must consider four optional equalities:

а) juridical б) social в) equality of possibilitiesг) economical

Equality brings the notion of equivalence people. Meanwhile, it has two sides- it is associated with both- uniformity and with justice. It is fair all being equal. Legal equality means compliance with the formal principle. For example, the right to universal and equal suffrage. Social equality can be understood either as equity in the property, and that class distinctions do not carry privileges but equal social status.

“ This project is implemented with the financial support of the "Youth in Action" Programme of the European Commission in Bulgaria administered by the National Centre "European Youth Programmes and Initiatives". The contents of this publication does not reflect the position of the European Community program "Youth in Action" or NCEYP.”

In past years under the Citizenship has no account relationship between citizens and their state. Today this term is supplemented by moral values and a sense of belonging. It is important that people realize that in order to develop and understand a modern society, it must first be loyal to his country, which belongs equally to all its citizens.

All people have equal rights but also equal obligations.

In this vein, we see that the citizenship in modern society, gives us some rights but also requires huge responsibility. In fact, even empowering responsibility.