Liberal democracy is in a state of crisis. Worldwide, a “democratic recession” can be observed, even in countries that have long claimed a leading role in defending and spreading democratic values and freedoms. Uncertainties about the future of the European Union and its transformation into a “Citizens’ Europe” are shaping the run-up to the European Parliament elections in May 2019. At the same time we observe new signals for a renewed emphasis on the value of citizenship education as an indispensable subject for democracies in the 21st century.

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This year’s NECE conference in Marseille will provide a platform for the development of strategies on how citizenship education and civil society can provide us with the readiness to take action in society in the defence and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Confirmed speakers include Latifa Ibn Ziaten, Emily O’Reilly, Niccolò Milanese, Jan-Werner Müller, Basil Kerski, Claire Demesmay, Edit Inotai, Istvan Hegedüs, Karolina Wigura, Alberto Alemanno, Fernando Vallespín, Vincent Hendricks, Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Almut Möller.
The open and creative venue of the Friche la Belle de Mai in the centre of Marseille offers an ideal (spatial and social) framework for a “festival” of networking, dialogue and inspiration accentuated by an an IDEA CAMPUS with more than 20 lectures, workshops, roundtables and training sessions.
NECE is open for citizenship educators, activists and students from Europe, the Eastern Partnership countries and North Africa as well as for the public of Marseilles, French educators and civil society organisations. Conference participation is free of charge.

Register now!