The Ancient Armory on the ground floor of Palazzo Ducale in Cortile Carrara becomes home to the second Europa Point of the Province of Lucca after the one inaugurated in July in the Viareggio promenade.
With the mission of contributing to bringing the European Union closer to citizens and facilitating their participation in EU policies, and as part of a meeting on new technological challenges, the Europa Point was opened in the presence of the director of the Presidency of the Province and of the European policies sector Paolo Benedetti, and the head of the Europe Office of the Province Monica Lazzaroni, of Angelita Campriani of Europe Direct Siena, of Massimo (policy coordinator for the new Agenda for Innovation) and of Alessia Rotolo project manager of the European Research and Promotion Agency.
The event – moderated by Alberto D’Alessandro also in his capacity as representative of the Punto Europa of Lucca – was organized as part of the “Inside Europe” project financed by DG Regio to support entities and media in disseminating knowledge of European institutions and of their role towards the territories and citizens. The ‘Punto Europa’ – which will be managed by Casa Europa – was created thanks to the collaboration between the Province of Lucca and the University of Siena which, within the university, sees the Europe Direct Center of Siena operating, an information center of the European Commission on the territory. An initiative that starts from the agreement signed at Palazzo Ducale last January 24th between the two entities and from the expression of interest for the assignment of the ‘Punto Europa’ won by the social promotion association ‘Casa Europa Viareggio’.
The objective of the initiative, in fact, is to promote and stimulate the perception of the European dimension, as an added value for the economic and social development of its territory. The ‘Punto Europa’ were born as an emanation of Europe Direct Siena, one of the two centers present in Tuscany together with that of the Municipality of Florence, promoted by the General Directorate of “Communication” of the European Commission.
These offices, therefore, act as intermediaries between the European Union and citizens at a local level, dealing with information and communication in the area, organizing initiatives and projects aimed at citizens. The ‘Europe Points’ will help promote joint initiatives and activities on European citizenship issues and will help bring the EU closer to citizens, also answering questions about Europe’s policies, programmes, priorities as well as funding.
The ‘Punto Europa’ in Lucca is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3pm to 5pm, while the one in Viareggio is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am to 12.30pm.
