photos: Jule Halsinger, seasaw-foto.com
The topic of this year's "Cities for Europe" conference was "Committed to Europe" and dealt with the responsibility of cities and their citizens for Europe with a special focus on the upcoming European elections in May 2019. 120 committed Europeans, projects, initiatives and interested citizens from all over Europe met on Saturday 10 November 2018 in Berlin City Hall and discussed the following questions: How can the citizens commit themselves to Europe? What can cities and municipalities contribute to a united Europe? What is the special role of culture?
The conference was opened by Sawsan Chebli (Federal Representative for Berlin and Secretary of State for Civil Engagement and International Affairs), spokesperson Brigitte Russ-Scherer (former Mayor) and Volker Hassemer (Chairman of Stiftung Zukunft Berlin, former Senator). Referring to the Brexit and the emerging nationalist forces in Europe, Ms Chebli stressed how important cities and their citizens are for Europe, especially when the national governments threaten them. Ms Russ-Scherer also took up current challenges of the European Union, but at the same time expressed her confidence, as pro-European initiatives and projects that advocate a united Europe are forming. Less optimistic and with a very direct call to action, cultural scientist and sociologist Caroline Robertson-von Trotha (Karlsruhe Institute for Technology) spoke of urgently needed networking and productive use of resources: "The main responsibility for a diverse Europe lies with the cities. They need the support and consistent cross-border exchange as well as close cooperation between politics and civil society, industry and science". Christophe Rouillon, Mayor of the French city Coulaines and Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, stressed the importance of friendships between cities and citizens. The strategy of his city above all is to work very closely with young people and schools. The city of Coulaines invests 30 percent of its budget in the education sector. Afterwards, six different initiatives and projects were presented to the plenary. Among them was the Advocate Europe winner 2018, "Democracy Fitness". Subsequently, the central questions of the conference and strategies for future action were discussed in three workshops.
This year, 31 initiatives from civil society, education and culture presented themselves at the EUROPEAN MARKETPLACE. The projects had the opportunity to network with each other and to join forces for future collective campaigns. The colorfully designed partitions were visually supported by monitors that illustrated the work of the initiatives in various videos.
The event ended with the artistic proclamation of the "European Republic". The "European Balcony Project", initiated by political scientist Ulrike Guèrot and writer Robert Menasse, took place simultaneously in 150 cities all over Europe. At Berlin City Hall, around 200 people joined the proclamation by Berlin actor Christian Dieterle, who, accompanied by two trombones, proclaimed the Republic in German, French, English and Italian. Afterwards, the Ernst Senff Choir sang European songs. Symbolically, the visitors could create a fictitious passport of the proclaimed European Republic.
ropean “Blauer Bär” was awarded for the third time. In the third year, the "Blauer Bär" pays homage to Berlin and Brandenburg initiatives, associations and for outstanding civil society commitment in and for Europe. The prize is awarded by the Senate Administration for Culture and Europe and the Representation of the European Commission in Germany.
To set a sign for diversity and against racism is the aim for the International Weeks against Racism. The action weeks take place every year around the International Day against Racism on March 21 which was established since 1966 by the United States. The foundation „International Weeks against Racism“ requests participation of around 70 institutions and organizations throughout Germany. This year it starts on 13 March 2017 in the Intercultural Centre in Heidelberg. This centre participated through exemplary initiatives to the welcoming culture and the integration process and invites all the institutions and actors of the civil society to engage actively in order to strengthen the diverse urban society. See for further information: 
Europe is fun - at least for the students who participate in the European Competition which is Germany‘s oldest school competition. This competition aims to promote the creativity and Europe-competence of young people. According to the motto of the 64. European Competition (school year 2016/2017) „United in diversity – Europe between tradition and modernity“ it puts the culture into the centre. The pupils are engaged to discover the rich cultural treasure and to deal with the cultural diversity of Europe. There are different questions for different grades. Culture was selected as a topic for the competition by the steering committee because the 500th anniversary of the Reformation is celebrated in 2017. Around 80.000 students take part in the European Competition. Closing date for the works for the European Competition 2017 is the 10th February 2017. You will find further information at: 
How can cities contribute to the strengthening of Europe? How can cities fight borders and prejudice? And how can citizens be filled with enthusiasm for the European Union and go into action against right-wing populist and anti-European movements? These were the central questions of the keynotes, workshops and discussions.
