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Description
Since 25.09.2020. the collection of signatures for the European Citizens'' Initiative "Start Unconditional Basic Incomes (UBI) throughout the EU" has started, which will take place until 25.03.2022 [https://europa.eu/citizens-initiative/initiatives/details/2020/000003_en]. In Latvia, there is a lack of information on this initiative, mainly due to media disinterest or negative attitudes, as well as a lack of basic information on unconditional basic income. Because so far there is little information about this initiative, the association "Vecdaugavieši" has been involved in the coordination of this initiative in Latvia since January 2021. Involvement in the activities of this initiative group during the collection of signatures is essential, the positive result of this initiative will have a huge impact on the field of social rights both in Latvia, the European Union and worldwide. The aim of the project is to inform about the European Citizens ''Initiative (ECI), but the main goal of this project is to educate people living in Latvia about unconditional basic income and social rights, promote public participation in democratic processes (collecting signatures for the European Citizens'' Initiative, participation in the conference on the future of Europe). Activities: preparation of informative materials and articles, organization of informative campaigns on the European Citizens'' Initiative, dissemination of information to the Latvian media, its placement on social networks Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. as required; participation in the conference on the Future of Europe "Working with Citizens for Democracy - Building a More Sustainable Europe" organized by the Council of the European Union and providing information on the 20 principles of the Social Rights Pillar.As a result of this project, the culture of democracy and the sense of citizenship in Latvia will be strengthened, will allow the country''s citizens to feel themselves as part of the EU citizen.
Summary of project results
In September, 2020 the collection of signatures for the European Citizens'' Initiative "Start Unconditional Basic Incomes (UBI) throughout the EU" started in the countries of the EU. There was a significant lack of information on this initiative as well as a lack of basic information on unconditional basic income in Latvia and European Citizens'' Initiative as such. So the aim of the action project was not only to inform about the European Citizens ''Initiative (ECI), but also to educate people living in Latvia about unconditional basic income and social rights, promote public participation in democratic processes, especially collecting signatures for the European Citizens'' Initiative.
- Preparation of 12 in-depth explanatory information materials and 10 press releases on the European Citizens'' Initiative
- 3 informative campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, as well as extensive e-mail communication to potential signatories in person (NGOs, local libraries, local authorities, MPs, etc.)
- Active participation in the events tackling issue of project - conference on the Future of Europe "Working with Citizens for Democracy - Building a More Sustainable Europe" organized by the Council of the European Union, disscussuin on the future of Europe organised by the European Commission Representation in Latvia, etc.
As there has been little discussion on the topic of unconditional basic income and European Citizens ''Initiative as such, the information base produced and disseminated during the project was very important. To be counted as one of the seven Member States that voted, Latvia needed to collect 5640 signatures. Although Latvia failed to collect the required number of signatures (823 signatures were collected), this small-scale action project has both highlighted a number of social justice challenges and the European Citizens'' Initiative as an opportunity for citizens to participate in European-level issues and have a say in EU-level policy issues, which was particularly important as awareness of this form of participation is relatively low in Latvia. As a result of this project, the awareness of the EU citizenship has been strengthened as well as possibilities to make a difference at EU level have been widely popularised.