Elias Centellas’ Post

Today, 9 May, is a day of celebration for the Netherlands and Croatia, when we emphasise the importance of the European Union for our common values and our prosperity. As part of the many celebratory activities around Zagreb, the Mayor of the City of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević invited the diplomatic community to join a festive City of Zagreb Visual and Music Identity with some wonderful young Croatian musicians and artists. The Mayor emphasized the importance of inclusivity and diversity, for which the city was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Gold Award, for Zagreb's range of initiatives and dedicated strategies on how to support, protect and include women, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, and Roma. Inclusion and Diversity are values that The Netherlands holds very dear, and for which we work hard to achieve both at home and in the world. We believe in a resolute and resilient European Union of values, especially at the current geopolitical juncture. Fundamental values such as the rule of law, democracy and human rights are an integral part of the Union’s identity. Values for which we Europeans can exercise our right to vote next month in the European Parliamentary elections. Happy Europe Day! #EU #EuropeDay #Zagreb #Croatia #Netherlands #InclusionAndDiversity #FFP #EP #EuropeanElections #govote

🟢 Today we celebrate 20 years since the 2004 EU enlargement! 🥳 🇪🇺 🇨🇾 🇨🇿 🇪🇪 🇭🇺 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇲🇹 🇵🇱 🇸🇰 🇸🇮 How do people in the region look back on the past two decades? What can we learn from this experience for future accessions? And what are the hopes that make people in our neighbourhood want to join the EU today? ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e9HX-qyZ Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung #20YearsTogether

📌Today, we at the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) engaged in meaningful discussions alongside committed organisations at the 18th Meeting of the Council of Europe Dialogue with Roma and Traveller Civil Society. This two-day event is focused on shaping a more equitable and anti-racist future. ➡️Our Legal Director, Vivien Brassói, highlighted the critical role of NGOs in ensuring that human rights monitoring reflects the lived realities of Roma and Travellers. With support from the Council of Europe, ERRC’s capacity-building initiatives have strengthened these organisations, equipping them to report human rights violations effectively and advocate for systemic change, ensuring that the lived experiences and concerns of Roma and Traveller communities are at the heart of policymaking. ❗️The discussions also highlighted the pressing issue of Roma being marginalised in political participation and underscored the need for stronger measures to empower Roma youth and women to engage actively in political life. ✊This marks the final event of our project, which focuses on building the capacity of Roma and Traveller NGOs to gain the expertise and skills needed to engage more effectively with Council of Europe standards and monitoring mechanisms. The participating organisations from 9 countries are at the forefront of advancing Roma and Traveller rights. The project is supported by the Council of Europe.

Deny Dobobrov, Director of International Relations and Permanent Representative to the UN for the World Roma Federation, USA: "The silence of organizations with ‘Roma’ and ‘Europe’/’European’ in their names regarding the situation of Roma in the EU and the developments in Brussels is problematic. Many of these organizations are controlled or funded by non-Roma, which often ties their hands. The superficial representation – observing, consulting, and serving as experts – will never get us anywhere. I have correspondence from the highest EU Officials to prove this. If Roma organizations remain silent and ineffective, how can we ever hope to ignite the political will needed to bring about real change? The role of Roma media is indeed crucial in this context. By providing comprehensive and accessible information about the situation of Roma, Roma media can help ensure that these issues reach a broader audience and generate the necessary awareness and reactions."

Representing today ROMBEL - COMMUNAUTE ROUMAINE EN BELGIQUE at the “European Citizenship at the Crossroads" international conference in #Brussels. ECIT Foundation (European citizens’ rights, Involvement and Trust) * aims to bring together today academics, policymakers, and activists to discuss and brainstorm with all participants to find new ideas, insights, and strategies. The closing #MobileCIT “Inclusive Europe for Mobile EU Citizens” conference by #ETTW Europeans Throughout the World is taking place today at the @EESC - European Economic and Social Committee . This will be the final opportunity to come together and discuss the results of the voting phase on all 14 raised issues that are important to the #mobileEUexpats to be solved, as well as the activity of European policy actors to whom we advocated these issues, and other important issues as the European Parliament have concluded recently. ________________________________ Since it was established in 2015, #ECITFoundation was alone in demanding and putting forward proposals for a #Statute on #EuropeanCitizenship — our attempt to codify and redefine the rights constituting what it means to be a European citizen. It is a success that the idea of a citizenship statute has now been supported by the European Parliament and the Conference on the #FutureofEurope, but there is still some way to go.

Cultural organizations across Europe are making their voices heard in this European Parliament election! They are pushing for greater recognition and support for the cultural and creative sectors, advocating for: Increased funding for cultural activities Improved working conditions for artists and cultural workers Enhanced protection and promotion of cultural heritage Facilitated cultural mobility and exchange across Europe The cultural ecosystem is determined to ensure that culture is at the heart of the EU's political vision for the next 5 years. We have compiled a list of articles and reports to aggregate and digest the Creative ecosystem's initiatives for this election. This is a critical moment to support the role of culture in shaping Europe's future. Learn more in the article: https://lnkd.in/d9YJu5WH

📢 Next week, our CEO Alexandra Pasternak-Jackson will be in Washington, D.C., and Miami, Florida along with AmChams in Europe colleagues for an annual set of meetings with Capitol Hill lawmakers, White House officials, and other political and economic decision-makers. Visits will also include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Small Business Administration, Atlantic Council, APCO, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Royal Caribbean Group. 📨 What transatlantic message can we champion for you? You — our member companies are encouraged to reach out to us if you have any advocacy topics you would like Alexandra to bring up directly! 📢 Amcham Finland is the voice of international business in Finland and home of transatlantic success. We will bring key initiatives up during the discussions, and funding opportunities for Finnish companies looking to make inroads in the U.S. market. #advocacy #transatlantic #transatlantic2024 #FinlandUS

Meet my SHEroes who make politics real and engaging. I've met these incredible women at European political mentoring events and networked with them through Friends of Europe. They make me feel supported, represented, and passionate about Europe—and they can do the same for you. Sirpa Pietikäinen Samira Rafaela Karen Melchior Vladimira Marcinková Abir Al-Sahlani Beatriz Hernández de Fuhr Samira Nawa Güliz Tomruk-Kisi May is EU Diversity Month, yet many are unaware of it, even within the DEI field. This just shows the need to amplify its significance as an important month. EU Diversity Month is crucial for promoting legislation that encourages companies to create fair and inclusive workplaces. Since we are also approaching the European Parliament elections, this is a perfect time to challenge you: What European values do you stand for and would like to see more of in the European Parliament? There's a new online tool to guide you at the polls, helping you find parties that align with your views on key issues like climate change, immigration, and more. Check it out at euandi.eu. The EU often doesn't reflect the diverse backgrounds of its citizens. This is why I introduce my monthly SHEroes—women working tirelessly to make Europe more inclusive. Use your vote to find representatives who support issues and policies important to you and help shape a more diverse and inclusive Europe. Make your voice heard this #EUelections 🇪🇺 Visit euandi.eu to find which party best matches your views. What do you care about in the EU? What should the EU do to rebuild trust? What's more important: immigration, AI, the environment, or jobs? #EUDiversityMonth #EUelections #InformedVoting #DEI #Sustainability #SHEroes #InclusiveEurope #RepresentationMatters

#EuropeDay "Europe Day held on 9 May every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic 'Schuman declaration' that set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe's nations unthinkable. Schuman's proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union." In occasion of Europe Day 2024, PRIME project wants to promote an EU for ALL, by sharing some video-interviews made during the Need Analysis phase of the project. The first interview was made by the lithuanian partner Jaunuolių dienos centras to Aiste, a volunteer coordinator and mentor that work often with participants with intellectual disabilities. What's the importance of an accompanying person? What are the caracteristics of a mentor or tutor of a participant with intellectual disability (PWID)? Why should a PWID do volunteering experience abroad?

As highlighted in the recent Women in Action article, my journey and dedication to a united, progressive, and inclusive Europe are at the heart of my running for the EP representing Volt Slovakia. Recent events in Slovakia have highlighted the need for stability and balance in our society and politics. Promoting policies that enhance safety and peace, both nationally and across Europe are at our hearts and we are ready to advocate for evidence-based policies that drive lasting change. We are dedicated to listening to and acting on the concerns of Slovak citizens and all Europeans. Your voices and ideas are central to our work. Being the catalyst for adjustments and balance in both national and European movements toward a better, stronger, and safer Europe. Together, we can build a future where integrity, safety, and the best interests of the people guide our policies.