One of the main pillars of the European Union's credo is the promotion of active European citizenship. Since its early days, the EU has spoken about the unity of its people and their active involvement in the construction of a unified Europe. "We are not forming coalitions of states, we are uniting men," declared Jean Monnet, one of the main figures that contributed to the foundations of the European family.

When the new Europe For Citizens Programme was launched, new tools were put at the disposal of civil society. This programme will address issues to improve the citizen's participation in the construction of Europe and encourage cooperation between citizens and their organisations from different member states in order to exchange and develop their own ideas in a European environment, which goes beyond a national vision, respecting their diversity.

I agree with the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilinguism when he said that European citizenship means European citizens joining forces to form the Europe of the future together, and it is very relevant that this programme was launched in the same year that the EU celebrated its 50th birthday. The programme is structured on the same foundations that the EU has been built on, that is, understanding, solidarity and unity of citizens.

The programme aims to improve mutual knowledge of the culture and history of the European peoples, promote our common heritage and strengthen the basis for our common future. This should be achieved thanks to the four actions within the programme. These actions will further empower citizens and organisations to participate in the building of the EU and will further bridge the Union and its citizens.

Action one, Active Citizens For Europe, caters for the direct involvement of citizens in a manner that brings people from local communities from across Europe to exchange their culture, history, values and to construct a future. This action is divided in two sections or measures.

The first being town twinning, which are links at local level between local governments to assist in cooperation and exchanges. This measure is a valuable tool for local councils and Maltese citizens to participate in town-twinning activities and encourage networking and cooperation between the partners.

The other measure is citizens' projects and support measures. This part seeks to gather citizens from different backgrounds to discuss and debate common European issues using innovative methods.

Active Civil Society For Europe is the name given to action 2, which encourages debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy. This action supports civil society organisations and think-tanks as unique links between European citizens and the EU.

Projects under this action should raise awareness on the issues of common interest and on the concrete solutions that can be found through cooperation or coordination at European level.

Action 3 is the action that is carried out by the European Commission. Branded Together For Europe, this action aims to bridge the gap between the EU and its citizens through the promotion of active European citizenship all over the 27 member states.

The fourth action, Active European Remembrance, looks at the darker days of Europe. This action aims to the preservation of main sites that remind us of the victims of Nazism and Stalinism. This will serve to understand further the importance of the EU that, from the ashes of World War II, secured unification and grew into a family.

This action is particularly important because most of the witnesses of the terror are progressively disappearing.

This part of the programme aims to raise awareness of the full dimensions and tragic consequences of World War II through the involvement of the younger generations of Europeans.

Furthermore, citizens will engage in a reflection on the origins of the EU, 50 years ago, on the history of European integration, which preserved peace among its members, and, finally, on today's Europe, thereby moving beyond the past and building the future.

This programme will make available to citizens an overall budget of €215 million for the period 2007-2013.

The Nationalist Party is the political party that believes in Maltese citizens. The PN in government introduced local councils to our islands and, once again, the same administration led Malta towards the EU.

This has proved to be a membership that continued to empower Maltese citizens to improve skills, exchange ideas and influence the future of the European family.

Let us not forget that the Malta Labour Party not only opposed EU accession but also the introduction of local councils. The same party, during its 18 months in government, reduced the local councils' budgets.

I believe it is clear enough to understand which political party is empowering the grass roots of Maltese society.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

david.casa@europarl.europa.eu, www.davidcasa.eu