The EU Delegation to Skopje Wednesday organized conference titled "Empowering European Citizens" on the occasion of Europe Day - May 9.

This discussion is part of a four-day international event to mark the closure of the Empowering European Citizens project, funded by the European Union under the Europe for Citizens Programme.

Aivo Orav, Head of EU Delegation on the occasion of Europe Day said that many events are being held today in Skopje and throughout Macedonia.

- EU programmes, including the Europe for Citizens programme, are powerful driving force for development of the individual and the institutions. They are recognized as foundation of human and institutional development and are one of the strongest instruments for bigger opportunities, which are offered to the citizens by the EU. The programme gives opportunity for promotion of active European citizenship, it puts the citizens in the centre and gives opportunity to take over their responsibility and obligations as European citizens, Orav said, adding that good progress was made in relation to participation of the country in this programme.

He said that European citizenship means citizenship that is active in exchange of opinions, ideas, debates, reflects and promotes basic European values, stirs ethnic and religious harmony and inter-cultural working, aims at integration in the society, actively participates in social, cultural, economic and political affairs.

- 2013 will be the European year of citizens. The better the men and women of Europe understand their rights as EU citizens, the more informed the decisions they can take in their personal lives. This is the vision for the European year of the citizen, Orav said.

Education Minister Pance Kralev said that Macedonia's success on the road to EU is not measured only by undertaken obligations and realized reforms but also by state's capability to actively participate in the EU programme concretely in Europe for Citizens programme. Starting from 2009, he said, Macedonia secured the right to participate in this programme together with other 27 member states.

- Europe for Citizens programme is intended for the citizens and their organizations and represents instruments for strengthening the European citizenship. The programme serves as an instrument of the citizens through which they can express their needs, opinions and ideas and to provide them inclusion in the political life of the EU, Kralev said.

This programme is indicator for successfulness of Macedonia in active participation in realization of these programmes. British Council in Macedonia through this EU project once again has proven its unreserved support for development and strengthening the democratic society and overall education process in Macedonia, Kralev said.