On May 18th, from 2 to 3 pm, ALDA Secretary General Ms Antonella Valmorbida was one of the special guest of the 8th edition of the European Chats, together with Ms Veronika Chmelárová, AEGEE Secretary General. European Chats are online discussion organised by EMI – European Movement International, gathering activists and stakeholders from the EMI network and live-streamed on its main channels.
How does the covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions affect citizens and which impact does it have on the state of democracies around Europe?
This was the main topic Ms Valmorbida addressed during the conversation, moderated by Petros Fassoulas, EMI Secretary General, starting from explaining and giving examples of how the covid-19 has impacted ALDA, its members and which tools ALDA put in place to face such a crisis and support its network.
“The role of local governments in sorting out the difficulties with their own civil societies and citizens is the pillar of the recovery”
“What we are bringing with us is that local communities are even more important than before. The role of local governments in sorting out the difficulties with their own civil societies and citizens is the pillar of the recovery” – stated ALDA Secretary General.
Finally, the online discussion ended on a sweet note, addressing the Conference on the Future of Europe, a one-year inclusive process aimed at involving citizens, organisations and local governments in brainstorm together for a boosted and strengthened Europe.
Antonella Valmorbida underlined the fact that this is a “precious moment” for the whole society and ALDA is going to actively join the COFOE with its ALDA network of members and partners, organising events, providing information on the whole mechanisms, and thus stimulating participation.
About the results and hopes we all place in the Conference, Ms Valmorbida is confident that good ideas will emerge from this process, as always results from openness and dialogue, as long as the Member States as well give proof of openness and receptivity .
Watch the full livestream here!