European Public Spaces

European Public Spaces (EPS) are joint projects run by the Commission Representations (REPs) and by EP Information Offices in selected locations in the Member States providing the citizens a common space for addressing EU issues at local level.

The aim of the EPS is to encourage dialogue and democratic debate about the EU by creating public spaces where the institutions may interact with general public and civil society, with an emphasis on politics, culture, and education. The guiding principle for EPS is to foster a more modern and friendly image of the EU in a setting that is attractive to citizens.

EPS is intended to provide a friendly meeting point both for citizens and for associations (teachers, students, cultural and scientific networks, NGOs).

Pilot EPS (e.g. in Dublin, Tallinn, Madrid) have been success stories, attracting new audiences with no previous in EU issues, including school pupils, farmers or consumers of cultural services, thanks to innovative and attractive initiatives (cultural exhibitions, movies, book presentations, coffee corner, etc).

11 new EPS will open in 2009 in the cities of Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Lisbon, Rome, Riga, Prague, Nicosia, Helsinki, Vienna and Luxembourg.