About the project

The success of democratic development and the process of harmonization within the European Union, of members, is conditional on compliance with the general development policies and strategic documents of the EU (and in accordance with which again must be coordinated also national policies of the candidate countries and of course members of the EU). Therefore, the attitude and opinion of the citizens are key to choosing the right political representatives, who will successfully lead in this direction the regions of our country, within the EU, which directly determines the lives of citizens and their standard. To form personal views, accurate and timely information is the key to allowing citizens of Istria, for which the citizens of Istria tend, as it is obvious from the studies that have been conducted on this territory.

Istria, as a multicultural and multi-ethnic border region in its historic geographic aspect, was always striving to develop international links and relations with the neighbouring countries of the EU. Citizens who gravitate to this area for decades live as a "workers-passengers" within Europe. Therefore, the opening of borders in this region brought great opportunities but also great challenges. Preventing the departure of young people from this region to the rest of the EU will depend a lot and about their awareness of the opportunities that the EU provides without permanent departure. Participation in many youth programs may allow stronger action in their country in order to strengthen these territories and building a larger standard to which every citizen aims to. When talking about the standard is meant to all forms of life, not only economic, therefore the inclusion of the social processes and participation in democratic decisions and processes leading to the improvement of the social image of a community.

Europe Direct Information Centre Pula-Pola is the opportunity that the City of Pula-Pola, in partnership with the Region of Istria, the Istrian Development Agency Ltd. and the Foundation for Partnership and Civil Society Development, used and nominated a joint project under the Representation of European Commission in Croatia in order to build a new model of inter-institutional public communication regarding the European Union and in order to provide effective support to the citizens for the development of better economic and social conditions in Pula and the entire Istrian peninsula. 

At the local level, through the Europe Direct Information Centres intention is to achieve interactive communication with citizens. The goal is to provide the best possible support in the direct flow of information regarding the opportunities and benefits provided to citizens of EU member states and establishing real and current needs at the local level. The establishment of such centres is crucial for the development of communication model in order to approach the European Union to local communities from the Region of Istria and the citizens of urban areas. The logical choice for the headquarters office of the Information Centre in Istria with the distinctive title "Europe Direct" Pula-Pola, was the City of Pula-Pola, the largest bilingual city in Istria with a strong multicultural component, which have an important role in promoting sustainable urban development and where gravitate many citizens of Istria. The work of Office will take place daily from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm and is located in one of the most visited parts of the City on the address Giardini 2.

Through the provided services centres intention is to achieve certain specific objectives to inform the citizens about the European Union and to raise their level of awareness by making information readily available, answering citizens' questions related to the European Union and become a direct link between them and the EU in a way that will be the first contact to whom they can turn, finding it on the frequent and readily accessible venue in Pula, to raise awareness of citizens about their rights, obligations and opportunities in the European Union, to provide citizens with help in finding the relevant European institutions to get answers to specific questions, provide information and guide for enterprises on a wide range of possibilities for the use of European financial instruments available for the private sector, to promote active citizenship by encouraging citizens to express themselves, exchange views and participate in decision-making at local and regional levels and in the public policies of the EU, to encourage debate among special target groups (universities, schools, civil society, intellectuals, cultural institutions) on issues related to the European Union, encourage the use of EU funds through information and specific training, to enable communication with the Representation of the Region of Istra in Brussels, establish and improve cooperation with Europe Direct offices in Croatia and neighbouring regions.