Introducing “Les Maisons de l’Europe”
The Maisons de l’Europe are associations created in the late 1940s to establish connections among peoples who were once enemies, and to promote reconciliation after the Second World War. Today, the Maisons de l’Europe also aim to act as an intermediary between European institutions and citizens. The purpose is to enable them to decipher complex mechanisms, stay informed, and be able to debate and make decisions with a full understanding of European issues.
Les Maisons de l’Europe operate with the support of local authorities and in cooperation with many participants in the educational, economic, social and cultural fields. Half of them also benefit from the European Commission’s “Centre d’Information Europe Direct” label.
Three questions to Julie Angot, Project Manager of La Maison de l’Europe Angers & Maine-et-Loire.
The network in the region of Pays de la Loire
Which are the most dynamic Maisons de l’Europe in Pays de la Loire?
Answering this question as it stands could suggest a ranking of the Maisons de l’Europe and therefore that they are in competition with each other, but they are not. So, I allow myself to rephrase the question so as not to make a hierarchy among the Maisons de l’Europe: What are the other Maisons de l’Europe in Pays de la Loire?
La Maison de l’Europe de Loire Atlantique (in Nantes), la Maison de l’Europe de Mayenne (in Laval) and la Maison de l’Europe de Sarthe (in Le Mans) work alongside us (Maison de l’Europe Angers & Maine-et-Loire) in Pays de la Loire on various axes and different actions according to their territories: la Maison de l’Europe de Loire Atlantique with Europa Nantes have together created a successful dynamic along with the European actors of Nantes; the House of Europe of Mayenne with its ambitious territorial network, and the House of Europe in Sarthe, with the reception and sending of many European volunteers among other things.
La Maison de l’Europe Angers & Maine-et-Loire
What is your impact?
We hope to have a positive impact on the interests of Angevins concerning the EU, European countries, European citizenship and the debate of ideas on European themes and news.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Recently, during the various confinements, we are proud to have been able to offer webinars and other online workshops on Europe and European news with our colleagues from Les Maisons de l’Europe du Pays de la Loire to continue to bring life to the European debate on our territories and among our audiences. And more generally, the positive feedback from teachers, animators, pupils and young people following our activities, is always very motivating in the pursuit of our mission of informing and raising awareness about Europe among young people.
La Maison de l’Europe Angers & Maine-et-Loire is a long-standing partner of the EU*Asia Institute as a link to civil society.
On 7 December 2021, we will jointly propose a conference on space security and safety: ESSCA Space Talks with Dr Pascal Legai, Senior Security Coordinator to ESA DG & Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA (European Space Agency). More info soon, and in the meantime: save the date!
La Maison de l’Europe Angers & Maine-et-Loire is looking for 2 civic service volunteers from the beginning of November for 7 months for a mission around the animation, the organisation of events and the realisation of a radio programme on Europe.
Information and application on the Service Civique platform or by mail before 15 October: https://www.service-civique.gouv.fr/missions/sensibilisation-des-jeunes-a-leurope-1
