This future programme will provide the Union with instruments to promote active European citizenship. It puts citizens in the centre and offers them the opportunity to fully assume their responsibility as European citizens. It responds to the need to improve citizens participation in the construction of Europe and will encourage cooperation between citizens and their organisations from different countries in order to meet, act together and develop their own ideas in a European environment which goes beyond a national vision, respecting their diversity.

Intercultural exchanges will contribute to improving the mutual knowledge of the culture and history of the European peoples. It will bring our common heritage to the fore and strengthen the basis for our common future. Mutual understanding, solidarity and the feeling of belonging to Europe are indeed the building blocks for the involvement of citizens and are reflected by the four different programme actions:

• Action I "Active citizens for Europe" involves citizens directly, either through activities linked to town-twinning or through other kinds of citizens' projects.
• Action II "Active civil society for Europe" is targeted to Europe-wide civil society organisations, receiving either structural support on the basis of their work programme or support trans-national projects.
• Action III "Together for Europe" supports high visibility events, studies and information tools, addressing the widest possible audience across frontiers and making Europe more tangible for its citizens.
• Action IV : "Active European Remembrance" supports the preservation of the main sites and archives associated with the deportations and the commemoration of the victims of nazism and stalinism.