On Tuesday, 23 April 2013 the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, is organising this event to help focus on European citizens and how they can concretely contribute to shaping the European Union, either by using the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), by turning to the European Ombudsman, or by mobilising large groups of citizens to carry out grassroots initiatives.

The Ombudsman will be joined by the following top-level EU political figures to listen to, and engage with, European citizens: Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission

The programme will focus on two major themes:

09.30-11.00

Help solve the economic crisis Alessandra Mirabile, Fraternité 2020 ECI Bernadette McNally, the Irish Ombudsman's experience Didier Caluwaerts, G1000 Belgian citizens' movement

11.00-12.30

Build a clean and healthy Europe Anne-Marie Perret, Right to Water ECI Peter C. Gøtzsche, Campaigner for medical data transparency Rainer Nõlvak, Let's do it! World Cleanup A reception will immediately follow. The event will be webstreamed at: www.ombudsman.europa.eu Join the debate on Twitter: #eyc2013eo