About the project

The project Understanding EU – new ways to better understand EU legislation and principles to raise engagement in EU’s democratic life wants to reevaluate together with European Union’s citizens the role of the EU’s legal framework and how it influences the daily life of millions of citizens throughout Europe.

We want to create material in easy language that is based on the needs of citizens and that sets new standards in how the functionality of EU is explained to citizens. Furthermore, we want to reflect together with citizens on ways to make language in official EU communication and documents easier and more inclusive.

The project is aimed at:

• Improve citizens’ knowledge about the functionality of EU to make them better understand the legal framework
• Provide improved access to material about basic EU principles and EU legislation in easy language leveraging the inclusion of EU’s communication efforts
• Empower citizens all over Europe to see how EU legislation and EU core values  are linked to their daily life to raise motivation to participate in EU’s democratic life
• Strengthen resilience against dis- and misinformation and political manipulation

Pursuing these objectives will mean to plan and implement specific activities, such as:

• Intensive citizens dialogues and an online survey to rethink together with legal experts the future of an inclusive EU legislation
• Awareness-raising events for policy makers to promote the use of easy language in their daily work
• Creation of short content units in easy language called Knowledge Bits to explain core EU principles and aspects of EU’s legal framework to citizens
• Setting up of a Digital Lexicon as an interactive journey through Europe filled with useful information about how EU’s main treaties, legal aspects and principles are influencing citizens life every day

During its 24-months duration, the project will have the following results:

• Key Findings Report from Citizens Dialogues and survey summing up needs and wishes from citizens towards more inclusive EU legislation
• Policy Recommendation Paper for decision-makers to indicate solutions for improvements
• Knowledge Bits covering main aspects of EU legal framework and principles explained in easy language
• One Digital Lexicon and a Video Crash Course in easy language
• Events to share project results and to raise awareness among key stakeholders