News > Third edition of the European Cycling Tour to kick off this week
Third edition of the European Cycling Tour to kick off this week
Whilst Brussels is drafting a new EU cooperation strategy for the Danube region, a group of intrepid European cyclists are going on field and cycling over 1300 km along the river to mobilize local populations and their representatives on the unification process of the region.
Despite the many vicissitudes the region went through, the 3000 km long Europa Danubiana – as formerly known in Latin – has always been a common cultural space for its 75 million inhabitants. The fall of the iron curtain marked the start of the reunification process between the west and the east of Europe in this geographic area. It also meant that the European project could further emancipate. The 2004 & 2007 enlargements marked the second stage of the cultural, political and economic reunification of the region. The central position of the Danube provides a vital connection between northern and southern, eastern and western Europe, hence a huge potential for more regional cooperation in transport, environment and for a surge in trade & economic exchanges.
In this context, the European Cycling Tour seeks to contribute to the campaign for a comprehensive and efficient EU strategy for the Danube region involving local political and economic actors as well as the civil society.
This year’s edition was preceded by two similar cycling tours in Ireland (for the Yes campaign) and across the Netherlands, Begium, Germany and Poland (as part of the awareness campaign to the European Elections). To catch a quick glimpse of the ECT awareness campaign for the European elections 2009 you can go online and see the recently published pictures and a videoclip of the tour and events.
This year’s ECT edition will kick off on 26 August from the source monument of the river in Donaueschingen all the way to Budapest on 11 September, comprising over 15 stages across 4 countries. Several MEPs, personalities working for the EU and members of the European Movement are cycling from one town hall to another on both banks of the river to meet local mayors and representatives of the civil society as well as local and regional media. Every local citizen and visitor is invited to join in these meetings and colloquia.
A map of the route of the Tour is available online. You can view what event is planned in your town, whether it is a meeting with local representatives or a larger colloquium with European and local personalities. If you have missed our Eurocyclists, the map offers insight into past events through a selection of pictures and videos. All the picture galleries can be viewed here.
Another tour d’Europe is due to start in spring 2011 and continue this year’s edition from Budapest all the way down to estuary of the river by the Black Sea.
In this context, the European Cycling Tour seeks to contribute to the campaign for a comprehensive and efficient EU strategy for the Danube region involving local political and economic actors as well as the civil society.
This year’s edition was preceded by two similar cycling tours in Ireland (for the Yes campaign) and across the Netherlands, Begium, Germany and Poland (as part of the awareness campaign to the European Elections). To catch a quick glimpse of the ECT awareness campaign for the European elections 2009 you can go online and see the recently published pictures and a videoclip of the tour and events.
This year’s ECT edition will kick off on 26 August from the source monument of the river in Donaueschingen all the way to Budapest on 11 September, comprising over 15 stages across 4 countries. Several MEPs, personalities working for the EU and members of the European Movement are cycling from one town hall to another on both banks of the river to meet local mayors and representatives of the civil society as well as local and regional media. Every local citizen and visitor is invited to join in these meetings and colloquia.
A map of the route of the Tour is available online. You can view what event is planned in your town, whether it is a meeting with local representatives or a larger colloquium with European and local personalities. If you have missed our Eurocyclists, the map offers insight into past events through a selection of pictures and videos. All the picture galleries can be viewed here.
Another tour d’Europe is due to start in spring 2011 and continue this year’s edition from Budapest all the way down to estuary of the river by the Black Sea.
-> The European Cycling Tour in the local press.
No comments