The European Green Deal is a response to the current climate and environmental challenges. DEAL4EU is a network of 8 different European towns (in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Cyprus) that will promote Green Deal values, objectives and policies among youngsters in order to make them Green ambassadors in their own home territories. At this regard, DEAL4EU aims to disseminate the Green Deal among youngsters, improve awareness about environmental and climatic issues, improve knowledge about the role of the European citizens in the Green Deal, and create synergies among European territories and citizens to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. in order to learn about the EU environmental policies and strategies and about how participate in the civic life, becoming European ambassadors about green strategies in their home town.

MAIN OBJECTIVES:

- Improve awareness about environmental and climatic issues.

- Improve knowledge about the role of the European citizens in the Green Deal.

- Create synergies among European territories and citizens to protect, conserve

and enhance the EU's natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of

citizens from environment-related risks and impacts.

- Better understanding of the project’s outcomes, members of the network, work

methodology and results to be reached.

- Better understanding of the reasons and the causes of Euroscepticism

Have you heard of Heirloom seeds? Seed banks? Seed Sovereignty? Why are these topics important?

The majority of heirloom seeds are open- pollinated, meaning that they reproduce themselves from seed. The plants from these seeds grow true to that variety. When they are grown they will be the same as the parent plant. Seeds from the parent plant can be collected and re-planted next year giving the farmers and gardeners independence.

Hybrid seeds are the most common and easily available seeds today. They are used by large farming companies and are a cross between two varieties but the seeds from hybrid plants are either sterile or revert back to one of the original varieties when replanted. They won't be the same as the parent plant and therefore growers are required to buy new seeds every season.

Seed Sovereignty reclaims seeds and Biodiversity as commons and public good. The farmer's rights to breed and exchange diverse Open Source Seeds which can be saved and which are not patented, genetically modified, owned or controlled by emerging seed giants.

A seed bank is a place where seeds are stored to preserve genetic diversity for the future. They are usually flood, bomb and radiation-proof vaults holding jars of seeds from different plant species.

The seeds are typically kept at low humidity and in cold conditions - around -20°C. This helps to preserve the seeds, ensuring they can still grow when they are needed later. More than 1,000 seed banks exist around the world, varying in type, size and focus.

Is the EU addressing any of these issues within the EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL?

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. In theory.

In practise - The Farm to Fork Strategy will aim to accelerate transition to a sustainable food system that should:

➔  Have a neutral or positive environmental impact

➔  Help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts

➔  Reverse the loss of biodiversity

➔  Ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, sustainable food

➔  Preserve affordability of food while generating fairer economic returns, fostering competitiveness of the EU supply sector and promoting fair trade

That includes, tackling Food Waste and ensuring SEED DIVERSITY AND SAFETY!

Climate change brings new threats to plant health. Sustainable food systems also rely on seed security and diversity. Farmers need to have access to a range of quality seeds for plant varieties adapted to the pressures of climate change. The EU Commission will take measures to facilitate the registration of seed varieties, including for organic farming, and to ensure easier market access for traditional an locally-adapted varieties

8 events have been carried out within this project.

kick off MEETING IN CATRAL / SPAIN from 30/09/2021 to 03/10/2022
Short description: The aim of the event was Wondering Phase "Journey to the centre of Green Deal".
- Informative session: project implementation. Introduction of the host town and partner delegations;
- Open debate with experts “New pact for a more sustainable path”;
- Intergenerational workshop: Dialogue with elderly European citizens in Catral “Climatic change and extrem
meteorological phenomena” exchanging points of view and experiences with participants;
- Creative groups: Creative games to reflect about Green transition;

71 citizens, from 9 different countries took part, including 52 participants from the city of Catral (Spain) and 29 participants from  Germany, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Netherlands, Italy, Romania, France and Belgium.

youth and media in relation to climate change topic was discussed in the

SECOND MEETING IN TIVAT / MONTENEGRO

The event involved 48 citizens from 7 different countries. The event took place in Tivat (Montenegro), from 17/12/2021 to 18/12/2021
The aim of the event was “Wondering Phase: "Climate change, invisible journeys, visible
emergency" and it included
- Open debate with journalists on the topic “How media adresses the issue of climate change” Open discussion on
the importance of the media messages;
-Workshop “Being journalist for one day”: Participants recreated the edition of press releases to disseminate
how EU deals with Climate emergency, interviewing citizens on the street;
- Creative Lab with experts, analysing EU's climate ambition for 2030 and 2050;
- Participative definition of the project dissemination strategy;

THIRD MEETING WAS HOSTED IN SOFIA / BULGARIA
The event involved 50 citizens from 8 different countries and took place in Sofia (Bulgaria), from 25/02/2022 to 26/02/2022
The aim of the event was Wondering Phase: "Transforming EU economy" and we did
- Open debate with experts "How is Europe facing economic transition?";
- Role-play game: “My role in the challenge”. Participants emphatized with different roles that take part in the
different European challenges related to Green Deal (Circular economy, recicling, sustainable mobility, etc.).
- Gamification : Participative analysis about "European Green Dealand Agenda 2030";

in the FOURTH MEETING IN LEEWARDEN / THE NETHERLANDS
48 citizens from 8 different countries took place, the event took place in Leeuwarden (Netherlands), from 19/05/2022 to 20/05/2022
With ghis event we entered the Construction phase: "Building the deal" addressing following topics:
- Round-table “Green Deal at EU” Experts and participants will discuss on the application of EU green policies at
national and local level;
- Scavenger Hunt “Looking for green?” Participants are divided into groups and are asked to find green initiatives
at local level. The aim of this game is to realise the importance of Local initiatives;
- Creative Lab “My wishes.” Participants are encouraged to express freely their wishes regarding the
European Union and Green Deal by Instagram.

FIFTH MEETING in ATHIENOU / CYPRUS
 involved 53 citizens and took place in Athienou (Cyprus), from 30/06/2022 to 1/07/2022..
The aim of the event was Construction Phase: “My role is green”
- Gamification Workshop: Reflecting about Green Deal principles;
- Role game "Me on a Gullivert Map": Reflecting about the own role in Europe;
- Workshop “Hi, let's change Europe” on the creation of videos expressing participants’ ideas and initiatives in favour
of the Green transition;
- Social Networks Marathon: Volunteer competition about spread proactive Green messages on social networks;

THE SIXTH MEETING took place in NOVO MIESTO / SLOVENIA from 4/10/2022 to 07/10/2022.

56 citizens from 10 different countries took part in Construction Phase: “Young citizens in the Green transition”:
- Open dialogue “Our Green transition” Participants (youngster and policy-makers) discussed on the European
youth role in the Green Deal;
- Brainstorming session “My role in the Green Deal” A series group dynamics discussing about the meaning of
active citizenship and their role in civic life of Europe;
- Round-table with experts “What is the EU doing in order to improve our environment?”;
- Working on project dissemination outputs;

SEVENTH MEETING was hosted in PORTOGUARO / ITALY from 31/01/2023 to 02/02/2023
The event involved 96 citizens from 8 different countries, the aim of the event was Awareness phase: "EU will be green"
- Street action “How should the perfect European Union be?” Sharing their ideas about the EU future and green
transition involving local citizens;
- Seminar with thematic experts and policy makers about gobernance and youth participation in the Green Deal;
- Participative Clinic: Workshok about how to be involved in EU big environmental challenges, and how to organize
an effective dissemination of these policies, inviting regional environmental associations.

The final EIGHT MEETING took place in BERLIN / GERMANY from 20/03/2023 to 23/03/2023.
The aim of the event was Awareness Phase "We are the new Europe"
- Thematic workshop and open discussion: "Spread the word" with European experts;
- "Europe is full of colours, including Green" workshop with local schools;
- Guided city walk arround Berlin and its city centre;
- Open air creative works:“Hi, I am Europe” Defining participative slogans about EU and creating promotional spots
in favour of the Green Deal on social networks;
- Conclusions, peer review and sustainability group discussion about the conclusion of the project;

More detailed information about the meetings You can find here.

The project « DEAL4EU:Youth ambassators for European Green Deal » was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme "Europe for Citizens" Applicable to the Strand 2 – Measure 2.2 "Networks of Towns" and Strand 1 – "European Rememberance" Measure 2.3 "Civil Society Projects".