Aims

In 1989, a legendary year in world history, some European federalists and supporters of our Region went before a notary public in order to draw up and approve the deed of partnership and the statute of the Accademia Europeista del Friuli Venezia Giulia (European Academy of Friuli Venezia Giulia). They were teachers, headmasters and school officials of Gorizia, Trieste and Udine, supported by a wider group of friends and sympathizers.
Against the background of general euphoria not only in Germany but all over Europe and of an overwhelming request of freedom and democracy in other Eastern countries as a consequence of what happened and was still happening in Berlin, the Accademia Europeista del Friuli Venezia Giulia, House of Europe of Gorizia, was founded.

It is important to remember that moment in order to better understand the initial burst of the association that, although its very limited financial and technical means, faced with its early and decisive steps. It was supported by a strong enthusiasm and great hopes between 1989 and 1992 within the European integration process.

Owing to its connections with the city of Gorizia, border city at least till 2004, it has followed the experience of others European Academies and Houses of Europe already active towards the cultural integration along the historical but hard fought border between France and Germany.
The Accademia Europeista has celebrated a 20-years track: an intense life made of many small and large meetings in several cities of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, conferences, exhibitions (among them, the recent travelling ones “The Myth of Europe” and “Ivo Andrić, European writer and diplomat”), informative activities in schools, public events on the occasion of the Europe Day. It has organized also international activities and seminars with partner associations, in particular with European Academies and Houses of Europe that have similar aims and coming not only from our region, but also from all Europe, from Klagenfurt to Maribor, from Madeira to Helsinki. It is necessary to remember that all these institutions are linked within an European network called EUNET (European Network for Education and Training) based in Bonn (D).

However, although all efforts made in the direction of European building and information among citizens, much has still to be done. An European feeling of identity and ownership is still far to be reached; it is essential in order to create a federate Union. Nowadays our reflections could be less optimistic and euphoric than in 1989, but what has been done or will be done cannot be lost. It does not exist an alternative to the idea of Union, especially a political one.

The Accademia Europeista is aware of this difficulties and knows that, according to the words of Altiero Spinelli, forerunner of the European federalism, “Europe doesn’t fall from the sky”. Therefore, it has faced with, proposed and implemented European education programmes not only for adults but also for young people and schools, aiming at paying and stimulating attention to the European identity’s issue and to the vital role played by people, by citizens. This is why the Accademia Europeista has engaged strongly in making real the benefits of the idea of Europe and of cross-border cooperation.
It is not an easy objective, but it has been implemented also proposing study seminars and stimulating visits to the main European institutions and in the capital cities of those countries which had the semester presidency. But that is not all. It regularly publishes the magazine “Rassegna Europea”, which collects not only news and opportunities for visits and exchanges, but also refresh articles on the European integration process by well-known experts and writers at university and international level.

Moreover, the Accademia Europeista has collected a rich specialized library on European issues that has almost 5000 books. All activities of the European Academy are carried out owing to the contribution and support of the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and other European and local institutions.
But the life of the Association needs also human resources, expert volunteers in politics and economics. It is them, thanks to university teachers, specialists and MEPs, that could face with citizens on European issues.

Registration is recommended to everybody who wants to deepen his/her knowledge and make new friends in Europe. Membership fee is € 5,00 for students/young people and € 25,00 for adults/workers.

Registration can be made by phone or e-mail to the following address: info@accademia-europeista.eu