MEMORY WORK, DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION FOR THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

1. HOUFFALIZE
DOUZELAGE - 2018
PROJECT OF YOUTH IMMERSION
FROM THE 28 TWIN CITIES
OF THE DOUZELAGE
MEMORY WORK, DEMOCRATIC
ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIC
PARTICIPATION FOR THE FUTURE
OF EUROPE

2. DOUZELAGE
EUROPEAN TOWN TWINNING

3. TRIP FROM 22 TO 28 JULY 2018
Where?
Houffalize, Holiday center Vayamundo
When ?
From Sunday 22 July 2018 to Saturday 28
July 2018
How?
Preparative research projects, workshops,
conferences, visits, writing of a closing paper
as well as playful activities…

4. PARTICIPANTS ?
Young people …
5 young people between 16 and 22 years old as
well as 1 accompanying adult, member of the
Douzelage committee or a teacher per twin town
Participants must have an advanced level of English

5. PARTICIPANTS ?
Guest lecturers, witnesses
and specialists …
Joël Le Quément, PhD in Economical Sciences, former Commissioner of the
European Union.
Martin Cugnon, Project Manager at the Bastogne War Museum.
Rachid Belkacem, Professor at the Université de Lorraine.
Franz Clément, PhD in Sociology at LISER (Luxembourg Institute of Socio
Economic Research).
Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth, Professor at the University of Luxemburg.
Philippe Poirier, Professor at the University of Luxemburg.
Viviane Reding (Luxemburg), Claude Rolin (Belgium), Nathalie Griesbeck
(France), Jo Leinen (Germany), Members of the European Parliament.
Isabelle Langnickel, Communication and information Manager at the
European Commission.

6. THEMES OF THE EXCHANGE
Memory work, democratic engagement and civic
participation for the future of Europe
In the framework of memory in Europe, 2018 will mark the commemoration of the
start of the Second World War, which started in 1938-1939, as well as of the Hague
Congress of 1948. Those two events, barely 10 years apart from each other, mark the
total destruction of Europe followed by its complete reconstruction.
In the framework of democratic engagement and civic participation, widespread
Euroscepticism and the future of Europe will be considered through workshops
leading to proposals to be submitted and discussed with specialists.
The common theme of this meeting will be considering the creation of the European
Union, born from the war, as a mean to preserve peace, which is by the way always
good to remind to a generation that did not know war. Peace keeping is a high goal
that must be kept in mind in those times of obvious Euroscepticism.
Overall, the project proposed by the town of Houffalize will lead to a wide reflection in
relation to the following related themes:

7. DESTRUCTION - (RE)CONSTRUCTION
WAR - PEACE
Of course, moments of leisure will also have a place in the schedule, among others allowing
the young participants to make use of the infrastructure of the hotel Vayamundo in
Houffalize.

8. ORGANISATION
Sunday 22 July 2018
Arrival of the participants: shuttle services will pick up
participants at the airports of Brussels National
(Zaventem), Liège, Charleroi Brussels-South, Luxemburg
and Frankfurt-Hahn.
20.00 Reception, welcome drink
Robert Pepels, Director of Vayamundo Holyday
Center

9. VAYAMUNDO HOLYDAY CENTER

14. MONDAY 23 JULY 2018
A week of thinking and leisure is about to start…
09.30 Opening speech: Marc Caprasse, Mayor of Houffalize
Presentation of the programme, the visits and themes of the week:
Alphonse Henrard (President of the local Douzelage committee), Franz
Clément (PhD in Sociology at LISER) and Martin Cugnon (Project
Manager at Bastogne War Museum)
12.00 Dinner
13.20 Conference « Europe as a peace factor in times of Euroscepticism »:
Joël Le Quément, PhD in Economical Sciences, former Commissioner at
the European Union, will show how Europe became a factor which
brought peace and why it should keep that role by fighting
Euroscepticism.
Question and answers with the participants.

15. 16.30 Free time
Various sports available: tennis, ping pong, pétanque, swimming…
Guided tour of Houffalize
19.30 Supper

20. TUESDAY 24 JULY 2018
Europe: a continent marked by war and peace
08.45 Departure for Bastogne
09.15 Visit of the Bastogne War Museum: Martin Cugnon, Project
Manager at the Bastogne War Museum will offer a special
visit of one of the best European museums on the Second
World War, situated next to the Mardasson Memorial, symbol
of the commemoration of the Battle of the Ardennes, which
took place there in 1944-1945.
Exchange on the theme of Europe and peace
13.00 Lunch

21. 13.45 Workshop
« War trial – Human rights and democracy in a situation
without rule of law »
Participants will be invited to take part in a role play putting
them in the shoes of protagonists of a war crime trial. There
will be judges, attorneys, witnesses, jury and of course
accused. This innovative activity will bring a firsthand
experience of the difficulties of closing such a devastating
conflict. A complete file with background information will
be provided beforehand in order to prepare to the event.
16.30 Departure for Houffalize
19.30 Meal followed by various activities

22. WAR MUSEUM

25. WEDNESDAY 25 JULY 2018
Discovery of regional European construction projects:
examples of a Europe in reconstruction
08.00 Departure for Esch-sur-Alzette
10.00 Esch-sur-Alzette – Campus of Belval in Grand Duchy of Luxemburg
Study of European building projects at regional level
The managers of the « Belval Fund » will guide the participants in a tour of
what has become an example of transnational industrial reconversion
through a cross-border collaboration between France and Luxemburg.
12.00 Lunch

26. 14h00 Conference on the « Greater Region »
Rachid Belkacem (Professor at the University of Lorraine), Franz
Clément (PhD in Sociology at LISER) and Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth
(Professor at the University of Luxemburg) will explain the birth,
the institutions, the history and the achievements of the
“Greater Region Saar-Lor-Lux”, an example of European
construction on a regional scale, in the buildings of LISER.
Exchange and Q&A
16.00 Visit of the European Pole of Development situated on the
territories of Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, France and Belgium.
A visit will be organized on that territory gathering three countries
unified in one European example of economical reconversion
following the steel industry crisis of the 1970’s. A special focus will
be given on the container terminal of Athus.
18.00 Return to Houffalize
20.00 Supper

27. CAMPUS OF BELVAL

29. THURSDAY 26 JULY 2018
Euroscepticism vs. the future of Europe:
Development of contrasting ideas
09.00 Vayamundo Holyday Center of Houffalize
Analysis of the questionnaire previously filled in by participants
The team of Professor Philippe Poirier of the Univestity of Luxemburg will analyze the replies
of the young participants to the questionnaire they will have received upon arrival in
Houffalize on Euroscepticism and the means to improve on that situation, providing a report
and feedback.
Debate
Proposals made by the youth to regain confidence in Europe
Animators: Professor Poirier will be accompanied by his colleagues Patrick Dumont and
Raphael Kies of the University of Luxemburg in order to mediate the debates and write a
summary. They will attempt to advise the participants on the degree of feasibility of the
eventual proposal of development of the European Union.

30. 12.00 Dinner
14.00 Presentation of the debates of the morning by young representatives
to European Parliament Members present for the occasion. The
following will be invited: Clause Rolin (Belgium), Nathalie Griesbeck
(France), Viviane Reding (Luxemburg) and Jo Leinen (Germany).
A debate will follow between young participants, EU Members of
Parliament and the team of Professor Poirier.
19.00 Dinner
20.00 Meeting with young people of Houffalize who participated to previous
workshops in several towns of the Douzelage in the last few years.
Playful activities

31. FRIDAY 27 JULY 2018
09.30 Vayamundo Holyday Center of Houffalize
Summary and debriefing of the week by Franz Clément
and Martin Cugnon
Debate
11.00 Commitment to follow up the work and contacts of the
Douzelage by the organizers. Discussions will lead to a
text with resolutions and suggestions to transmit to the EU
Commission, Council and Parliament.
12.00 Dinner

32. 13.30 Departure for Libramont
Visit of the agricultural and foresting fair of Libramont. This
international event is the biggest of its kind organized open air in
Europe.
18.30 Return to Houffalize
20h00 Closing evening
Activities organized by the participants
Barbecue

33. FAIR OF LIBRAMONT

36. SATURDAY 28 JULY 2018
Departure of the delegations and shuttle to the airports.

37. PA R T I C I PAT I O N
F E E S
Part to be paid by the
participants or local
Douzelage committees:
125€/person for the
whole stay
Travel costs (plane, train,
bus, car …)
R E G I S T R AT I O N S
Deadline for the registrations : 01/10/2017
By email: manuela.dipinto@houffalize.be
Mentioning:
Town participating:
Number of participants:
Name of the participants:
Address: Email:
Bank transfer of a deposit 65€ per
participant
Account of the Douzelage of Houffalize
BE 52 2670 0869 0209

38. Alphonse Henrard, President of the local Douzelage
Committee
Marc Caprasse, Mayor of Houffalize
Luc Nollomont, Member
Manuela Di Pinto, Member and Secretary
Fiona De Haan, Member – youth
Christophe Toussaint, Member – sport
Xavier Dessé, Member - sport
Daniel Rob, Member
Robert Pepels, Director of Vayamundo
Franz Clément, LISER
Martin Cugnon, Bastogne War Museum
Fancis Collin, Journalist (retired)
Isabelle Langnickel, Communication and information
manager at the European Commission.