How have EU values shaped Cyprus? This question is at the heart of the event Are We European Now?, held in Nicosia to commemorate 20 years of Cyprus’s EU membership.
- How have EU values shaped Cyprus? This question is at the heart of the event Are We European Now?, held in Nicosia to commemorate 20 years of Cyprus's EU membership.
- A standout feature is The Box of Full-Filling, a workshop led by Nurtane Karagil that captures personal statements and objects, creating a shared narrative of lived experiences among attendees.
Over two days, from December 19 to 20, the project EUnity20, organised by Alternative Brains Rule (ABR), invites artists, researchers, activists, and citizens to engage in a series of thought-provoking discussions, performances, and workshops. The venue, ARTos House, becomes a hub for dialogue about the essence of Europeanness in the context of everyday life.
Eu values: Engaging Discussions on Cyprus’s Future
The event kicks off with a focus on critical issues affecting Cyprus today. Attendees are encouraged to reflect on the presence and absence of EU values within various aspects of life on the island. The discussions are facilitated by journalist and podcaster Eleni Antoniou, ensuring a dynamic and engaging atmosphere.
The first panel, titled Whose Land, Whose Voice?, features Klitos Papastylianou and Andromachi Sofokleous. This session delves into Cyprus’s environmental challenges, highlighting the importance of democratic participation in land-use decisions, especially in areas designated for protection under the Natura 2000 network.
Exploring Identity and Equality
The second discussion, Bodies, Beliefs, and Who Decides, brings together Costas Gavrilides and Maria Epaminonda. This panel examines how cultural conservatism impacts bodily autonomy and identity, probing the discrepancies between societal beliefs and the rights supposedly guaranteed by EU frameworks.
Migration and Cyprus’s EU Relationship
Migration is the focus of the third discussion, Fortress or Home, where Giorgos Charalambous and Nicos Trimikliniotis analyse Cyprus’s evolving relationship with Europe, particularly how identity and migration intersect in the current political landscape.
Empowering the Youth’s Voice
The final panel, Permission to Speak, features Giorgos Koukoumas and Christiana Xenophontos. This conversation addresses political participation and the regulations surrounding protests, particularly highlighting why many young people feel unheard and unrepresented in contemporary discourse.
Artistic Expressions and Community Engagement
Complementing the discussions, the event features various performances and hands-on workshops aimed at fostering community engagement. Participants are invited to create postcards and letters directed to both the EU and the Cyprus Parliament, providing a platform for personal expression and collective action.
A standout feature is The Box of Full-Filling, a workshop led by Nurtane Karagil that captures personal statements and objects, creating a shared narrative of lived experiences among attendees.
Visual Voices Exhibition
The event opens with an introduction to the Visual Voices exhibition, part of the art collective’s Relate series. This showcase features artists with migrant backgrounds, setting a poignant tone for a weekend that blends artistic expression with public dialogue on Cyprus’s identity and its relationship with the European project.
