CAI members organisations and the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) are currently carrying out the project Cascade Europe aiming to convene the European Forum of Citizens’ Advice Services. Such a Forum would enable an evaluation of the state of play in the exercise of the European citizenship rights and advice that can be provided in this field. By enabling the exchange of information and good practices, informal learning and networking, the Forum will enable to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the citizens’ advice professionals and thus benefit the advice service users – citizens across Europe.                          

The European Forum, taking place at the beginning of December 2008, will bring about 180 participants from across Europe. These people, professionals in the field of legal advice for the citizens, “interested general public” as well as the decision-makers will have an opportunity to share their experience, good practices and make recommendations for the better application of the rights related to the European citizenship. It would be already 6th such a Forum and it would therefore build on an accumulation of knowledge and experience which has been of benefit both to citizens’ advice services, its clients as well as the national and EU Institutions.                                              

The Forum will be preceded by a background discussion paper focused on the rich expertise of the activities of citizens’ advice services and also three other publications that will place the European citizenship in its broader understanding. The whole project should make a lasting impact on its target groups: citizens’ advice professionals, their clients – European citizens and the decision-makers.

A distinct section on the website will be dedicated to the Forum, so stay tune for what's to come.