"Rural areas are the fabric of our society and the heartbeat of our economy. They are a core part of our identity and our economic potential. We will cherish and preserve our rural areas and invest in their future."
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Project concept
The BET project was born from the need to strengthen the European identity of small rural towns in Italy and France through sustainable infrastructure and improved livability.
Led by twinned municipalities, it aims to enhance local areas while preserving their traditional soul and aesthetics.
BET takes a grassroots approach, engaging citizens and local authorities in reimagining villages as inclusive and accessible spaces.
The Partnership
BET brings together the long-twinned municipalities such as Giove and Bléneau and Penna in Teverina and Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, while it creates new twinning bonds between the applicant Montecchio and Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe as well as Attigliano and Saint-Fargeau.
CERV programme
BET is funded under the CERV programme of the European Union. This programme aims to protect and promote rights and values as enshrined in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights in particular by supporting civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level.
The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme was launched in 2021 and will run for seven years until 2027. It was created along with the 2021-2027 Justice programme under the Justice, Rights and Values Fund.
The CERV programme seeks to support and develop open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law. That includes a vibrant and empowered civil society, encouraging people's democratic, civic and social participation and cultivating the rich diversity of European society, based on our common values, history and memory.
The CERV programme has four pillars:
- Equality, Rights and Gender Equality - promoting rights, non-discrimination, equality (including gender equality), and advancing gender and non-discrimination mainstreaming
- Citizens' engagement and participation - promoting citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union, exchanges between citizens of different Member States, and raising awareness of the common European history
- Daphne - fight violence, including gender-based violence and violence against children
- Union values - protect and promote Union values
Civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level, as well as other stakeholders, can apply to receive CERV funding for initiatives aimed at citizens' engagement, equality for all and the protection and promotion of rights and EU values.
Here's a short presentation video of the CERV programme:
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-214233?lg=EN-EN
Download here the Event Description Sheet of the First International Event:
Download here the Event Description Sheet of the Second International Event: