Shared notions of solidarity from Cadiz, Spain and Kronenberg, the Netherlands

Is there a culture of European solidarity? Yes, if you look at the local level. Many local communities in Europe have transformed their context by experimenting with new forms of democracy.

Kronenberg (The Netherlands) and Cádiz (Spain) show us in this joint video series how different places in Europe fight against energy poverty and how  such initiatives start. What is the role of civil society in implementing an energy transition in both places? What are Dutch and Spanish public institutions doing about it? What are the values and practices guiding them? Despite being located in different parts of Europe, their practice is based on common ideas about solidarity and citizen participation.

This video series is an outcome of the M2M Solidarity project initiated by the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. The project brought 11 European community-based projects together in groups of two or three,  each with a brief to each to produce an example of what European solidarity looks like. These expressions seek to contribute to a revival of European Solidarity.

About the participant organisations

Cádiz Table for the Energy Transition, Cádiz, Spain

The  Cádiz Table for the Energy Transition is a group of citizens dedicated to promoting the energy transition towards renewable energy and sustainability in Cádiz. This space prepares proposals that are transferred to the city council and to the semi-public energy company Eléctrica de Cádiz for their realization. The four priorities identified by the City of Cádiz for the energy transition are savings, efficiency and renewables in public buildings; the fight against energy poverty; the promotion of a democratic energy transition; and the promotion of energy-related job creation.

Leer más: https://municipalpower.org/articles/a-democratic-transition-to-renewable-energy-in-cadiz/

Energie Kronenberg, Kronenberg, The Netherlands

Energie Kronenberg is a citizens collective in Limburg (The Netherlands) working together with local residents, companies, organisations and the municipality of Kronenberg to create a more sustainable society. In 2014 they set a very ambitious goal: an energy neutral Kronenberg by 2030, having all households of the city going off gas. This collective currently consists of 15 members and volunteers.

Leer más: http://www.energiekronenberg.nl

El M2M Solidarity project creates peer-learning exchanges between these collectives, and seeks to contribute to a revival of European solidarity.