EcoActive: Citizens for a Sustainable Europe - Santiago
The second transnational meeting of the project Ec...

The second transnational meeting of the project EcoActive Citizens for a Sustainable Europe took place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from 1 to 4 March 2026, bringing together 77 local and international participants from the project partnership, of whom 55 were local participants and 22 were international participants. The group was composed mainly of women, reflecting the project’s commitment to inclusive participation, gender equality and active civic engagement.

The meeting was hosted in the framework of the CERV Network of Towns project and focused on the theme “Circular Economy and Sustainable Resource Management”, with Santiago de Compostela providing a strong local context for the exchange of good practices, institutional dialogue and practical learning.

The meeting focused particularly on circular economy as a practical and transferable model for local sustainability. Discussions addressed how communities, institutions, schools, social initiatives and local authorities can reduce waste, reuse resources, promote responsible consumption and develop more sustainable forms of economic and social organisation. By connecting environmental protection with education, social inclusion and democratic governance, the event showed that circular economy is not only a technical matter, but also a civic process that requires awareness, cooperation and active participation from citizens.

 

The event was designed as a balanced programme combining institutional engagement, expert knowledge, study visits, presentations of good practices, participatory learning and intercultural exchange. Participants were not only recipients of information, but active contributors to the learning process, presenting initiatives from their own countries, comparing approaches and reflecting on how successful experiences could be adapted to different local realities. The diversity of profiles involved — including local participants, international partners, civil society representatives, environmental practitioners, youth workers, educators, students and active citizens — enriched the debates and ensured a multidisciplinary perspective throughout the meeting.