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The operationalisation of key elements of European citizenship can also beachieved through the use of horizontal objectives in European fundingprogrammes (Manolescu et al., 2016; Manolescu et al., 2019) %u2013 equalopportunities, sustainable development, innovation and ICT, as well as strategicpriorities %u2013 debating the future of Europe and countering Euroscepticism;promoting solidarity in times of crisis; stimulating intercultural dialogue andmutual understanding, and combating the stigmatisation of migrants andminority groups.An example of operationalising the concept is represented by Citizen Science.It describes %u201cthe general public engagement in scientific research activitieswhen citizens actively contribute to science either with their intellectual effortor surrounding knowledge or with their tools and resources%u201d (ECSA, 2015;EUReKa, 2021). Two initiatives/projects have received funding from theEuropean Union: (1) The European Union%u2019s new Citizen Science, which honours,presents and supports outstanding projects whose social and political impactadvances the further development of a pluralistic, inclusive and sustainablesociety in Europe; (2) eu-citizen.science, which is a platform for sharing citizenscience projects, resources, tools, and training.Democratic engagement and civic participation, and citizen involvementmaterialize through specific actions such as city twinning, city networks, andcivil society projects.The role of the educational system becomes critical in forming competencesassociated with European citizenship (Fern%u00e1ndez, 2005; McCann & Finn, 2006)and can include integrated measures:%u25aa Designing an integrated image of the concept of European citizenship,highlighting and explaining its implications across different levels: individual,organisational, communal, national, and global.%u25aa Engaging in projects that promote European identity concepts.%u25aa Including specific subjects in the curriculum.%u25aa Engaging in research to identify cultural foundations and constructmeasurement tools for citizens%u2019 commitment to internalising and promotingEuropean values.%u25aa Emphasising the importance of projects involving international mobility forstudents and young people.%u25aa Using non-formal methods from the gamification category to increase themotivation of young people in understanding and applying the specificmeasures promoted within European citizenship.The operationalisation of the concept of European citizenship becomesessential both within Member States and, even more so, within candidate states371.2 European Citizenship Aspects

