2013 is the European Year of the Citizen and as such the focus of activity should be on understanding & promoting the idea and practice of citizenship, in terms of European as well as more local forms of citizenship. The partnership has identified a number of issues which limit such an idea and practice and prevent ‘Europe’ and its constituent communities, groups and people reaching their full potential. Much of what has gone before has focused on the more concrete, direct and individual aspects of citizenship such as participation in formal politics & voting procedures and individual rights and responsibilities of ‘the citizen’. What it has not dealt with is the ‘lack of belonging’ that affects so many and leads to disengagement and apathy. There is a limited feeling of belonging to their own localities, regions or states never mind to Europe. Worse than this is the negative view of ‘Europe’ as just another level of bureaucracy, red tape and pressure, something that does not belong to the people but is something forced on them or unrelated to them, a view that is often reinforced by the media. In addition, Europe’s constituent elements are seen as ‘foreign’ to one another, in competition for scarce resources. The resultant situation is increasing disengagement from politics in general, creating a limited citizenship and one that is confused by it’s identity/ies and angry about ‘others’. Such citizenship cannot deal with change or fully participate in the processes required to face the pressures exerted upon it and cannot contribute fully to a more inclusive Europe.Addressing these issues is key to enabling creativity, the understanding of change as a positive force and building community resilience, sustainability and an active citizenry.