In the post Lisbon Europe more and more decisions move from a national to a European level. Besides those legal and political changes, it is important to develop a European consciousness in order to live and work in a globalise world and be not only a citizen but an active citizen. However, active citizenship is not only important for the people living in the EU, it is also necessary for the EU itself. The EU depends on participation and needs a political and active citizen. However, there seems to be a lack of knowledge about the various possibilities for creating and being part of the European civil society. The training course "Strengthening European Participatory Democracy" to be held in Sofia from 1 to 8 May, 2011 will provide young people with knowledge and skills for active participation in the democratic life of the union. The political, social, economic and cultural aspects that the course addresses will contribute to shape a vision how to strengthen European democracy and reaffirm the concept of active European citizenship. 45 participants will acquire competences about how to develop activities fostering European citizenship and practical knowledge how to communicate the Europe 2020 strategy to the young citizens. The ideas and knowledge generated during the course can be used by every participant and be implemented at local level.