FRJB25 PSLL IDENTITY Meeting at CUD

Using a slideshow, he explained the missions of that place, the history and the place of Dunkirk in Europe and in the world.  During the conference he explained the services offered in Dunkirk to the local population and the projects carried out.

The urban community of Dunkerque is the first voluntary urban community in France. It was created by Decree on 21 October 1968. It is from the 1st of January 1969, that this new public institution gets to work. Since that date it has been acting for the development of the agglomeration and the well-being of its inhabitants. The agglomeration was in 2022 composed of 22 communes, which cover part of the maritime Flanders and the entire coastal façade of the Northern Department. With its geographical situation and its available land sites, Dunkirk has been able to strengthen its economic dimension as a European industrial, port and energy centre whilst diversifying its economic tissue. The development of the university, of its research laboratories and the density of services to industry are today encouraging a strong innovatory drive. The revitalisation of the city centre and the recovery of abandoned port areas started in the 1990’s. 
The aim of the presentation was to explain the dynamism of the Dunkirk conglomeration a living and attractive centre, of a suitable dimension for a living environment of over 260,000 inhabitants. In 2023, Dunkirk’s Dkarbonation industrial hub joined WEF’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters, a global initiative to accelerate decarbonization across 31 industrial regions, making Dunkirk the sole French representative. With a goal to cut CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and create 20,000 jobs by 2040, Dunkirk’s efforts focus on leveraging technology, digitalization, and collaboration to transform its industrial base. A historic part was presented from Jean Bart to Vauban, Louis XIV, Dynamo Operation to now. The strategic location gives many opportunities for a great partnership all over Europe. The link with our Erasmus+ partners was done.

After that, he asked the students about the origins of the European Union, the values and symbols of Europe, and their rights as European citizens. Finally, the students had to answer a quiz for the young people of Dunkerque : what Europe meant to them , whether they felt like European citizens, their hopes, concerns and expectations regarding the future of Europe.

All students actively listen and participated in the dialogue with the mediators. They willingly accepted to take part in the citizen consultation. They were really surprised of the international politic of Dunkirk to open the ideas for a better city. The assessment that was made by the mediators underlines made interesting knowledges and proposals.