L 378/32 Official Journal of the European Union 27.12.2006 DECISION No 1904/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 December 2006 establishing for the period 2007 to 2013 the programme ‘Europe for Citizens’ to promote active European citizenship THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Articles 151 and 308 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ('), Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1)  The Treaty establishes citizenship of the Union, which complements national citizenship of the respective Member States. It is an important element in strength- ening and safeguarding the process of European integra- tion. ()  The Community should make citizens fully aware of their European citizenship, its benefits as well as its rights and obligations, which are to be promoted with due regard for subsidiarity and in the interest of cohesion. (3) It is especially urgent to make European citizens fully aware of their citizenship of the European Union in the context of the broad reflection on the future of Europe launched by the Brussels European Council of 16 and 17 June 2005. The ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme should therefore complement, but not overlap with, other initia- tives taken in this context. (4 For citizens to give their full support to European integra- tion, greater emphasis should therefore be placed on their common values, history and culture as key elements of their membership of a society founded on the principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, cultural diversity, tolerance and solidarity, in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (*) proclaimed on 7 December 2000. () OJC 28, 3.2.2006, p. 29. () 0JC115,16.5.2006,p. 81. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 April 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 25 September 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Position of the European Parliament of 25 October 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 11 December 2006. () 0JC 364,18.12.2000,p. 1. (5)  Encouraging active citizenship is a key element in strengthening not only the fight against racism, xeno- phobia and intolerance but also cohesion and the devel- opment of democracy. (6)  In the context of the EU information and communication strategy, a broad dissemination and a high impact of the activities supported through the programme should be ensured. (7 In order to bring Europe closer to its citizens and to enable them to participate fully in the construction of an ever closer Europe, there is a need to address all nationals and legal residents in the participating countries and to involve them in transnational exchanges and cooperation activities, contributing to developing a sense of belonging to common European ideals. (8)  The European Parliament, in a Resolution adopted in 1988, considered it desirable that a major effort be undertaken to step up contacts between citizens of different Member States and stated that specific support from the European Union for the development of twin- ning schemes between municipalities in different Member States was both rational and desirable. (9)  The European Council has recognised on several occa- sions the need to bring the European Union and its insti- tutions closer to the citizens of the Member States. It has encouraged the Union’s institutions to maintain and foster open, transparent and regular dialogue with orga- nised civil society, thus promoting citizens™ participation in public life and in decision-making, while emphasising the essential values that are shared by the citizens of Europe. (10)  The Council established in its Decision 2004/100/EC of 26 January 2004 establishing a Community action programme to promote active European citizenship (civic participation) (¥, an action programme which has confirmed the need to promote sustained dialogue with civil society organisations and municipalities and to support the active involvement of citizens. () OJL30,4.2.2004, p. 6.