Under the direction of its chairman, Veijo Baltzar, Drom Association produced the Conscience of Europe project 2014-2015, the main event of which, the Conference, was held at the annex building of the Finnish Parliament on 18-19 March 2014. The project received funding from the Europe for Citizens programme of the EU. The purpose was to reform the European policies of multiculturalism.
The driving idea was that a multicultural Europe requires multinational cooperation involving above all influential decision-makers committed to this goal. At the conference, Veijo Baltzar presented 24 propoposal for reforming the multicultural policies of the EU. He emphasized egalitarianism, the right to cultural identity and self-worth. Baltzar particularly sought to campaign for young people having a voice and an opportunity to reform attitudes to minorities and thereby build a true Europe for citizens. He promoted developing measures based on education and culture.
President Tarja Halonen and former double prime minister Paavo Lipponen held speeches in the conference.
The project started in 2018, when the president of the Buchmesse, Juergen Boos, invited Mr. Baltzar to negotiate over cooperation concerning Gypsy literature. Representatives of the European Commission (Themis Christophidou), Amazon Publishing (Gabriella Page-Fort) and PEN International (president Jennifer Clement) supported the project.
Speakers included among others:
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President Tarja Halonen
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Minister of Education Jaak Aaviksoo (Estonia),
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Former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen,
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Ministers Krista Kiuru, Pekka Haavisto and Päivi Räsänen
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Drulák (Czech Republic)
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Minister of State for Social Inclusion Zoltán Kovács (Hungary)
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Representatives from all Finnish parliamentary parties
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In addition, the conference involved speeches from 10 young people.
