Welcome to the first issue of Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe, the Newsletter for CINEFOGO Network of Excellence, supported by EU's 6th Framework Programme. The Newsletter offers surveys of CINEFOGO's activities. It will be published 4 times annually and shall serve as a platform for dialogue and debate with the Network's stakeholders and the general public, as well as being a communication instrument for the Network itself.

The Newsletter will also provide an open-eye function concerning work of other institutions and networks, and public debates in the EU with regard to CINEFOGO related issues, including European citizenship and citizenships in Europe, and about European civil societies. Thus in this issue we bring material on 'Civil Society and European Democracy'.

CINEFOGO partners, scholars and other interested institutions, networks and individuals are invited to visit CINEFOGO's digital highway at www.cinefogo.org. Here you will find more detailed and regularly updated reports on the progress and results of Network's Joint Programme of Activities, and other relevant information.

The Network participants as well as external stakeholders are urged to contribute to the European debate through the two channels: CINEFOGO Newsletter and CINEFOGO digital highway.