Andalusia (Spain) participated for the first time in the ELDW and chosed the status of “12 Star City”, with particular focus on youth and education. On the occasion of the Democracy Week 2013, students had the opportunity to meet local elected representatives, and participate in conferences and debates on local democracy, local commerce and citizens’ rights. “We believe that the strategic location of Andalusia, and its role as border region should motivate our local administration to be present in all spaces for debate and decision-making in Europe” – Diego Valderas Sosa, Vice-President of the Government of Andalucía, said in his presentation of activities organised in the framework of the EWLD, related to the 2013 leading theme “Active participation: voting, sharing, participating”.