| |||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Newsletter 25.05.2004CONTENTS:1. Editorial
Dear Europeans! The first week of the European Election campaigns is behind us. Has anything radically changed on the European political landscape? Do we have any true European commitment from the candidates? Does any real European debate exist? If we take European elections seriously, that means as European, then we certainly can sense the lack of all the above changes, commitments and debate. The European political parties (groups?) still function quite chaotically and their campaigns, from the european perspective, are fragmented and focused on the national level. There are however a few positive exceptions and a small positive evolvement towards a more transnational campaign, but only a small one... The former European Political families adopted their statues and are now European Political parties on paper. That does not mean they function in the way a national political party would, but at least the legal framework is set. As a next step true European political campaigns should be run where all the parties should follow the guidelines set down in the manifestos adopted at the European level. Against all hopes, this did not fully materialize and Europeans can listen to debates valid to a large extent only at the national level. So, where can the civil society step in and shout: »European Elections are about governance in Europe, not in member states« ? During the national debates the candidates for the European Parliament should be able to answer the questions related to their possible future jobs. So, voters: Participate! Ask! Demand! In the future weeks the future of democracy in Europe will be put to a test. The campaigns have to answer the questions on the future governance of the EU of 25 and therefore they bear crucial importance. The citizens have the right to understand, follow and also direct the debates! Best regards, Editor in Chief
The next edition will be send to you on 1st June 2004. Your contributions are welcome at newsletter@giveeuropeaface.net , deadline for the next issue is 31st May 2004. You can read all articles of this Bulletin in full length on: http://www.giveeuropeaface.net Contact details follow at the end of this newsletter.
“European Parliament is in the middle of the decision making process in the EU, it is certainly not a playground of the Union.” Dr. Teija Tiilikainen, member of the European Convention, Director of the European Research network in Helsinki University.
Interviews tell more about candidates then political speeches or manifestos. With 5 basic questions we aim at providing you short and concise information about some of young candidates competing in the largest european democratic contest...
1. You have 30 seconds to explain someone why voting in the EP elections is important. What would you say? There are three simple reasons for every European to vote. First over 50 % of the national legislation comes from the EU or is somehow rooted in to the European Union. Second, an active MEP has more power than a minister in the national level and third the parliament is a true legislative institution. 2. How do you see the role of the EP vis à vis other EU institutions now and in the future? European Parliament is now an equal legislator with the Council. In the future European Parliament should be the second chamber of the parliament, acting as a chamber of the people alongside the chambre of the states in the Federal Europe. 3. Do you think the heads of the states and governments should adopt the draft Constitution as it is now or would you like to change something? The Constitution should be adopted as it is now. If something anyway should be changed, it should be the case when it comes to voting in the Council. In the draft Constitution weighed majority voting means that majority should consist of 50% of member states representing at least 60% of the EU´s population. This weighed majority should be 50% -50% to guarantee the equality of the member states . 4. Would you like the idea that in the future the European Parliament elected the president of the Commission taking into account the result of the elections? That is what the Constitution says and it is fine for me. 5. What kind of face would you give to Europe? That face would certainly not look like the face of Valery Giscard d´Estaing! I would give Europe a young fresh face with new ideas. Youn can also visit Alexander’s website at: www.alexanderstubb.com
In this issue of the Newsletter we will give special attention to the youth political parties and their campaigns. ----- 4.1 Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) What do trees have in common with cluster bombs? Nuclear reactors with coffee
beans? Or currency speculators with bikes? All of these can affect our future
profoundly. The trees in the endangered Amazon rainforest not only form a unique
and unforgettable piece of nature. They also play a vital part in keeping our
precious planet ecologically balanced. And if we all would go by bike just a
little more often instead of by car, we would not only discover how nice that
can be, but in one stroke we would also deal air pollution a heavy blow. Discover more about the FYEG campaign at: http://www.fyeg.org/campaigns/commonfuture/index.html ----- 4.2 European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) Liberal key-points for the European Parliament 2004-2009 The ELDR manifesto for the European Parliament elections 2004 consists of 25 densely written pages that touch upon everything from the size of fishing nets to the theoretical concept of European democracy. How do we believe the European citizens on this basis will be able to understand the uniqueness of European Liberals? We as young European Liberals believe that it is of utmost importance that all Liberals across the continent stand united in their vision for the next European Parliament 2004-2009. We regret that our vision for a liberal Europe is not broadly understood. We believe that the ELDR and all European liberals should have a clear and easily understandable programme for the European Parliament elections, - one which conveys the uniqueness of the Liberal vision for European cooperation. We believe that European liberals must clearly define what they aim to achieve during the next 5-year term of the European Parliament. We believe that Liberals should decide upon a number of key selling points that show how European Liberal policies aim to solve the problems and concerns of all European citizens. We need to make clear our priorities for Europe and we have to recognise that an agenda that is too wide ranging will be too weak, not indicating clearly enough which goals we aim to achieve. Accordingly, our electoral manifesto will not focus on everything but promote the priorities that we see for European Liberals in the coming years… Full manifesto is available at: http://www.lymec.net/repository/Euromanifesto.doc ----- 4.3 Young European People’s Party (YEPP) CHAPTER ON EUROPEAN YOUTH POLICY As included in the EPP Action Programme 2003-2005 The EPP sees it as fundamental that in the further integration of Europe a generational perspective is taken into account. We must build a future that can offer better opportunities for our youth. Our plans for the years to come must be sustainable. The future of Europe is our youth. But we must not forget that our youth is present today. Taking into account the interests and views of young Europeans is a challenge the EPP would like to take on as a special task for the next European Parliament election period. A European Youth Policy must have as its basis the premise that the youth possesses great resources. At the same time young people face many challe nges that demand political attention, in particular on a European level. The EPP believes that the EU should be able to offer more to our youth on areas like education, employment and prevention of social exclusion. These are opportunities and challenges that our youth face today where Europe can be part of more efficient solutions. Ensuring the interests of young people demands more attention being paid to their participation and their input into decision-making processes in Europe. Full chapter on-line: http://www.eppe.org/default.asp?SHORTCUT=283 ----- 4.4 The Young European Socialists (ECOSY)
The European Union is the result of our common will. With the European Young Socialists, the Socialist Members For a political and social European Union The European Union has become a more appropriate level than the states to deal
with many of the demands the people of Europe have today: unemployment, social
inequality, environmental damage, organised crime... The Young European Socialists
see the European Union as a great opportunity to conquer again an efficient
system of welfare, of In order to have the legitimacy and the ability to tackle these issues the EU needs to be more democratically accountable to its citizens… Full text of the manifesto is available on-line: http://www.ecosy.org/content_files/ECOSY_EU_elect_Manifesto.PDF 5.1 JEF-news GIVE EUROPE A FACE: www.giveeuropeaface.net The website of the project Give Europe a Face offers the latest news in European politics – focusing on the IGC & Constitution, EP Elections, Youth Organisations and Local news. For the latest news, visit: http://www.giveeuropeaface.net/index.php?id=600
The website also offers information on local activities organized withinh the framework of the project Give Europe a Face. http://www.giveeuropeaface.net/index.php?id=630
EP Elections training seminar took place in in a wonderful historic and relaxing small town of Boskovice, middle Moravia, where JEF Czech Republic gathered participants from more than 45 European countries. In 7 days of fun and work the participants learned why elections are essential for a democratic Europe and had the chance to meet some candidates for the EP. All in all, a very challenging event where young people met and discussed politics in a relaxed way. The full report will be soon available on-line at: www.jef-europe.net In the meantime you can visit the website of the event: http://www.eures.cz ----- 5.2 Other young organizations The European Youth Forum, an international organisation representing the interests
of young people from all over Europe, has created a small survey on the European
Union. Visit: www.youthdecide.net
ETUC Youth demands a stronger Social Europe ETUC Youth aspires to a future where the European social model sets the benchmark. We see the European social model as one of the assets of the European Union (EU) that needs to be nurtured. The Social Dialogue and independence of the social partners, including their role in regulation, also have to be safeguarded… To read the position of ETUC, please visit: http://www.our-europe.org/a/98
6. Election news from EU Institutions and other sources 6.1 Fondation Robert Schuman Lets make EUROPE and not BURY our HEADS in the SAND VOTE IN THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS The Robert Schuman Foundation is distributing free of charge half a million copies of a 4 page newspaper between the 24th and 29th May designed for young people appealing to them to vote in the European Parliamentary election on June 13th . To order the free newspaper write to info@robert-schuman.org ! Visit the EP Elections website http://elections-europeennes.org/
This section will feature contributions from various Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and lobby groups.
----- 7.1 Federal Union Campaign briefing: Democracy and the European constitution Read more at http://www.federalunion.org.uk/europe/democracy.shtml ----- 7.2 Union of European Federalists (UEF) FEDERALISTS URGE IGC: DON’T DILUTE THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION On the occasion of the resumption of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)
at ministerial level early this week, the Union of European Federalists (UEF)
declared that those provisions of the Convention's Draft Constitution making
the EU more democratic and more efficient have to be saved under any circumstances.
In case you would like to know more about the activities of UEF, please visit: ----- 7.2 Chemical Reaction A joint project of the European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. Members of the European Parliament will take important decisions on chemicals law this year. With European elections in June, the most important thing you can do right now is ask your MEP candidates to support our campaign and protect our health and the environment from problem chemicals. Take a look at the campaign by visiting: www.chemicalreaction.org ----- 7.3 Friends of the Earth: EU Vote Watch This is more than reason enough for citizens to ask themselves: has my MEP voted in an environmentally friendly way? How well did the party I plan to elect do? How good was the performance of the group in the European Parliament, which my party will join after the election? Environmental legislation is one of the success stories of the European Union. While things are still far from perfect, some important improvements have been made over the last decades, often with the help of the European Parliament. In their EP election manifesto, the Green8 -which unite 8 of the leading environmental networks in Europe- describe the upcoming challenges for the European Parliament… Visit the website: http://www.foeeurope.org/euvotewatch/ ----- 7.4 The Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) The Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe has published a FAFCE is testing the candidates within its member countries who run for the
EU-elections, and namely as to their approach to families. In using this questionnaire,
the future EU-Parliament members are invited to express their opinion to seven
topical issues that are essential for the families. "The aim of a family-friendly
and future oriented European policy should be the definition of certain minimum
standards common for all EU-countries", says Johannes Fenz, President of
the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe. ----- 7.5 The European Older People's Platform – AGE Can we create a European society for all ages? AGE EP Elections Manifesto AGE has produced a Manifesto to the European Election candidates, asking them whether they are committed to create a European society for all ages. The Manifesto summarises the major issues raised by AGE members; it tries to translate it into concrete European demands. http://www.age-platform.org/EN/Download/HomeEN/February04/AGE_Manifesto2004.pdf ----- 7.6 European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) ETUC campaign 2004 Our Europe - Europe that’s us! Open letter to the candidates for the European elections
8.1 VoteMatch.net launched The innovative political preference website www.votematch.net was launched at the College of Europe in Bruges. Resulting from a cooperation between the Dutch Centre for Political Participation (IPP) and students of the College, the website compares voters' political preferences with the party programs of the European political parties putting forward candidates in the elections in June. VoteMatch compares your European political preferences with questions and statements taken from election documents of the European Political Parties and Groups represented in the European Parliament. The program will calculate then which party has opinions closest to yours, and rank the other parties in descending order. Have fun using this new tool ----- 8.2 European Parliament Elections: How Will You Vote? From June 10 to 13, citizens in the 25 EU Member States will elect a new European Parliament – an institution with real powers whose decisions affect all of our lives. This poll aims to gauge voters’ intentions in the run-up to the poll. Visit http://www.thecentre.eu.com/elections and express your preference! ----- 8.3 Quizzes - Check your knowledge of the UE and its history and win a trip to Helsinki! (in German) Visit: www.vote4future.at Visit: www.europecounts.org.uk/quiz ----- 8.4 E-cards Send postcards from the website of The Greens/EFA project “Eat Better”: http://www.eat-better.org/eat-better.php
CONTACT DETAILS The bulletin is produced by:Young European Federalists/ Jeunes Européens
Fédéralistes (JEF)  | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
 | | | |||||||||||||||||
