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| Newsletter 19.05.2004CONTENTS:1. Editorial
Dear Europeans, The final countdown to the first European Elections in the Union of 25 has begun! This June's elections will make it to the history books as the largest trans-national elections ever held, where almost 350 millions of Europeans will have the right to elect the person they find best suited to represent them at the European level. And the European Elections matter! If years ago the first general comment on the European Parliament (EP) was that it's just a debating club, now this argument is not valid anymore. A significant proportion of the EU legislation now comes from the EP and the number of areas where the EP has competences is growing. Finally, they matter because the EP is the only democratically elected institution of the European Union. This is why our vote counts! Not only that we make use of our right to vote and therefore take part in the basic democratic game on the Continent, we also give our support to the European Parliament. If it is to become stronger and if the divisions of work among the Institutions are to become clearer, we need to express our support and give greater legitimacy to the body that represents us, citizens! Most of the campaigns have already started, although with a very slow pace and silently. The 10 new member states will see the campaigns for the first time and this is the occasion to adopt a different approach. Candidates: go out and talk to people, explain them why their vote is important! Debate environment, taxes, Constitution – all the important topics where the EP has a say and where people's lives are affected. After the European Convention and in parallel with the final debates on the first European Constitution, the EP Elections have to deliver their best. They must not only satisfy the basic criteria of electing new MEPs, not only serve as a test for later national elections – but above all give Europe a new face! A new face for a community of 450 million people. Good luck! Let the show begin! Editor in chief.
The next edition will be send to you on 24th May 2004. Your contributions are welcome at newsletter@giveeuropeaface.net , deadline for the next issue is 22nd 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.
“Europe's Institutions could do with a blast of fresh air, and the oxygen of real democracy. What better opportunity could there be than these European elections, in this very special year, to ensure a genuinely European dimension to the campaign over the coming months?” Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament
Eddie Izzard, comedian.
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...
Speaking to...Ellen Trane Norby Ellen is one of the youngest candidates for the European parliament. She is 24, born in Lemvig, Denmark and is a candidate with Venstre, the Liberal party of Denmark. Not so long ago she used to be the President of LYMEC - European Liberal Youth.
1. You have 30 seconds to explain someone why voting in European Elections is important. What do you say? The ones that vote decide! 85% of the legislation that is discussed in the
Danish Parliament is influenced or comes directly from EU. To neglect this dimension
of the policy making is to walk half naked in the streets. The next EP will
among other things decide upon REACH - the European chemical policy. The major
discussion will be whether the consumers are to be protected against highly
damaging and toxic chemicals or if the industry is allowed to continue its use
of them. This and many other decisions affect your daily life. Are you sure
you will leave it up to your neighbour to decide who should represent your interests?
He/she might not agree with you… The European Parliament is the only body on the European level that is directly
elected by the citizens and the only one which is directly accountable to its
decisions. The time of the Mickey Mouse parliament has ended. The EP is no longer
a little mouse without influence. The parliamentarians have taken ground during
the last five years and have put a lot of pressure on the commission on many
issues and will continue to do so. However as it is today the EP is the absolutely
weakest of the important institutions in the EU. The Council, European Council
and the Commission are still the defining factors. The draft for a constitutional
treaty changes this and empowers the Parliament further, but not enough. I would
like to see a development where the EP develops into a true first chamber of
legislation.
There are many areas that could have been thought differently, but I think we have to recognise that the draft constitutional treaty is a workable compromise that moves forward compared to the situation as we find it today. If I could I would like to change the structure into a true federal one. I would turn the EP into a first chamber and the council into the second. I would ensure the EP a right of initiative. I would politicise the Commission and make the individual commissioners responsible for their actions and ensure that they can be sacked one by one and not only as a collective. I would ensure qualified majority voting as a norm. I would strengthen the catalogue of competencies and limit the areas of EU interests and then I would make clearer rules for adoption, change and revision of the treaty part I. Define the role of the Charter Part II and ensure an update of the concrete policy areas part III not least the EURATOM and the CAP.
The Parliament as the first chamber and the Council as the second chamber should in cooperation elect the president of the Commission as a reflection of the political majority in the states and among the citizens. That would be a way to give a sign to the citizens in Europe that their vote matters. And it is a good way to make the commission accountable to it's citizens.
The EU needs not only one face, but many human faces! All the MEPs have a huge
responsibility – a responsibility that they have not lifted so far. The
distance to a MEP should not be further than an email, a phone call or a clap
on the shoulder. Today this distance is mentally in another world. The work
needs to be communicated and the MEPs needs to participate in the domestic debate. ENDS If you want to know more about Ellen and her campaign, please visit her website: http://www.ellentranenorby.dk/
In this section we would like to offer our readers a comprehensive overview of EP Election campaigns at the European level. In the first edition we provide you with the official campaign documents and analysis of parties’ work in the previous mandate (1999-2004), where available. Additionally we also include campaign documents prepared by the political groups in the European Parliament. ----- 4.1. European Green Party (EGP) European Elections Manifesto 2004: EUROPE CAN DO BETTER - YOU DECIDE! Greens make the difference in Europe. The outcome of the 2004 European elections, which will be held in an enlarged European Union of 25 countries, will determine our common future. Greens have been among the most convinced promoters of fair enlargement. The reunification of Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall was and remains one of the main duties of the Union. Greens in Europe are already playing a crucial role in building a more tolerant, social, ecological and democratic Union. A strong Green presence in the European Union is the best guarantee for a European commitment on better governance of globalization. Economic and trade rules must be put at the service of environmental and social objectives. We Greens want the EU and all of Europe to make a difference for peace, solidarity, respect for diversity and equity in an increasingly fragile and divided world that needs concrete proposals for a sustainable and just future. Greens are working in favor of an independent and cohesive European foreign policy based on democratic and ecological values. We want Europe to take up its environmental responsibilities and therefore to implement a radical shift in energy and transport policy. Nuclear energy must be phased out and replaced with cleaner and safer alternative energy. The future belongs to sun, wind, biomass, hydrological and other renewable sources. The EU we want is open and tolerant with strong protection of both cultural and natural diversity. Our Europe is committed to high social and ecological standards on a regional, European and international scale that must take preference over purely commercial interests. In our Green Europe, the rule of law and the rights of local peoples and individuals shall prevail over military might and economic dominance. Greens are already making a difference, and with your support in the 2004 European Elections, our influence will be even more decisive in the future. The new constitutional treaty must make the EU more accountable, transparent and democratic and bring it closer to its citizens. We are convinced that the Convention that produced the proposal for a new European Constitution went in the right direction. It wrote an historic document. The nightmare of Nice – where behind-the-scenes horse-trading decided the content of the treaty – has to be overcome. Our position is that the European Constitution should be ratified by referendum. In order to advance the aim of greening Europe, we will not hesitate to use the possibilities offered by the clause in the constitution which obliges the Commission to propose a European law when one million citizens ask for it. Citizen empowerment and more participatory democracy for civil society and NGOs are among our priorities. We want a social Union built on the basic principles of equality and solidarity and a European Union that strives for sustainable ecological development for the whole continent. In our Green Vision, the European Union must be synonymous with and emblematic
of the concept of peace. The European Union must stand for peace and should
be a prime actor in working for peace in the unstable international situation… A Green Contract for Europe 2004-2009: Proposals for the next Parliament
In this document you will find an overview of the Green Group's initiatives
and achievements in the committees of the European Parliament over the last
five years. As you can see, despite our relatively modest size – with
45 MEPs out of a total of 626 – our input has been important and covers
all of Parliament's legislative areas. This summary is not exhaustive, rather
it is intended to give you some ideas and examples that you can investigate
further. The mention of reports by name should also help you in this regard.
Source: http://www.greens-efa.org/en/ Website: http://www.eurogreens.org/ ----- 4.2. The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) Electoral Programme 2004 WHAT DOES ELDR STAND FOR? The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) believes in a Europe based on the fundamental Liberal principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, tolerance and solidarity. We believe in a fair, free and open society which harnesses the abilities of each and every one of its citizens to participate fully in society, presenting them with the opportunities to fulfill their potential, free from poverty, ignorance, and discrimination. To achieve these goals, we are striving to complete the internal market as
a truly common economic area without internal frontiers, and to reform Europe's
economy to make it more prosperous and competitive, with more jobs and stable
prices for consumers, based on the principle of globally inclusive international
free trade. We are working to promote sustainable development and to protect
our environment. We Full Electoral Program is available on-line (in 20 languages) at: http://www.eldr.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=426 Website: http://www.eldr.org ----- 4.3. European People’s Party (EPP) EPP MANIFESTO 2004-2009: Your Majority in Europe 25 Years of European Direct Elections We call on citizens to vote for us in the first 21st century elections to the European Parliament. The reunited Europe will celebrate as a whole the 25th anniversary of the first direct elections. Voters from a EU with more than 450 million people can now directly influence the fate of the European Union by taking part in the European elections. The integration of nation states in the European Union is unique in human history, and ensures freedom, peace and stability, as well as economic prosperity, social progress and better care for the environment. Let us continue this joint success-story and improve on it. The European Union is the right answer to the multitude of challenges posed by globalization. A global communications network, with industries competing on a world scale, has been accompanied by new challenges to our security. Numerous third millennium problems are not susceptible to national solutions. So we need a strong European Union. It is the guarantee that the European nations and citizens can prosper in freedom and security. We want to strengthen the EU wherever it serves people, and where acting together makes a difference. Europe as a Union of Values The European People’s Party (EPP) is the party of the common good in Europe. Our member parties, all strongly committed to European integration, have contributed decisively to building our common Europe. We see the European Union as a permanent and deepening process in which the advantages of acting together must be used for the good of the people. It is our goal to establish an efficient EU based on democracy, a Union in
touch with its citizens. For us, the EU is more than a common economic space;
it is primarily a political community of citizens and their nations. Unalienable
human rights, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, justice, equal
opportunities, and the equality of women and men, are the cornerstones of our
values. They reflect our conception of man, which has above all been influenced
by Christianity EPP Action Programme 2004-2009
European unification is a major political project, one of considerable historic importance. All the Member Parties of the EPP have made substantial contributions to its design and development. It is an ambitious, challenging and unfinished project, but a promising one. The EPP has always supported it because it corresponds to its vision of modern society and because it enables the broadest possible application of the values to which it adheres. An ambitious project. To bring together, without the use of force, different countries torn by secular antagonisms to achieve a peaceful community, assembled around shared values of human rights, peace, liberty, democracy, justice and solidarity but with respect for its members' diversity: this is what 50 years of European construction have made it possible to achieve. Europe is no longer divided, democracies have emerged where dictatorships governed during decades, the rule of law and the market economy have been extended to millions of Europeans, providing a development characterized by freedom, growing prosperity and human dignity. This achievement is unique in modern history. The results of this bold undertaking may be imperfect, yet they have led virtually all the countries of Europe, and even those further a field, to join the EU or to apply for membership. As a result, the standards of the European Union have been the template for countries transforming from dictatorship to democracy, from planned economy to open society… Both documents are also available in French, German and Spanish: http://www.eppe.org/default.asp?SHORTCUT=283 Website: http://www.eppe.org/ ----- 4.4. The Party of European Socialists (PES) GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER Five commitments for the next five years The European elections in June will be historic. For the first time, people from 10 new Member States will take part in European elections across 25 countries. Members of the new European Parliament will serve the interests of 450 million citizens and will ensure that the EU answers to their needs and priorities. The Party of European Socialists urges voters to seize the opportunity of the elections to shape the European Union's future. Problems and challenges common to all European countries, such as the environment, border control and cross border crime and terrorism, are best tackled by European solutions. Decisions on European law and spending made by MEPs in Brussels and Strasbourg
might seem far from home, but they directly affect the working and living conditions
of each and every one of us.
http://www.eurosocialists.org/upload/publications/85ENManifesto.pdf
http://www.eurosocialists.org/scripts/WebLog/WebLogOverview.asp?lang=EN&WLCat=1 Website: http://www.eurosocialists.org This section will feature news from the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe), Youth political parties and other Youth organisations. ----- 5.1. JEF News Appeal to te European Parliament and European Leaders: Give Europe... A Constitution
http://www.giveeuropeaface.net/index.php?id=607 Young Federalists mark Europe Day with more than 300 events all over the continent http://www.jef-europe.net/presscentre/archives/002067.html
----- 5.2. Other Youth Organizations European Youth Forum (EYF) YOU(TH)DECIDE! This website has been designed to promote communication between young people who want to participate in the European Parliament elections in June 2004. In this website you can find information on other youth campaigns made by National Youth Councils or International Youth NGOs members of the Youth Forum. Participate in the discussion forums and chats, read the latest news related to the European elections, view the calendar of events or try the challenging quizzes. Link: http://www.youthdecide.com
INTRODUCTION The EU is an entity to which young people relate increasingly as citizens with rights and responsibilities. It takes decisions which young people wish to discuss, to challenge and to influence and foremost understand. The next European Parliament will be elected in a profoundly changed European Union. The European Parliament, the Union institution that represents the citizens, will be more powerful and more important than ever. Still, the European Parliament is often not at the centre of the citizens’ attention. Voter turn-out and participation in EP elections, in particular of young people, have been worryingly low. Candidates for the European Parliament should make full use of the potential that the elections take place in a very unique context and should encourage young people to participate in every aspect of the election. They also should make young people interested in participating in the elections. Furthermore the year 2004 should be seen as an opportunity to enhance the knowledge and understanding of all citizens of the EU and its importance for their lives. Many young people feel that politicians are remote and not interested in their needs beyond the election day. If politicians running for the European Parliament wish to overcome this indifference towards their work and their ideas they must counter the impression that many young people have: that their interests are given too little priority and that election campaign statements are forgotten the day after the election. The European Youth Forum therefore calls on all parties and candidates in favour of a more democratic, efficient and transparent Europe to take into account the expectations of young people. A EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN The European Youth Forum calls on the candidates running for the European Parliament to show how they will take into account both local concerns of young people and the European interest. By doing so they will contribute to making young people more interested in democracy and the EU and to winning the votes of young people… The manifesto is ready to download on-line: http://www.youthdecide.com/manifesto/0716-03FINAL.pdf
6. Election news from EU Institutions and other sources
The European parliament created a special multi-lingual (20 languages) website for the European Elections 2004. It offers information on all 25 countries involved in the Elections and lists the names of all candidates. Available at: http://www.elections2004.eu.int/ ----- EUROBAROMETER n.61 – Spring 2004 The latest issue of Eurobarometer has recently been published. It included questions on the forthcoming European Elections and the adoption of the European Constitution. It foresees a drop in the turnout for the Elections due to take place in June. Please read the report at: ----- PREDICTING THE FUTURE: The next European Parliament by Simon Hix,London School of Economics and Political Science For Burson-Marsteller Introduction The model used by Professor Simon Hix and Dr Michael Marsh to predict the results
of this year’s European elections has proved to be 92% accurate in all
previous elections - and far more accurate than opinion poll data alone. While
some special circumstances in a few of the 25 In other respects, however, these elections will be quite similar to previous European Parliament elections. First, as Table 1 shows, different electoral systems will continue to be used in each member state. All member states now use some form of ‘proportional representation’ (PR), where parties win seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive. But, with the variety of methods used for translating votes into seats, there remains little uniformity across the member states. In many member states, for instance, voters will only be able to choose between party lists, while in several states people will be able to choose their preferred candidates from the same party. Constituency size also plays a role. Most states have one single national constituency, where there is one list per party per country. In the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Belgium and Ireland, however, there will be several regional constituencies. Lastly, while some states have no formal electoral threshold, in several others parties must secure a minimum percentage of votes to win a seat. These differences can affect the outcome of the election as they influence how parties behave in the election campaign and ultimately which parties or candidates voters choose to support… Read the full analysis on-line (pdf): http://www.bmbrussels.be/files/news_4.pdf
This section will feature contributions from various Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and lobby groups.
----- Act4Europe: NGO toolkit for the European Parliament elections 04 This toolkit contains general information on the EP composition and legal role, the connection to civil society, suggestions for NGO campaigning, and the concrete demands of the 4 NGO sectors environment, social, development, human rights). Part IV is a complete country by country contact list for parties standing for elections… Please download the Toolkit from: http://www.act4europe.org/code/en/hp.asp ----- Federal Union Campaign briefing: The European elections The aim of the campaign is to raise issues of genuine European interest in
the European elections. Too often, the European elections are treated as a referendum
on the performance of the member state governments. That neglects the importance
of the issues to be decided by the European Parliament. MEPs have an important
role in the EU’s legislative process and they hold the European Commission
to account for its actions as the European executive.
http://www.federalunion.org.uk/news/2004/040509briefing.shtml
The European Parliament has a wide and growing range of powers. The future
success of the EU depends in part on the effective and public exercise of those
powers. The wider European public cannot be expected to support a political
institution if it is not seen to be delivering tangible benefits. Full text: http://www.federalunion.org.uk/news/2004/040509questions.shtml ----- The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community PRESS RELEASE: An opportunity to make our values real – COMECE launches Euro-elections statement 10 May 2004 To read the full Press release visit: http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=news&id=1&language=en Or download (pdf): http://www.comece.org/upload/pdf/com_elections_040510_en.pdf Also available in Italian, Polish and Maltese. ----- European Environmental Bureau (EBB) The EEB is a federation of 143 environmental citizens organisations based in all EU Member States and most Accession countries, as well as a few neighbouring countries. They range from local and national to European and international. The aim of the EEB is to protect and improve the environment of Europe and to enable the citizens of Europe to play their part in achieving that goal The EEB office in Brussels was established in 1974 to provide as a focal point for its members to monitor and respond to the emerging EU environmental policy. It has an information service, it runs ten working groups of EEB-members, it produces position papers on topics that are, or should be, on the EU agenda and it represents the Membership in discussions with the Commission, European Parliament and the Council. It closely coordinates EU-oriented activities with its Members on the National levels. Furthermore it is working on an environmentally attractive enlargement of the EU as well as some pan-european issues like the follow up of the Aarhus Convention. Download the Green 8 (G8) Election Manifesto: http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/G8_manifesto_EP_Election.pdf Visit: http://www.eeb.org/main-ep.htm and download the Manifesto in other 11 languages.
8.1. E-postcards for the EP Elections! GIVE EUROPE A FACE: Send an e-postcards to your friends and ask them what face would they give to Europe! http://www.giveeuropeaface.net/index.php?id=701
8.2. Euro-quizzes - Travel throughout Europe and become the virtual President of the European
Union! The best 25 candidates will be rewarded with a VIP journey to Strasbourg.
Of course these players can take a 'parlimentary assistant' with them. Everyone
has a chance to win the political thriller 'Troubled Waters'. To be eligible
for a prize, you must register at the end of the game. - EU for beginners...A quiz which should not be too hard for anyone interested
in the EU! Let's register and play!
CONTACT DETAILS The bulletin is produced by:Young European Federalists/ Jeunes Européens
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