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| Newsletter 01.06.2004CONTENTS:1. Editorial
Dear Europeans! The campaign is getting a face. Banners and posters have appeared on the streets, TV commercials started to roll. People have finally access to direct information from the candidates and the candidates themselves are facing questions from the public. It is necessary that the campaigns inform the citizens, but also give them the chance to express their opinion. The fact that in 2004 a significant proportion of voters has Internet access and gets most of the information through newsletters, e-mails etc. has also changed the nature of the campaigns. Many parties have established websites that serve as a pool of information and a forum for discussion. More and more on-line chats take place, where people from all around Europe can participate and ask questions to the candidates. The general trend is positive, but technology alone will not attract many voters. There should be more European substance added to the debates! Another interesting euro-wide debate has arised around the video spot for the EP Elections produced by the European Parliament (it is also included in this Newsletter). The main message is - since we all have to take decisions, why should we stop between the 10th and 13th June, when the EP Elections take place? The message itself is fine, but the video left some room for criticism. And this is where the beauty of everything European comes out - different opinions from different corners of Europe. In general, for more catholic societies the women's brest at the start of the video should be cut out, for some the scene from the court should be censored and so on...But it is the message that counts! In two weeks time European citizens will have new representatives in the the European Parliament. Having the right to chose someone according to our wishes is a privilege that we should not throw away. Only by giving the European Parliament, as the only directly elected European insitution, a strong mandate, we can hope that in the future it will become the leading political force in the European Union. Besided political campaigning, a more basic information campaign on the role of the EP and the EU in general should also be run. The political parties should realise that the more information people will get, stronger their opinions will be. And this certainly will not result in further absence from the elections, but in a more active political participation. In the end this would be good for the european political landscape and for the parties themselves. A more politicised parliament (and hopefully the Commission in the future) would become more attractive and above all easier to understand. Enjoy the last days of the campaigns! Best regards, Editor in Chief
The next edition will be send to you on 8th June 2004. Your contributions are welcome at newsletter@giveeuropeaface.net , deadline for the next issue is 7th June 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.
"For all that we have Europeanised policy, we are still searching for a way to 'Europeanise' politics." Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament ----- "Our task now is to mobilise our common home of 450 million people in the new EU to exercise their vote because of enlargement and because of the constitution. The new greater Europe is no longer a dream but a reality and the way forward should be marked by much improved electoral participation." Enrique Barón Crespo, President of the PES Group ----- "Voting is about getting powerful institutions to listen to what the public thinks. Don't just complain, make yourself heard!" Keira Knightley, actress
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? I wouldn't concentrate only on voting in European Elections, but on elections in general. Democracy is a huge achievement of human kind and we should always remember that people in a huge part of history did not have the option of decision of taking decisions about public matters. People have bled and died for democracy, and in many places they still do. We should appreciate this achievement and always remember that if we don't get out and vote and by this express our will, somebody will and his demands might be different than ours. Voting is the only opportunity by which we are able to, even in a very small percentage, express our will as everybody else. Voting is our only chance to help create politics ø let's use it!
The EP as the only institution in the EU which is directly elected, must gain more legislative power vis a vis other institution, especially the Council of Ministers. The competences of the Parliament are not only a matter of the articles of the Constitution, but of democratic culture in the EU. We cannot anymore allow that the Commission simply ignores the decisions of the Parliament, as it did recently in the case of giving out the personal data of air passengers to US intelligence. The Parliament expresses the will of European people and its decisions must be respected. In the future we must overcome this democratic deficit.
The draft Constitution prepared by the Convention represents a fragile balance between various interests inside the EU. Therefore, even if one wants changes of the draft be made, such actions might trigger an avalanche of changes. I believe that the decision to open the draft for changes was not wise and is probably the reason for the delay in adopting the Constitution. The draft, though not perfect, is an opportunity of simplifying the decision-making processes in the EU and bringing the EU closer to its citizens. Compromising these two goals to achieve selfish, short-term and national interests is an act which might block the process of adoption of the Constitution for years, if not decades. But if the Constitution is open for changes I, I must strongly oppose the attempts to block secularism in the EU by mentioning religious roots of the EU in Constitution. Secularism is a great achievement of Europe and must be kept also in the Constitution. It does not imply anti-religious beliefs, but simply allows everyone to practice his/her own religion in his/her own, private, way. Secularism also means that no one is discriminated, or privileged, for his/her religious belief.
Of course, this is one of the ways to bring Europe closer to its citizens and also put the will of the people into practice. We, young socialists and social democrats have put as one of our primary goals to strive for a Europe which is closer to its people. Electing the President of the Commission in the European Parliament, as we elect prime ministers in national parliaments, would be a step forward, if of course the President of the Commission is accountable to the European Parliament also after his/her election.
As one is able to see from my answers above, I stand for a transparent Union, a Union closer to its citizens and inhabitants. If I am elected, I will do everything in my power to show the people that Europe is not a bunch of bureaucrats in Brussels , which does not influence their lives. Europe is us and I hope that I can rely also on your support to help in making it fair, social and federal. For more information please visit the website: http://eu-volitve.zlsd.si/index.php?lista=4
In this issue of the Newsletter we will offer a selection of speeches and videostatements by various leaders of the European Political Parties. Some of them are of a recent date, some of them slightly older, but they are all electoral statements and this counts. ----- 4.1 Party of European Socialists (PES) Barón: ÒIt is time to vote!Ó Enlargement and the Constitution of the European Union are two deciding factors that should motivate the citizens of the EU to go and vote, says Enrique Barón Crespo, President of the PES Group. "With the legislative period being over, Members of the European Parliament must face the electorate in June. Parliament's influence can, on one level, be measured by examining the bare statistics. For the last five years MEPs have debated and approved or amended hundreds of pieces of legislation aimed at improving the functioning of the EU over an increasingly wide range of areas. Its qualitative influence, however, must also take into account its overall effect on the Union and, in particular, its institutional structure. The casting of votes on the European scale should amount to a judgement of the work carried out - or not carried out - by the political groups and their candidates as indicated in their programmes. There should be a clear connection between the results obtained by the political groups and their candidates -- whether Members of the outgoing Parliament or new candidates -- and the successes or otherwise of their individual performances or those of their predecessors. Two factors are particularly important as people vote in June. The first concerns the increase from 15 to 25 member states. Geographically speaking, this is a huge leap forward. In addition, it has obvious historic significance consisting, as it does, in the definitive reconciliation of a continent that was separated for half a century by the cold war. This is surely an incentive for the new EU citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote... Read the full speech on-line at: http://www.socialistgroup.org/gpes/servlet/Main/ ----- 4.2 European Greens Presentation of the Dream Team An eleven strong 'Dream Team' was elected from among the national top candidates at the foundation congress of the European Green party in Rome (20-22 February 2004). This Green 'Dream Team' will be at the very heart of the Greens' Common European Campaign. To see the elections statements of the 11 candidates, please visit: http://www.eurogreens.org/cms/default/rubrik/2/2839.dream_team.htm ----- Press Release Brussels, 26 May 2004 Cinema-goers urged that a Green vote will tackle climate change The European Greens have given their backing to a new film dealing with climate change, saying that it will play an important role in raising awareness of a very serious problem. While cautioning that the events in 'The Day After Tomorrow' are fictional, the European Greens will nevertheless inform cinema-goers of how they can vote to tackle climate change at the European elections in a fortnight. As a follow-up to the powerful message in The Day After Tomorrow, which tells of story of global warming rapidly leading to storms, flooding and extreme temperature drops, the Greens have produced leaflets outlining previous successes and future plans in the fight against climate change... Read the full press release on-line: http://www.eurogreens.org/cms/default/dok/9/ ----- 4.3 European Liberal Democrats (ELDR) Werner Hoyer, address of the ELDR Congress on the 30.4.2004Liberals make the difference!Dear Liberal Friends, let me welcome all of you for coming here to Brussels for the opening of the election campaign of the European Liberal Democrats. And let me first of all thank our hosts, VLD and MR for their great hospitality here in Belgium. Let me give you to interesting and very encouraging predictions: by Saturday morning the European union will not only have grown by ten new member countries, the ELDR Group in the EP will by then have grown by at least 16 new MEPs, from 52 to 68 members - maybe more... Read full speech on-line: http://www.wernerhoyer.de/2_bundestag/_reden/654.htm The European Liberal Democrats have produced an electoral spot that is accessible on-line at: http://www.eldr.org/images/video/mov.html ----- 4.4 European People's party Speech by EPP Chairman, Mr Wilfried MARTENS to the Sixteenth Congress of the European People's Party in Brussels My dear colleagues, Thanks to our efforts, to the commitment of the EPP's 64 member parties, to the Prime Ministers, to the Opposition Leaders, to the Members of the European Parliament and to the European Commissioners who make up our political family, we have put the EPP in marching order to win the European elections this coming June. This is the sixth time we have adopted an action programme. It is a programme that places the citizen at the centre of our concerns for the 2004/2009 legislature. We are calling for a policy that sets out to represent a majority in the wider Europe of 25 Member States. Our proposals are backed by common sense, experience, pragmatism and efficiency, as well as by a sense of solidarity. For the sixth time in the history of the European Union, voters will be called upon to appoint their European Members of Parliament by direct universal suffrage. In this way European democracy is demonstrating its vitality and firm roots in the political life of our various countries. However, it is the first time that European elections are being held within a larger reunified Europe stretching from the Atlantic to the Baltic, thereby breaking down the divisions created by past wars and the stark era of totalitarian rule... To read the entire speech, please visit: http://www.eppe.org/Docdownload.asp?ID=1D2C0CB6880101046B 5.1 JEF-news JEF analysis of the European Constitution - Now Published! JEF Germany has just published an excellent analysis of the European Constitution from a federalist point of view. Read the JEF-Verfassungskommentar, order the book and forward the information to your friends and colleagues! Have a look under www.verfassung-europa.de ----- GIVE EUROPE A FACE - Final vote! For the last four weeks, European personalities from the fields of sport, the arts, music, business and politics have gone head to head in the Heats to elect the Face for Europe. Now, with the European Parliament elections less than 2 weeks away, we reach the final, where Zinedine Zidane takes on 3 politicians: Vaclav Havel, Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Jean-Luc Dehaene. CAST YOUR VOTE! Visit the website: www.giveeuropeaface.net ----- ACTIVITIES All around Europe JEF is running the project Give Europe a Face (GEaF). Currently focusing on bringing people to vote at the EP Elections, the project itself aimes at acquiring new ideas for Europe. Plenty of info-stands, seminars, conferences and other public events ahve already been organised. Visit the Country by Country section on the GEaF website and have a look: http://www.giveeuropeaface.net/ ----- EVENTS Invitation: Reception at JEF Europe Brussels office on 10th of June!
JEF (Young European Federalists) is pleased to invite you to our reception on Thursday 10th June 2004 from 17.00 at JEF Europe office at the occasion of: - the launch of our project Give Europe a Face - www.giveeuropeaface.net - find out the face of Europe the young people of our continent voted for - celebrating the first day of European Parliamentary Elections - saying goodbye to the present Secretary General ø Marianne Bonnard and - welcoming the new JEF Secretary General ø Joan Marc Simon
Please confirm your participation before 8th June 2004 either by fax at +32 2 626 95 01, or by e-mail at info@jef-europe.net or by mail at JEF Europe, Chaussee de Wavre 214d B ø1050 Bruxelles JEF European Secretariat Chaussée de Wavre 214d B-1050 Bruxelles
Tel: + 32 (0)2 512 00 53 Fax: + 32 (0)2 626 95 01 Email: info@jef-europe.net ----- 5.2 Other youth organizations YOUTH FORUM - Why "bother" to vote? On the website You(th) Decide - www.youthdecide.net - you can read opinions of young people why voting in the European elections is important and why it makes a difference. Visit: http://www.youthdecide.com/info.php ----- THE NATIONAL UNIONS OF STUDENTS IN EUROPE (ESIB) Statement on the European Parliament elections towards education and research issues Preamble ESIB- the National Unions of Students has existed since 1982 and seeks to promote the social, cultural, political and economic interests of students in Europe towards decision makers and partners at national, European and international level. ESIB currently has 50 members from 37 countries and thus represents more than 11 millions students in Europe. Introduction The proposal and the future implementation of a European Constitution will bring a lot of changes within the enlarged European Union as much as outside it. The new regulations will affect also the functioning of Higher Education, therefore ESIB is concerned. Read the full statement on-line: http://www.esib.org/policies/statementeuelections.htm ----- Mouvement International de la Jeunesse Agricole et Rurale Catholique (MIJARC) Postcard campaignEuropean Elections - why does this concern MIJARC Europe and me? The answer is very simple: You are member of a european-wide movement. And Europe, first of all the European Union is becoming more and more important in our village life. In a few days, the elections to the European Parliament are going to take place. The candidates therefore will be elected on a regional level. Europe comes into the regions. This does not happen too often and for sure not in the next time and with such a big interest in your opinion to it. It is your vote that counts! With our postcard, we would like to encourage you to get into direct contact with your candidates. Simply fill in the postcard - and that is is. That is it? Maybe not. Maybe you want to know more about your candidate. Then use the postcard to invite him and ask him why you as rural youth shall elect her or him ... To participate, please visit the website: http://www.mijarc.net/europe/postcard-en.htm
6. Election news from EU Institutions and other sources 6.1 Latest Gallup Europe survey on EP elections The latest Gallup Europe survey on EP elections was published recently and it predicts a rather encouraging turnout. Read the results of the survey on-line: http://www.eosgallupeurope.be/flash%20eb%20161/index.html ----- 6.2 Information on the European Parliament The new section "Infotainment" on the EP Elections Website of the European Parliament features two brochures that explain how the Parliament works: The European Parliament explained: http://www.elections2004.eu.int/system/galleries/download/brochures/elections_en.pdf 25 States in the European Union, 732 Members in the European Parliament: http://www.elections2004.eu.int/system/galleries ----- 6.2 Address by Pat COX on receiving the Charlemagne Prize for 2004 Ober Bürgermeister, President, Commissioner (s), Your Excellencies, Fellow members of the European Parliament, My fellow Europeans, Full speech is available on-line at:http://www.patcox.ie/speeches/default.asp?doc_id=246 ----- 6.3 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) Visualising the Euro-Gap When 25 countries vote to elect their representatives to the European Parliament by 13 June, it will be the biggest democratic event in European history. But there are worries about the EURO GAP, the difference between the number of people who vote in their national election and number who vote in the European ballot... Learn more about the EURO GAP and read full report with visualisations: http://www.idea.int/elections/voter_turnout_europe/euro_gap_graphs.htm#Figure1 ----- 6.4 Strauss-Kahn Report The Round Table “A sustainable project for tomorrow’s Europe” formed on the initiative of the President of the European Commission and chaired by Dominique Strauss-Kahn has produced its final report. Although a rather long document it represents interesting reading on the future of the European Union. Download the report in English: or French: ----- 6.5 Information office of the European Parliament in your country! On the following website you can find the collection of all links to Information offices of the European Parliament and specieal EP Elections websites: http://www.elections2004.eu.int/ep-election/sites/en/links/info_office.html This section will feature contributions from various Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and lobby groups. ----- 7.1 European Movement European Movement International demands that the results of the European Elections be respected in the choice of the next President of the European Commission The European Movement international (IEM) at its Steering Committee 27 April 2004 in Brussels calls on the European Council and the European Parliament to act already this year in accordance with art. 26 of the Draft Constitution. Download the statement in pdf: http://www.europeanmovement.org/downloads/resolution_CD_27_04_2004_engl.pdf 7.2 The European NGOs Confederation for Relief and Development (CONCORD) From 10th till 13th June 2004, three-day elections will be held across the EU to elect new Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). This will be accompanied by a restructuring of the European Parliament (EP), with manifold implications for how policy decisions on development are made. Read their manifesto for the EP Elections "A STRONG DEVELOPMENT AGENDA FOR THE NEW EUROPE" on-line: http://www.concordeurope.org/download.cfm?media=pdfUK&id=526 and Concord has also produced a Toolkit for the EP Elections that can be downloaded at: http://www.concordeurope.org/download.cfm?media=pdfUK&id=527 ----- 7.3 European Hunters Federation (FACE) ZOOM IN on FACE "European Elections" Strategy FACE and its 25 member associations of an enlarged EU are mobilised for the June 2004 European elections so that the 7 million of hunters-voters will elect their MEP's for the coming 5 years. Visit: http://www.face-europe.org/cnt-aboutface_elections.htm ----- 7.4 EVERYONE (Scotland's environment groups) Everyone 's EU campaign is themed Ôyour environment, your vote' . In the run up to the European election on 10 June 2004 we want all political parties and potential Scottish MEPs to make a commitment to the environment. Public opinion surveys confirm that the environment is ranked highly as an issue in Scotland. 95% of Scots interviewed in a recent MORI poll said that the protection of the environment was an issue that was important to them personally. Visit the campaign's website: http://www.everyonecan.org/ 8.1 Video spots on EP elections The European Parliament has produced a short video spot with a clear message: "You've been voting since you were born - Don't stop..." Download page: http://www.elections2004.eu.int/ep-election/sites/en/infotainment/tv.html ----- Kinospot zur Europawahl Die Wahlbeteiligung junger Menschen lag bei der vorangegangenen Europawahl 1999 in Deutschland nur bei rund 30 Prozent. Die Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb und das Europäische Parlament Informationsbüro für Deutschland (EP) bringen aus diesem Grund ab Mai 2004 einen Spot in die deutschen Kinos. See the spot on-line at: http://www.bpb.de/veranstaltungen/242UUJ,,0,Kinospot_zur_Europawahl.html ----- 8.2 Comic "Troubled waters" becomes a serial... Through a thrilling story, the comic "Troubled waters" tries to explain how the European Parliament works. Currently 6 episodes are available for download: http://www.elections2004.eu.int/ep-election/sites/en/infotainment/index.html ----- 8.3 Quizzes The EPP-ED group in the European parliament offers a quiz to test your knowledge on the European Union. Visit the site and try to answer correctly 15 questions: www.epp-ed.org ----- The Irish Presidency also wants to test your knowledge on its Youth website. Visit: http://www.eu2004.ie/quiz/index.asp?quiz_id=1&sNavlocator=3 ----- 8.4 E-cards You can get send even more e-postcards from the offical website for the EP Elections in Germany: Make use of them at: http://www.europawaehlt.de/
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bulletin is produced by:Young European Federalists/ Jeunes Européens
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Lidija
is 26 years old and runs as a candidate for the European Parliament
on the list of the United list of Social Democrats in Slovenia.
Among the young candidates in Slovenia she is placed on the highest
position - place 4. 
