European democracy & diversity Archives: April 2008

  • Francisco Polo: The importance of being Earnest

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 15:52
    by eromerof Join PES activists (780 views and 2 comments)

    In the last years, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his government have been recognized for the social improvements introduced in Spain. Improvements that have turned this Mediterranean country into one of the most advanced places in the world. And I am talking, particularly, about the modification of the marriage laws that extend the right to get married to anyone independently of his or her sex since 2005. With this, there is no “gay marriage” in Spain. There is only one kind of marriage for everyone - no separate regulations.

    This is the most important point of the matter. We are not talking about the fact that some rights are being recognized for a part of the population and that homosexual people enjoy the same rights. We are talking about a greater benefit. And this benefit is the one I just mentioned: The fact that we are talking about the same marriage - the importance of being married.

    That importance has to do with the fact that the extension of a right to a part of the population that was not enjoying them, is forcing to the most reticent heterosexual population to make a pedagogical effort at the same time. Today there is no possibility of treating homosexual people differently in Spain. Since the law is recognizing that there is no room for differentiation the possibility for different treatment of homosexuals in any other social... » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, diversity, gay, LGBT

  • Mario Perales: We need a strong Party of European Socialists

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    Rating: 4.5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 17:00
    by eromerof Join PES activists (724 views and 0 comments)

    Today, European Union is an economic reality but not a political one because the weight of European Institutions in the international scene is very frail. This situation is not very good for the people who believe that economic liberalism is too strong in the whole world thanks to the globalization phenomenon. Social globalization is not so strong as the economical one and this is a real problem for the “socialist family” since the values of socialism are based on a social way of thinking.

    That is the reason because the European Socialists should work to build a very strong Party of European Socialists. We have to compensate for the excessive power of economic liberalism with a new model of social protection. European Union should take enough power to become one of the main international players (such as the United States, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Japan, etc.) with real capacity of influence in the “international social agenda”. Today, decisions should be taken in a global way; socialists should bring together all their resources to push for a change in the European Institutions, and ways of acting of the European Union. Socialism must become global, as global as liberalism, otherwise our main... » read more ...

    Tags: activists, blogger of the week, globalization, PES

  • Natalia Reyes: The colour of politics

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 13:52
    by eromerof Join PES activists (864 views and 1 comments)

    After an election, the democratic process goes on with the set up of a government, which then defines a project for the future, and more concretely appoints its ministers. If the present Spanish government can be called ‘pink’ because it has 9 women and 8 men, as Berlusconi recently pointed out (see The Times and The Independent), then the rest of EU governments could be called ‘blue’. In this respect, there are no differences between the developed countries of the Western World and developing countries, whatever their ideologies and history. For instance, the presence European Commission has only 9 women out of the 27 commissioners. The colour ‘blue’ therefore seems to be a common trait that no-one should boast about.

    But all this would be just another subjective comment if women were not constantly forced to prove themselves and if they were not there merely out of a simple strategy of political marketing. In addition, women must also prove their worth and show... » read more ...

    Tags: activists, blogger of the week, equality, political parties, women

  • Isabella Frenning: Shh... Work in progress

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:33
    by Isabella_Frenning Join PES activists (663 views and 3 comments)

    If you take a look at the home page of the Danish Parliament today, it will inform you that the items of the agenda today are local funding, cultural inequality and housing projects.

    Only far down the text will it tell you about the main topic for discussion: Denmark is to adopt the Lisbon Treaty today. Though most parties has been trying to avoid any discussion about the treaty since the French and Dutch 'no', you will be able to follow the discussions live here.

    Fingers crossed, we might have an agreement later on today...

    Tags: blogger of the week, treaty

  • Compass Youth, UK: Voxpop on the PES Manifesto

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:25
    by noelhatch Join PES activists (558 views and 0 comments)

    Tags: citizens, youth

  • Isabella Frenning: On life-changing experiences

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    Rating: 5/5 with 4 votes

    Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 09:30
    by Isabella_Frenning Join PES activists (544 views and 1 comments)

    Once in a while we experience something that either changes the way we see the world or broadens our view of it. The most significant events do both.

    I had one of these experiences on my ninth birthday; I know that millions of others did too. My birthday is the 9th of November…Admittedly, the massive importance of the fall of the Berlin Wall probably only dawned on me a few days later, when my spontaneous bitterness of being completely ignored by my family in favor of the much more interesting TV-news slowly started to fade. To this very day I’m actually still trying to figure out what that specific event has really meant to all of us. I guess many of us still struggle with that question. But since social development is dynamic rather than linear or static, I guess the impact of that event is ever changing. (Being a student of the political sciences, I must admit I’d sometimes wish there could just be a logic and simple answer to these questions like in the mathematical sciences - but of course the complexity is also part of the beauty, no?)

    Even in more recent times this significant event on a cold November night in Berlin is vigorously » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, citizens

  • Lionel Jospin: The future of Europe is in our hands

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    Rating: 5/5 with 3 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 10:07
    by Editor (1152 views and 12 comments)

    Lionel Jospin, former Prime Minister of France, has his say in the PES manifesto consultation. Watch the video interview and find out more about his ideas:



    Do you agree with Lionel Jospin's suggestions?

    Tags: citizens, political parties

  • Brian Booth: Delayed start...

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 12:36
    by brianfrombrussels Join PES activists (863 views and 1 comments)

    Hello comrades and friends,

    First of all, please excuse my silence as the blogger of the week yesterday. Believe it or not, I actually have three good excuses in defense of my case:

    1. I don't like mondays.
    2. Adding my name to a list including the likes of Eric Sundström, Jon Worth or Ania Skrzypek is a real honour for me - but that only doubles my eternal fear of the white page.
    3. Well, probably the most important one: yesterday was a very important day for socialism and social democracy in Europe. With the general elections in Italy came also the first test for the Partito Democratico, the new somewhere-slightly-left-of-the-center party led by Walter Veltroni.

    Now, what has it got to do with the PES manifesto? I hear some readers say. Well, not much, probably. But the outcome of this election says something about European politics
    too, and I think it is well worth a post.

    After an agonizing night of counting, we still don't have definitive results but here's how the situation looks at a fairly advanced stage:
    » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, political parties

  • Manifesto2009 barometer: European democracy and diversity II

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 11:49
    by Editor (719 views and 0 comments)

    Since the last barometer on European democracy and diversity participants have been keen to continue the debates. Here’s an overview of last month’s input:

    Fighting discrimination by promoting understanding and tolerance
    As socialists and social democrats, participants agree that the PES should make the promotion of tolerance one of its key priorities, by campaigning and by enforcing legislation on the matter. Some underline this as a way of countering stereotypes on discriminated groups.

    Promoting European citizenship and identity
    Participants in the debate have also made a number of specific proposals to promote European citizenship and identity. Many highlight that politicians and the media should take a greater role in better talking and reporting on Europe; the ‘abuse’ of Europe for national or personal purposes is strongly criticized in the debate. For » read more ...

    Tags: activists, barometer, citizens, decent work, democracy, discrimination, diversity, EU

  • Les fédérations du PS français se mobilisent pour l'écriture du Manifeste du PSE

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Monday, April 14, 2008 at 09:47
    by chourka Join PES activists (732 views and 3 comments)

    Les socialistes français, très pris par les élections municipales qui se sont tenues les 9 et 16 mars, se mobilisent pour le Manifeste du PSE.

    Dans cette optique, une journée complète de travail à Bruxelles a été organisée sur les changements opérés au sein du PSE depuis 2004 et le Conseil de Bruxelles, la novation introduite avec les militants du PSE et surtout l'élaboration du Manifeste 2009.

    Reunion au siege du PSE

    La plupart des Secrétaires fédéraux Europe et/ou International ainsi que les Premiers Secrétaires fédéraux d'une trentaine de fédérations présents ont bien saisi l'enjeu que représente le Manifeste. Evidemment, la campagne référendaire de 2005 est encore dans les têtes mais dans l'ensemble c'est pour mieux la dépasser. L'instrument essentiel pour réaliser ce dépassement étant la consultation des adhérents.

    Autre enseignement tiré des dernières élections européennes de 2004, réussir la politisation de la campagne sur un plan européen, notamment en mettant en avant 5-6 mesures... » read more ...

    Tags: activists, elections, manifesto

  • SPD Göttingen: Europe – the lady has visions

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    Rating: 4.3/5 with 3 votes

    Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 16:48
    by martina Join PES activists (1006 views and 4 comments)

    FahnenMany visions have been given to her: international collaboration in times of mistrust, the common hymn, the architecture. With the latter I’m not only referring to the buildings in Strasburg and Brussels, but also the intellectual architecture in Rome, Schengen, Den Haag, Maastrict or Dublin. My compliments for the past. Visions tied together with a strong symbol: stars on a sky-blue – the colour of peace – background which sparkle so positive and yet discreet.

    In spite of this everyone still is primarily focusing on his own affairs in the community building process. In the new EU member states you can win elections with showing hostility towards the EU! Why is that? Because the EU is not producing enough positive action. To be a member of the Union is profitable in terms of the granted subsidies, not in terms of visions. EU-friendly politicians quickly run out of arguments. In Great Britain Maggie Thatcher and John Major could win elections with EU-hostility. Why? Because people over there were afraid that the EU could bring too many developments! Does that make sense? Only when you have no clue, which is because of a lack of professional communication! So, can Europe then agree on a common head of communications? Of course... » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, democracy, diversity, EU

    File: Europa - die Frau hatte Weitsicht_DE.pdf

  • One President of the EU – a radical institutional solution for 2009

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    Rating: 3.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 16:46
    by jonworth Join PES activists (860 views and 2 comments)

    The European Parliament election is not the only significant EU politics question for the PES in 2009.

    Candidates will also be chosen for the EU’s top positions – Commission President and the 26 Commissioners will take office in the autumn of 2009, and the 30-month President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Policy (aka EU Foreign Minister) both begin 1st January 2009 if the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified by then.



    Rumour and speculation already surrounds the European Council position, with names such as Tony Blair, Jean Claude Juncker, Bertie Ahern and Anders Fogh Rasmussen supposedly in the running. The media is already calling this position “President of the EU”.
    But hold on a moment. There is already a President position that is democratically accountable. The European Parliament, according to the Treaty of Lisbon, will elect the Commission President from 2009. Conversely, the President of the European Council will only be appointed by the 27 Heads of State and Government.

    The EU needs to improve its democratic legitimacy, not damage it further by simply appointing a powerful person as President of the European Council.
    » read more ...

    Tags: democracy, EU