Published Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 16:45
by
Editor
in Debate (98 views and 3 comments)
Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi talks about collecting and storing children’s
fingerprints and making ‘illegal immigration’ a crime, but the
Italian Partito Democratico has come up with a radically different
proposal for tackling this controversial issue.
Yesterday, PD Leader Walter Veltroni wrote to the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies proposing to extend the right to vote in administrative and local elections to all those who have been legally residents in Italy for some time, whether or not they are Italian or EU citizens.
And the PD has gone further. Two million Italians have already
signed an initiative “Salva l’Italia” – ‘Save Italy’ : calling for action
to tackle the economic crisis including protecting salaries and
pensions, and the defence of democratic rules against misguided
laws passed by Berlusconi (such as one third stronger punishments
for crimes committed by illegal immigrates). The PD hopes to get
5 million signatures by October 25.
The PD is clearly rejecting...
Published Monday, July 7, 2008 at 14:04
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (422 views and 0 comments)
Editor's note:
Aidan OSullivan, PES activists Dublin, sent us a live example of
good practices at European level, presented in Vienna during the
seminar on "Cross-border campaign exchanges".
In May 2007, we invited activists from all over Europe to come
help in the Irish General Election campaign.
The initiative was a fantastic success! We knocked on doors
together, we leafleted target areas together, we shared ideas and
stories and we formed new cross-European political
relationships!
This is how PES Activists works....activist to activist
co-operation, building the New Social Europe from the grassroots
level upward.
Check out the short presentation on our experience!
Tags: citizens, democracy, elections, EU, forum
File:
PESActivistsDublin.pps
Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:45
by
negrescuvictor 
in New Social Europe (543 views and 2 comments)
The perspectives
regarding Europe seems to illustrate unfortunately the existence
of two different European visions, an Eastern and a Western point
of view. These differences can be easily seen in issues like
workers migration, economical delocalization, taxes, and the
enlargement process.
Workers migration
East: for countries from this side of Europe the freedom of movement is what Europe is all about. The people who migrate from our countries do so to build themselves a better live but also to help there families back home.
West: unfortunately the Eastern European migrants are presented as a problem and we as socialists have trouble fighting this point of view
Solution: building up a common point of view regarding migration- informing our national communities regarding the other European communities migrating and explaining the good effects that this brings on the economy
Economic delocalization
East: most of the Eastern European countries are in need of foreign investments to develop the national economy and to all that is needed to attract...
read morePublished Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 14:34
by
franciscopolo
in European democracy & diversity (329 views and 0 comments)
At the same time
I start
writing this article the ratification process for the Lisbon
Treaty is starting at the Spanish Parliament. I can hear the
Foreign Affairs Ministry starting his discourse...
Probably (no to say “for sure”), tomorrow the Spanish newspapers will show on their front pages the results of the Spain vs. Russia soccer game at the Eurocup. The matter of the Treaty will also be shown in those newspapers but it will not be given so much importance.
As you probably know, the Lisbon Treaty is important due to many things: The Fundamental Rights Chart becomes binding, the Treaty creates a common space of liberty, security and justice (it was formerly intergovernmental), the EU gains in its capability to create an international interlocution by creating both the positions of the permanent President of the European Counsel and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, among other things. But there is something much more important.
This Treaty is specially important because it makes the EU to be more democratic. It creates the civil initiative so a million of citizens will be able to suggest the creation of new rules; the European Parliament, our direct representative in the EU gains power and almost nothing can be...
read morePublished Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 09:39
by
negrescuvictor
in European democracy & diversity (360 views and 2 comments)
Most of European
countries confront themselves with the problem of bringing
youngsters to vote at the different elections. Regarding European
elections the stats are similar to the other elections even knowing
Europe normally speaks more about the future of our societies.
Involving youngsters in the European project and inside the socialist parties is becoming a more and more difficult task even know many of the PES member parties have chosen to promote younger leaders or building special information campaigns. The question is to find a way in interesting youngsters in politics and in the European project.
PES activists Romania has participated at a debate in Bucharest on this issue and came to a general conclusion: the need of appealing and the necessity of offering new solutions to the next generation of social problems. It become clear to us that European themes have to been translated in a language understandable for everyone and this is a task that the PES has to assume.
There are social groups excluded by European politics because of its high level of specialization or simply by the lack of time and this is a task socialists have to complete. On the other hand we have to create new topics for our societies and mainly youngsters and attract the public opinion’s attention on them. We have to stop waiting...
read morePublished Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 09:36
by
franciscopolo
in New Social Europe (456 views and 2 comments)
Last week we had a
very good article at the Spanish PES Activists site that I would like to
share with you. It was writen by one of our activists in Madrid,
Nebulosa, who preferred to use a nickname for work related
reasons. The article treats an important subject:
read moreA public debate has opened up again about the new way to govern Europe. Three countries held a referendum on the old treaty for a European constitution; and while it was approved in Spain, it was turned down both in Holland and France. The new Treaty of Lisbon is not being ratified via referendums but is subject to the approval by the different Parliaments of the member States. One exception should be noted: Ireland.
Ireland was the only country where a referendum was called, and its citizens decided to reject the Treaty. Maybe Irish voters did not take into consideration all the benefits that they have obtained from Europe, which have made their remarkable development possible. But what is happening in such Europhile countries as France and Holland for them to turn their back on building this new European Union?
Many citizens are having opposing feelings about how to build that Europe. On the one hand, they receive positive messages (equality of 400...
Published Monday, June 23, 2008 at 18:26
by
chourka
in European democracy & diversity (705 views and 12 comments)
Plusieurs
contributions (Brussels PES working group, Contribution du PS 67,
contribution de la Fédération de Paris) mettent en avant la
nécessité pour les partis européens à commencer par le PSE
d'offrir aux électeurs un choix clairs entre la droite et la
gauche.
Toutes soulignent également qu'un mode de scrutin uniforme pour l'élection des députés européens est un objectif de plus en plus urgent de réaliser.
Enfin, la proposition formulée par Jacques Delors de faire du chef de file du parti arrivé en tête lors des Européennes, le Président de la Commission, est littéralement plébiscitée. Se pose alors pour les partis politiques européens la question de l'organisation concrête de cette désignation.
Pour un courant de pensée démocratique comme le socialisme, il n'est pas concevable que cela se fasse dans un conclave fermé à huis clos entre leaders des formations composant le PSE. Cela ne peut nécessairement se faire qu'à travers une consultation de l'ensemble des adhérents par un vote de désignation. A dire vrai, en tant que socialistes, nous avons une longueur d'avance par rapport aux Conservateurs et autres...
read morePublished Monday, June 23, 2008 at 14:05
by
rikkeindenmark
in European democracy & diversity (558 views and 3 comments)
I hope that this
campaign will still be relevant - in spite the depressing outcome
of the referendum in Ireland (of which I will speak no more for
now!).
Danish Member of the European Parliament, Christel Schaldemose, has started a cross-party campaign for having women represented among the 4 EU top leaders which will - hopefully all! - be appointed during the next year. If the Lisbon treaty is ratified we will see the following very important EU posts:
Have you ever seen a 'family photo' from meetings in the Council? Well, if you haven't allow me to enlighten you: it's black suits, suits and more suits. There are very few women top leaders in Europe. For me there is no doubt that we need a more equal representation of women and men.
Therefore, I encourage you to support Christel's initiative: Sign the online petition or join the
read morePublished Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 09:28
by
Joel Cordier
in European democracy & diversity (533 views and 2 comments)
« The Lisbon Treaty
is now dead », voilà ce que déclarait vendredi Eamon Gilmore,
leader du Parti Travailliste irlandais. En effet, après les « NON »
néerlandais et français de 2005 sur le traité constitutionnel, les
citoyens irlandais ont décidé de rejeter, par 53,4%, le Traité de
Lisbonne.
Alors que « le cadavre est encore chaud », certains échafaudent déjà des stratégies pour contourner le choix démocratiquement exprimé par le peuple irlandais. Personnellement, je considère que ce choix doit être respecté. En effet, je veux croire que le « NON » exprimé jeudi dernier n’est pas un « NON » à l’Europe mais avant tout la manifestation du désir d’une autre Europe.
Comment peut-on espérer convaincre les citoyens européens du bien fondé d’avancées contenues dans des traités alors qu’ils sont confrontés chaque jour à plus de « flexiprécarité » au travail, à la difficulté de couvrir leurs besoins élémentaires (alimentation, logement, chauffage,…) et à des services qui...
read morePublished Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:52
by
Desmond O'Toole
in European democracy & diversity (424 views and 1 comments)
Well the polls have closed and the ballot boxes are now safely stored away until they are opened at 09h00 (10h00 CET) on Friday morning. As I predicted, a lot of the discussion in the media this evening has been on how many people turned out to vote. If you remember I said that the general view is that a turnout below 40% would suggest a NO vote, while a turnout above 45% would indicate a YES vote. Well, the national broadcaster, RTÉ, is reporting turnout in the region 40-45%, so I'm afraid I cannot offer even an educated guess as to how the Irish people have voted in this referendum! I will be attending the count in Dublin and we are expecting initial results to be available by lunchtime and a formal announcement of the result by about 17h00 (18h00 CET).
One possible indicator of the result is the view of Irish bookmakers. They are offering better odds on the YES side winning and as everyone knows, bookmakers don't like to lose money. It would not be the first time that Irish bookmakers knew more than Irish politicians and journalists about how the people have voted. However, all of this is just idle speculation. We will know on Friday afternoon whether Lisbon will proceed smoothly to ratification across the EU or whether there will be a crisis for the French Presidency of the EU in Brussels.
... read morePublished Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 18:15
by
pamela.derosa
in European democracy & diversity (358 views and 0 comments)
On parle de l'Europe
comme un grand pays, une confédération d'États modernes qui pensent
premièrement aux droits des personnes. Ce n'est pas vrai. Il y a
des États qui n’appliquent pas en échec certains principes, ce qui
risque de nous faire revenir en arriére.
Évidemment, je parle de mon pays, l'Italie. C'est dommage que dans le Partito Democratico il existe des querelles par rapport aux positions politiques au niveau européen: il y a les EX-DS (Democratici di Sinistra – ex parti communiste) qui veulent appartenir au PSE et puis il y a les EX-MARGHERITA (démocratie chrétienne) qui veulent appartenir au PPE. On ne sait pas si les deux veulent prendre (ou pas) des décisions, mais – dans ce cas – la décision sur le choix d’un Parti européen n'est pas une question de mon intérêt.
Le problème italien est le totale manque de respect pour les droits de l’Homme: les droits des homosexuels, les droits des étrangers et les droits des non catholiques.
Il me semble que le Partito Democratico et le Popolo delle Libertà sont...
read morePublished Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 09:45
by
Desmond O'Toole
in European democracy & diversity (463 views and 3 comments)
With three days to go
to the referendum on Thursday Bernard Kouchner (French Foreign
Minister) made an unwelcome intervention in the debate in Ireland
claiming that if the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty we would face
"... gigantic incomprehension" from our European partners and "...
would pay a high price." Given M. Kouchner's incomprehension it is
perhaps worth examining why the Irish might vote NO on Thursday and
whether this might throw some light on why citizens across Europe
are often lukewarm in their support for the EU and for our
party.Published Friday, May 30, 2008 at 17:25
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (463 views and 0 comments)
“How to improve the European project while taking into account the interests of people and countries?” This was the departure point of the input for the PES consultation given by Jean-Louis Bianco, member of parliament and president of the French Alpes-de-Haute-Provence district, and Nicolas Cadène.
“For the last years, euro-scepticism strengthened itself due to both political and economic reasons”, Bianco and Cadène say, adding that “we should “think European” as only the EU can balance the negative effects of globalisation, such as the lack of democratization in some regions of the world.
Thus, two approaches are proposed. One is to forge a European cultural model through three vectors: education, a wider use of the media's capabilities to disseminate a common identity and the reinforcement of European symbols.
“Along the French presidency of the EU, the French PS – together with its European counterparts – should materialize a common European collective conscience, needed for a political Europe”, stresses Bianco and Cadène.
The second approach relates to the EU democratisation process. Common interests should be emphasised ...
read morePublished Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 12:25
by
bverdeyen
in European democracy & diversity (375 views and 0 comments)
The answers, let’s say in Portugal, would be quite different from those you’d get in, let’s say, Germany. The identity of one European Union today is hardly existent. Even worse, due to (mis)communication of more locally oriented political groups, the EU is sometimes even seen as meddlesome and negative.
Democracy begins with citizenship, but if your citizens don’t feel like a part of ‘the European Nation’, it is no wonder that referenda are treated with a resolute ‘no!’ So perhaps Europe needs to turn its’ attention towards itself again and develop it’s image within the member states.
Better information, a stronger presence within education and clear visibility of the use in people’s everyday lives. A strong democracy and a social Europe also starts within the people’s minds and hearts.
read morePublished Friday, May 23, 2008 at 15:24
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (513 views and 0 comments)
The second day of the
extraordinary Turin meeting of the PES group in the
Committee of the Regions started with a roundtable on European democracy and diversity. Four highly
interesting speeches put forward some very precise ideas for the
PES manifesto 2009.Published Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 09:23
by
carlosmoret
in European democracy & diversity (375 views and 0 comments)
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 09:57
by
joelld
in European democracy & diversity (608 views and 1 comments)
Rainbow Rose, the
network of socialist, social-democratic and Labour LGBT activists
in Europe, is fully committed to support Michael CASHMAN's efforts for a new comprehensive
directive against discriminations, covering the whole field of
Article 13 of the Treaty on the European Community.
This very important social question was part of our contribution
for this consultation of the PES's activists. One can see the
text of our contribution, presently supported by nearly 30 PES
MEPs, on our website.
As Michael reminds us, the Barroso Commission has to deliver,
before the elections. José Manuel Barroso himself committed
himself to do so in 2004, and Commissioner Vladimir Spidla
(Employment and Social affairs) repeatedly said he would make
efforts to achieve such a new directive.
Rainbow Rose acknowledges the PES' support for a comprehensive
directive. We think that, in the coming month, the PES should
produce a clear statement, for example at the next leader's
conference on June 19th, calling for the Commission to match its
own promise. Europe must deliver, and the socialists must be
proactive to show that Europe can deliver even before the 2009
elections.
Tags: citizens, discrimination, equality, fundamental rights, gay, LGBT
File:
Rainbow_Rose_letter.pdf
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 17:26
by
Zita_Gurmai
in European democracy & diversity (595 views and 0 comments)
I completely agree
with PES activist Natalia Reyes when she writes that gender equality
should be one of the top priorities of the PES manifesto – as it is
a priority for the Spanish government. Having Zapatero and PSOE in government in
Spain has demonstrated that when women vote for a socialist party
their lives really improve. In many ways we are experiencing the
New Social Europe in Spain: Equal pay, childcare and attention to
violence against women.Published Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:31
by
corinnebord
in New Social Europe (450 views and 0 comments)
L'Europe a développer des programmes et des actions fortes en direction de la jeunnesse. Le programme ERASMUS est un axe for de cette politique.
Au coeur de l'enjeu,
la mobilité... pour se rencontrer, pour découvrir cultures et
références européennes pour faire vivre notre diversité qui est
une richesse.
Le Service volontaire européen (SVE) est un comlément important de ce travail. Il contribue à la découverte de l'Europe, la réelle afformation d'un sentiment d'appartenance, la volonté de construire un destin commun.
Mais ces dispositif restent encore réservés à une certaines élite, scolarisée et qui socialement et économiquement a les moyens de financer ses engagements.
La reconnaissance comme membre d'une même communauté ne doit pas être subordée aux moyens financiers des familles ! L'universalité de ces dispositifs doit être renforcée par des aides comlémentaires en fonction des revenus des familles, par de réelles campagnes d'incitation dans les écoles.
Pourquoi ne pas imaginer des journées de l'engagement européens...
read morePublished Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 09:34
by
yoan.abiven
in EU in the world (646 views and 0 comments)
S’inspirer de soixante
années d’expérience de la construction européenne pour avancer un
nécessaire projet d’Union Méditerranéenne est, à première vue, une
idée excellente. Vigilance pourtant au moment de manipuler le
vocabulaire et les méthodes de la success story européenne.
L’Europe des pères fondateurs ne se résume ni à quelque technique
habile, ni à quelques mots magiques, pas plus qu'à des partenariats
économiques tous azimuts. Elle oblige génétiquement à un partage de
souveraineté sur ce qui fait mal. L’Europe politique n’est
pas née seulement et durablement des moyens financiers offerts par
le plan Marshall. Elle s’est imposée dans le sillage d’un geste
politique historique, celui de la déclaration Schuman. Or, cette
initiative allait bien au-delà du champ économique. Il ne
s’agissait pas d’annoncer la restauration du théâtre de Bayreuth
avec des prêts bonifiés ! A cette époque, on voyait plus loin, on
visait plus haut. On confiait à une autorité politique nouvelle ce
qui avait servi à tant faire couler le sang des...
read more
Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 12:17
by
noelhatch
in In the spotlight (468 views and 0 comments)
On 26 April Bertrand Delanoë, newly re-elected Mayor of Paris, visited London to support Ken Livingstone from Labour in the elections for Mayor of London. Read a full report and see more pictures on the homepage of Compass Youth
.
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:25
by
noelhatch
in European democracy & diversity (554 views and 0 comments)
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:01
by
noelhatch
in In the spotlight (725 views and 3 comments)
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 09:30
by
Isabella_Frenning
in European democracy & diversity (539 views and 1 comments)
Published Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 10:07
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (1147 views and 12 comments)
Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 11:49
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (712 views and 0 comments)
Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 15:31
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (708 views and 0 comments)
Published Monday, March 31, 2008 at 09:36
by
cafeneaua.politica
in European democracy & diversity (891 views and 4 comments)
In the last time I have participated in some interesting left
civil society and social democrat debates, under the PES
Activists auspices at Oradea and Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The
quality of the subjects and on the other hand of the speakers and
listeners prove again that “the left” has a very good future in
Romania and probably in Europe.
1. The Oradea debate subject:
”Parliamentary bureau - The feed-back connection with
citizens”
2. The Cluj-Napoca debate subjects:
”Is the Romania a success example for different cultures
joining?”
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 16:30
by
ania_skrzypek
in New Social Europe (862 views and 1 comments)
I write rarely about Poland – as a Secretary General of a
European Organization. But as I have also never written a blog
before I have decided to make an exception. Especially that the
issue below remains at the heart of the manifesto debate on
New
Social Europe and “how to reach a New Social Europe for
everyone and everywhere?"
There are few Easter traditions Polish cultivated up till today.
One of them is the tradition of hand-painted Eggs, and another of
“Wet Monday” when Polish are sprinkling water on one another. The
wetter you get, the more popular you are – says ancient
tradition. Both customs seem to have reached a new political
dimension; just before Easter Polish got their very own “Kinder
Surprise” hand-made by the Kaczynski Brothers colored in national
white and red, indicating the popularity to wash away in a
Niagara Falls of words like ‘never’, ‘scandal’,
‘forever’ the Lisbon Treaty.
Polish representatives, negotiating the Lisbon Treaty, made a lot of promises in the media. As a nation, educated in school by romantic literature, we like symbols underlined by a little drama. This is why it is in our political DNA to tear our clothes apart and claim that ‘we will die if…’ as in the negotiations; ‘…the Ioannina...
read morePublished Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 16:19
by
Poul_Nyrup_Rasmussen
in European democracy & diversity (1001 views and 10 comments)
Thanks to Jon Worth for his proposals to how Europe’s socialist
and social democratic parties can campaign together in the 2009
elections.Published Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 15:08
by
Poul_Nyrup_Rasmussen
in European democracy & diversity (826 views and 3 comments)
How can we spark a
greater interest in EU politics? Lolomodrego asked this question some time ago and it
is a good one.Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:50
by
AnneSofie
in European democracy & diversity (814 views and 1 comments)
Among the activities
of the gathering of Scandinavian PES activists in Jørlunde,
Denmark, was a discussion group on the PES manifesto theme 'European democracy and diversity':
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