Published Friday, July 4, 2008 at 10:12
by
negrescuvictor 
in European democracy & diversity (362 views and 2 comments)
An important
part of PES activists Romania proposal
for the Manifesto2009 is given to the Roma community issues. This
theme is considered an important social issue by the Romanian
social democrats and this is why our MEPs are supporting several
solutions included in our manifesto proposal like:
- the creation of the European Agency for Roma
- education projects for the Roma community
- promotion of the Roma culture as an European culture (the Roma community is not only a Eastern European issue but an European issue)
-...
read morePublished Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 10:50
by
chourka
in European democracy & diversity (302 views and 0 comments)
Très rares sont les contributions qui pointent du doigt les discriminations dont souffre la communauté Rom. Une seule exception à cet oubli : la contribution de nos camarades du PSD. Faut-il y voir une spécificité locale ? Une chose est certaine : les Roms représentent une population estimée à 8 millions d'individus sur notre continent soit autant si ce n'est plus que bien des pays composant l'Union européenne.
A ce titre, on peut considérer que c'est la première minorité -si on peut encore parler de minorité avec une telle population- en Europe. Or, en raison de leur inorganisation, de leur dispersion, les Roms ne sont bien souvent pas reconnus. Ni dans leur histoire qui pourtant est faite de pas mal de souffrances (cf. la Seconde guerre mondiale), ni dans leur nature même.
Il y a là pour notre famille politique une question majeure à traiter. Pour être un peu provocateur, on peut d'ailleurs considérer que les premiers Européens sont les Roms, en cela, qu'ils ne sont pas attachés à un Etat-membre en particulier et qu'ils font preuve d'une mobilité peu commune à l'exception des cadres supérieurs.
La manière dont certains gouvernements sont tentés de faire des entorses aux Accords Schengen voire de remettre en cause la Liberté de circulation des personnes (une des...
read morePublished Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 10:01
by
rikkeindenmark
in In the spotlight (458 views and 0 comments)
Not long ago I learned
about the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions. To be
honest I didn't know about the group's existence until a year ago
(ignorance is not always bliss), but it's a forum for local and
regional politicians to meet and discuss EU politics. It's an
interesting organization because many EU decisions impact greatly
on the local level - and the PES Group is a chance for local and
regional social democrats to meet and work together to influence EU
policies.
I admit that this was a digression from the topic that I actually wanted to address in this post! The reason why I brought up the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions is that the group has its own PES manifesto consultation - and in this consultation there's a fifth point of discussion, in addition to the four 'traditional' themes - namely the gender dimension.
I agree very much with the view-point of the PES Group - that there's a significant gender aspect to all four manifesto themes - and I hope the 'pervasiveness' of gender issues will be taken into consideration when the PES manifesto is drafted over the coming months....
read morePublished Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:45
by
negrescuvictor
in New Social Europe (541 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 Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:34
by
rikkeindenmark
in European democracy & diversity (532 views and 3 comments)
“I don’t have
anything against gays and lesbians, but I do think the only right
thing for a child is to have a father and a mother”Published Monday, June 23, 2008 at 14:05
by
rikkeindenmark
in European democracy & diversity (548 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 Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:21
by
jose reis santos
in European democracy & diversity (449 views and 0 comments)
What can we do to change this? It is important to keep on the track of the idea expressed on the «European Democracy and Diversity» paper that suggests that the PES should present a candidate for the European Commission Presidency selected amongst all the PES national parties.
The European campaign caravan idea should also be encouraged. This campaign would be lead by the PES candidate for the European Commission Presidency and by several candidates to the EP coming from different European countries. The caravan should have a political rally in all the countries holding elections so local candidates would join it and campaign together. Another interesting idea is the one that recommends a more intense political miscegenation between PES parties.
Advantages are evident: the concept would be appealing to media and it would be much easier to present a Portuguese candidate to the Italian electorate.
We want to create an electoral European level to complement national elections. This European electoral...
read morePublished Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:42
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (694 views and 5 comments)
Today is the
International Day against Homophobia – a good day to
discuss discrimination and what we can do to fight it.
Michael Cashman (Labour, United Kingdom) is one of many
socialist Members of the European Parliament who are working hard
for the introduction of a new and more far-reaching
anti-discrimination directive:
"Since the Barroso Commission was elected in 2004 socialists
in the European Parliament have been calling for a new directive
on anti-discrimination, but nothing has happened yet. In its 2008
work programme the Commission mentions discrimination on grounds
of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability,
age or sexual orientation (article 13 Treaty Amsterdam). But
since then, the Commission has indicated it will proceed only on
prohibiting discrimination on disability,” explains Michael
Cashman.
According to him the integrity of Barroso and his Commission is
at stake with the lack of a new inclusive directive:
“In 2004 the European Parliament was close to rejecting the whole
Commission, but we got a commitment from them: Barroso promised
to create a cabinet to work...
Published Friday, May 16, 2008 at 19:08
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (443 views and 1 comments)
Member of the European Parliament Gary Titley (Labour UK) is the
Chair of the PES network on diversity and integration. In this video interview
he gives his suggestions for the PES manifesto:
Published Friday, May 9, 2008 at 19:05
by
asa.westlund
in European democracy & diversity (723 views and 3 comments)
Published Friday, May 9, 2008 at 11:33
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (413 views and 0 comments)
Often we express our political ideas in words and rarely in
images. Now the PES Group in the Committee of Regions gives you
the chance to express your visions for Europe in a more creative
way. Today, on Europe Day, the PES Group launches a photo
competition on intercultural dialogue seen through the eyes of
young Europeans.
If you are between 18 and 25 years old you are invited to share
your vision of the dialogue between cultures in their city and
region.
The competition is organized within the framework of the “Europe
Works” project, in collaboration with the think tank Notre Europe
and the photo agency Agence VU'.
For more information on the photo competition and how to
participate, please visit the website of the PES Group in the CoR.
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 15:52
by
eromerof
in European democracy & diversity (772 views and 2 comments)
Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 14:45
by
eromerof
in New Social Europe (839 views and 2 comments)
Nowadays, the panorama of the left in Europe does not seem to be very tempting. Only 7 out of 27 countries belonging to EU are ruled by socialist parties. These are: United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Cyprus. We could argue that there is a lack of real political leadership, a leadership that in other decades was embodied by politicians such as Francois Mitterrand.
The political victory of Zapatero in Spain last march gives the Spanish socialism a great opportunity to implement and develop politics that can be seen as an example for other European countries. It generates a new opportunity to take the initiative in the European context. Whereas the majority of countries in South America are governed by left parties, sometimes with a strong and questionable populist sense, and whereas United States are given an opportunity to give the power again to the Democratic party, regardless of whether Clinton or Obama wins, the European left movement needs to reshape its political agenda, taking the initiative and dismantling the demagogic and populist discourse of conservative countries, too much focused on very sensitive and easy to be manipulated issues such as security, migration, taxes...
From a Spanish perspective, I would like to introduce some of the main points for a socialist agenda. An...
read morePublished Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 11:49
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (711 views and 0 comments)
Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 15:31
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (703 views and 0 comments)
Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 16:48
by
martina
in European democracy & diversity (994 views and 4 comments)
Many 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 not.
Foreign policy, pensions, health, workers’ rights – all...
Tags: blogger of the week, democracy, diversity, EU
File:
Europa - die Frau hatte Weitsicht_DE.pdf
Published Monday, March 31, 2008 at 09:36
by
cafeneaua.politica
in European democracy & diversity (888 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 09:40
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (820 views and 1 comments)
A group of German PES activists are the first to send in a paper
with ideas for the PES manifesto. Read the German contribution in the documents section of
Yourspace.
The EU working group from the SPD in Berlin proposes eight 'building
blocks' for the PES manifesto:
Published Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 10:57
by
santibenitez
in European democracy & diversity (699 views and 3 comments)
Published Monday, March 10, 2008 at 09:41
by
joelld
in New Social Europe (614 views and 0 comments)
From Tuesday, March
4th to Thursday, March 6th, the NGOs federation ILGA-Europe has
organized a conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) families in Europe. The conference took place in Ljubljana,
Slovenia, in order to deliver a message on the EU agenda during the
Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU. ILGA-Europe and its national
members pointed out the juridical and social insecurity which is
still a very concrete threat for millions of European families and
children.Published Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 10:27
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (1058 views and 0 comments)
The first months of debating European democracy and diversity
have really brought up a lot of priorities and proposals for the
PES to consider:
Fighting discrimination
First of all, fighting discrimination is a very important topic,
including the promotion of minority, women and LGBT rights and of
equal opportunities for all, and the fight against fascism,
racism, anti-Semitism and islamophobia. Regulations already exist at the EU
and national levels, but Rainbow Rose points out the need to enforce these
regulations. The example of the Spanish socialist party, PSOE, was
put forward as a best practice to be followed by PES member
parties on gender issues – the PES itself is already committed to
40 percent representation of each gender, and has over 42 percent
women MEPs.
More democracy, please
The EU democratic deficit is also a recurrent theme. There is an
agreement on the need to ensure more participatory democracy and
reinforce the European Parliament, in order to reconnect the EU and its citizens. For instance, the
PES could insist on the creation of a
Published Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 17:37
by
sukhjit
in European democracy & diversity (691 views and 1 comments)
Although everyone talks about increasing the ethnic involvement but no one has done a consultation within the ethnic community. Being from the ethnic background I know people feel that it is no point coming forward because sometimes they are not made to feel that it is easy to get involved. I think you need an employed ambassador at grass root level who would promote Europe and the benefits in ethnic minority. What you don't need is another high directorate position to write the policy on how to involve the ethnic people. They are the best people to tell you. If someone needs any help I can help. I am involved in politics but I know the reasons why people keep out of politics and I know how to motivate my kind. One has to be able to speak and say the things they want to hear for their benefit. Not lie to them but to really make them see the benefits in their environment.
read morePublished Friday, February 29, 2008 at 09:38
by
davidshoare
in European democracy & diversity (787 views and 2 comments)
I went to the debate "Unity or Diversity? What Europe do we want?" in London earlier this week. The topic was the PES manifesto and democracy and diversity and there was a lot of discussion about democracy in Europe and how we can make it much closer to the people, and more relevant to them. I would like to suggest one of the ways we can do this is by giving the people concerned more of a say in how EU initiatives, particularly regional and social ones, are conducted and where the money goes.
We have had particular success in doing this at the South Bristol
Urban 2 Programme, of which I am proud to have been involved in
and also chaired for two years, where the ultimate decision
making committee that decided what projects to support was made
up of local residents, representatives of community organisations
and particularly young people, of which the programme's main aim
was to support. We also structured it's meetings so that young
people could better access it - the meetings certainly are not
boring and if there was any jargon that anyone did not understand
then you could show a red card and shame the person into
explaining it better! In doing this, we not only made one of the
EU's most innovative programmes,...
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 13:31
by
negrescuvictor
in European democracy & diversity (1045 views and 7 comments)
These
days Romania is facing a new debate, this
time on religion. More exactly several parties and NGO’s want to
introduce religion as a mandatory course in high school. This means
that all students have to learn about their own religion.Published Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 16:51
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (1022 views and 1 comments)
Published Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 17:07
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (655 views and 0 comments)
When PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen visited Barcelona,
Catalonia, recently it became clear that Europe could learn a
thing or two from this region in Spain. With 7,5 million citizens
Catalonia makes up only a small share of Europe’s population, but
still the region has two official languages and a high percentage
of immigrants. This way Catalonia faces some of the same
challenges as Europe.
The video below is from a conference on ‘New Social Europe’ on
the 29th of January 2008:
What do you think – can Europe learn from Catalonia when it comes to diversity and integration?
read moreTags: diversity, multiculturalisme
File:
Nota_Acte_Rasmussen_EN.pdf
Published Monday, January 28, 2008 at 11:08
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (957 views and 2 comments)
As a part of the newly started ‘Year of Intercultural
Dialogue’ the European Parliament has invited a number of state and
religious leaders to speak in its midst. Some weeks ago the grand
mufti of Syria, Sheik Ahmad Bader Hassoun, spoke in Strasbourg –
which triggered a heated debate among parliamentary members. Some
have aired concern that the list of guest speakers is more an
attempt to encourage ‘inter-religious’ rather than ‘intercultural’
dialogue. Others are worried that there are no women among the
invited guests - all speakers are men.Published Monday, January 21, 2008 at 12:34
by
tolerance
in European democracy & diversity (1011 views and 5 comments)
Not long ago 400
Muslim groups met in Brussels to sign a charter for the Muslims of
Europe. The charter is aimed to be a code of conduct, describing
the rights and responsibilities of European Muslims. According to
Euronews ‘The European Islamic Charter’
stresses moderation, equality between men and women and rejects
violence and terrorism.Published Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 13:19
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (1584 views and 2 comments)
Why are there so few
women in power at European level?Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 08:31
by
joelld
in European democracy & diversity (1255 views and 2 comments)
The first day of the PES Council in Sofia went well, despite the climate conditions, with rich debates and conferences. Rainbow Rose LGBT was well represented by Rodrigo Martín Galán during the debate on European democracy and diversity yesterday afternoon. As many speakers remarked, article 13 of the EC treaty, and other binding European laws such as anti-discrimination directives 2000/78 and 2000/43, are already implemented in all member States, improving the conditions of LGBT persons, women or disabled persons in all areas of social life. Still, it also appears clearly that EU treaties and regulations, being no magic solutions, had not eliminated racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia in our societies. As socialist activists and NGOs report daily, discriminations in employment and work conditions, hate crimes, intolerant speeches in day-to-day life, are a reality we must face.
Rainbow Rose met at lunch time, outside the Council, with Bulgarian LGBT activists who could explain us what kind of exactions they live with in their country – and Bulgaria is not an exception. As European socialists are talking, these days in...
read morePublished Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 17:17
by
rmarting
in European democracy & diversity (863 views and 0 comments)
At the beginning of
the paper on the New Social Europe it is stated
that the EU is admired across the world for its social model.
Nevertheless, we are worried because there are still first and
second class citizens within the EU in the field of civil rights.
The PES manifesto should state the intention of the PES to find
solutions for this problem.
Let us approach this issue from a historical point of view: before the Enlightment in the XVIII century, many sectors of the European population did not have the opportunity to decide on their place in society. Enlightment philosophers placed human dignity at the heart of the European way of thinking. This historical process continued with the French Revolution where all members of society, regardless of their social class, would obtain the opportunity to determine their own life and their personal development.
In the XXth century, a new step forward was taken and the European progressive thinking has included individual rights not only on the basis of belonging to a disadvantaged social class but also to the belonging to a minority or a discriminated group on the basis of gender, ethnicity, disability, age etc.
European socialist parties have taken up the fight for equal opportunities....
read more
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