European countries can only have a big say in world affairs if they work together: so how far should Europe go in its common foreign and security policy? As well as facing new security threats, it is widely recognized that many environmental, health, development, trade and other issues are world problems that need global responses. So what should Europe stand for in the world? What can Europe do to promote democracy, decent work and human rights? How can it promote better global governance? How can it encourage not only development but sustainable development? How can it foster development that lifts people out of poverty and not only bring wealth to a few?
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Published Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 17:10
by
Rui Miguel
(965 views and 0 comments)
The future of Europe is to become a country, not the United States of Europe but an European Union. Together we are the richest, the biggest democracy and the most powerful country in the world.
The 21st century is the globalization century and we are killing ourselves. With some influential powerful countries arising (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and the United States, Europe as it is today will die very fast. The EU way of act is still having good results in European economies, but in a globalized world we need to have a single voice and act as a single force.
As from the 15th century we conquered the world, we cannot allow others to conquer us. We are good but we need more. We need to act as a continental nation constructed by many others nations (Spain, UK…)!
We Are, In Varietate Concordi
Tags: democracy, EU, Multilareralism
Published Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 08:04
by
Joel Cordier
(1115 views and 4 comments)
Par 369 voix pour, 197
contre et 106 abstentions, le Parlement européen a adopté, ce
mercredi 18 juin, la directive sur le retour des immigrés illégaux.
Ce texte qui a été massivement soutenu par la droite prévoit :
- une durée de rétention excessivement longue ;
- la détention d'enfants en centres fermés ;
- l’absence d'obligation pour les États d'organiser une assistance juridique gratuite ;
- la possibilité d'expulser des personnes gravement malades vers des pays où elles seront privées des soins pourtant nécessaires à leur survie ;
- l'interdiction de séjour sur le territoire européen de 5 ans pour toutes les personnes qui ont reçu un ordre de quitter le territoire.
La seule porte de sortie face à ce texte scandaleux est la faculté laissée aux Etats membres d’appliquer des normes plus favorables.
Il y a des jours où j’ai honte d’être citoyen de cette Europe là.
Allez, courage, la lutte continue !
Tags: blogger of the week, human rights, immigration, rights
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 09:49
by
Joel Cordier
(741 views and 0 comments)
Le mercredi 13
février 2008 a eu lieu la première rencontre des Artisans
de l’Europe.
Lors de cette soirée nous avons eu le plaisir d’accueillir Alain Hutchinson, parlementaire européen socialiste et Gérard Karlshausen, chargé des politiques européennes au Centre National de Coopération au Développement et membre du Board de CONCORD.
Voici quelques propositions issues de cette rencontre.
Les objectifs de santé et d’éducation doivent rester la priorité numéro un de l’aide européenne au développement.
» read more ...Tags: blogger of the week, development, solidarity
Published Monday, June 9, 2008 at 16:30
by
Editor
(843 views and 0 comments)
The last months of the debates on EU in the world have again brought many proposals to include in the Manifesto to the 2009 European elections.
Global Disarmament
Several participants recommend that the Manifesto mentions Europe’s responsibility to ensure global disarmament and arms controls. Measures could include working towards a nuclear weapons-free Europe, reducing military expenses, focusing on conflict prevention, revitalising international processes and agreements (such as... » read more ...
Tags: activists, barometer, EU, neighbours, poverty, social dialogue, UN, USA
Published Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 11:10
by
Sortir de l'Impasse 
(2939 views and 0 comments)
A lot has
been written about the current financial crisis. We know that it
has been generated by the US subprime mortgages. These subprimes
are mortgages granted to people whose loan request had been refused
by “traditional” banks and who had been given by specialised
brokers a “second chance to realise the American dream of getting
their own home”. This was under “bad” conditions, mainly much
higher resetable interest rates. And since July 2007, we
unfortunately discovered how high the price to pay was: millions of
American borrowers have been strangled with so huge monthly
payments that they had no other choice but to leave their home.Published Monday, June 2, 2008 at 14:15
by
Editor
(875 views and 1 comments)
EURODAD, the European Network on Debt and Development, gives its input for the manifesto2009. Marta Ruiz, EURODAD policy and advocacy officer, speaks about aid effectiveness and financial relations between rich and developing countries.
Read EURODAD' contribution for the manifesto2009 here.
Tags: development, globalization, poverty
Published Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 11:45
by
yanlep
(774 views and 0 comments)
L'union européenne doit être un tremplin pour tous les citoyens européens. Mais les problèmes auxquels les citoyens de l'UE sont confrontés, notamment le chômage, ne se résoudront pas seulement en Europe. En Europe, il faut imposer des droits sociaux de base, un salaire minimum européen. Mais il faut que les citoyens du monde aient les mêmes droits sociaux et démocratiques.
Le PSE doit mener des combats dans tous les pays du monde en y pratiquant une politique visant à informer les citoyens du monde de la possibilité de s'unir pour acquérir des droits. Tous les moyens sont possibles: internet, journaux... Il faudra peut-être passer par la clandestinité dans des pays où les droits ne sont pas respectés (Chine...) mais le problème du chômage se règlera dans les pays où les droits sociaux ne sont pas respectés. L'ingérence est une obligation. Pensez-y à chaque lever du soleil. Dîtes-vous, que puis-je faire pour ces citoyens dont les droits sont bafoués. Les informer qu'une autre vie est possible. De là naîtra la contestation...
En Europe, tous les pays ne sont pas logés à la même enseigne. ll faut absolument que le PSE ait un programme visant... » read more ...
Tags: EU, Multilareralism, rights
Published Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 14:40
by
jose reis santos
(1009 views and 1 comments)
Saturday, 17th of May, PES activists Portugal held their second public initiative regarding the Manifesto 2009 consultation. This session was held in Setúbal, and it was dedicated to the theme of « Europe and the World» and had as Keynote Speaker Manuel Lobo Antunes (Secretary of State of European Affair); Ana Gomes and Joel Hasse Ferreira (MEP, PES), and Ana Pinto (Researcher IPRI / FCSH – UNL).
The session was presided by the leader of PS Setúbal, Victor Ramalho and some proposals were presented by activists. The session was... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, EU, globalization, Multilareralism
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 18:22
by
franz.danner
(1049 views and 1 comments)
I am from the
Jusos, the
German young social democrats.
In the 2009 European elections, I definitely want to vote for
disarmament, for fewer weapons and for peace!
That’s why I am appealing to the PES to introduce disarmament as
a clear focus in the PES
manifesto 2009. Social democrats and socialists stand for peace
in Europe and the world and we should clearly express it!
Therefore I demand:
Today we have to realize that the world is entering a new contest of rearmament. And Europe is about to become champion. More than 825 billion US-dollar were spent in 2006 for military expenditures. This is nearly 70 percent of the worldwide expenditures! It’s a shame! While many... » read more ...
Tags: disarmement, peace
Published Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:10
by
bverdeyen
(866 views and 0 comments)
The European Union today is the largest donor in development and
international aid.
A European fact we can indeed be proud of.
But let us not rest assured...the international (aid) scene is rapidly changing, for the best and the worst.
New players have entered the domain of international development
and aid.
China, for example, seems to have (re)discovered the African
continent and are rapidly becoming a major player. Not all that
strange after all, since the Chinese aid comes with much less
regulations than the aid the EU or the UN offers. Yet, it comes
at a much higher cost in the end.
But the way local NGO's work is changing as well. With as much failure stories as success stories, projects have a tendency to grow more local and more small-scaled. Western aid workers slowly abandon the idea they know better and that western models can simply be implemented in a non-western context.
Local partnerships and consultation rounds now determine the
needs of local people.
Participation and co-ownership are now key-words in these new
formats being developed.
Aid is so much more than simply drilling water holes or offering
medical supplies. Aid should also come in the forms of education
and information.
As the largest donor, the European Union also has the largest
responsibility. A responsibility to avoid trading aid for
political sway or economic deals.... » read more ...
Tags: Africa, development, globalization, trade
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 09:42
by
Duncan Anderson
(1091 views and 0 comments)
I don't want to suggest that PES/EU can solve this problem within one term of office. But I do think that the EU should start talking to other countries and organisations about dealing with the consequences of over population.
Over population or having more people on the planet that it can sustain was a topic of discussion during the 1970s and China responded. I'm not saying that we or other countries should follow China's route.
But over population is at the core of many global problems. We need to use artificial fertilisers and G.M. products to feed the world and even then a lot of people starve. There is insufficient water to both grow food for people and for them to drink. We can't provide enough energy for everybody without damaging the planet.
Question, how do we address the twin problems of having a sustainable level of population on this planet? Answer, I don't know, but I'm interested in listening to there people's views.
If it is decided to reduce the population we have to consider the demographics of having more older people who are above a working age - but still need food, water and energy - than younger people who would be generating income and therefore taxes to pay for the water, food and energy of the older people.
But until we start discussing these concepts, both amongst ourselves and with other countries we're not going to fully understand the problems and therefore we won't find the correct answers.
Tags: energy, environment, food crisis, solidarity
Published Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 09:34
by
yoan.abiven
(1009 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... » read more ...Tags: citizens, economy, immigration, security, solidarity
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 16:37
by
Editor
(1204 views and 3 comments)
Tags: development, European Parliament, fair trade, solidarity
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 10:12
by
markus.austria
(1027 views and 1 comments)
Tags: activists, Africa, defence, democracy, development, multilateralism, peace, poverty, UN
File:
PES manifesto consultation.pdf
Published Friday, April 25, 2008 at 15:40
by
Editor
(1037 views and 0 comments)
Tags: development, human rights, NGO, poverty
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