Published Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 10:13
by
Soren Winther Lundby
(1216 views and 1 comments)
We need a ‘democratic infrastructure’ in Europe. This should be a top priority for PES. To be short:
The Union and the member states will have to invest in a ‘democratic infrastructure’ that will make it easier for citizens to meet face-to-face in cross border political meetings.
Top politicians and business people have the structures and the funding that makes it possible for them to conduct cross border political networks. This is good and fine, we should be in favour of that.
The problem is that most citizens do not have this kind of opportunities. 9 out of 10 Europeans never discuss politics with citizens from other countries! This is what we have to change.
PES should suggest that the EU and the member states invest €2 per citizen per year in a democratic infrastructure. We need true European political parties and a thriving European civil society. Unfortunately, these things will not drop from the sky. This is why PES should suggest a European democratic infrastructure.
By the way, we also have to elect our PES candidate for the post as president of the European Commission. This we have to do before the end of 2008 (in January 2009 the European Council will elect "their" president)
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Comments
1. Grassroots activism: our most powerful tool by pattheact
on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 23:12
I have read your post and suggestions very carefully and I totally agree with your analysis of the (non) political situation Europe's citizens are facing. Even though I think you are right that the very complicated decision-taking process is clearly not inviting citizens to participate in it, I am convinced that the first, and clearly most important step to take in my eyes, would be to much more invest in classical political propaganda "on the field", through trans-border campaigning and grassroots activism. Bringing Europe closer to its citizens means investing in a strong coordinated and effective network of activists and politicians, spreading our political ideas and proposals in a way that has proven its efficiency over the years, from door to door, on the markets and fairs, as well as in local and regional press bodies.
Top politicians and business people should find their interest in helping to finance cross border political meetings, but it should be the PES who coordinates the different campaigns and events in close collaboration with the hosting national sister party in order to build up the strongest possible political body, able to defend the interests of its voters in Brussels.
I could easily imagine multiplying the experience of a Belgian MEP campaigning in the border regions in Luxembourg and Germany in order to explain and promote European regional development policies, the whole effort supported by a motivated and well organized network of European activists from all over the continent. It would clearly make me curious as a German citizen to see Portuguese, Irish and Polish youngsters campaigning in my country and even better, sharing the same political ideas and fighting for the same values than I am...
I think a common political manifesto is the best possible tool existing to enable grassroots activists to do trans-border campaigning and I hope that the PES and all its member parties will take the opportunity to strengthen the already existing and active network of European socialist, social-democrat and labour grassroots activists, considering it as one of the most powerful tools to connect Europe's citizens and its politics.
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