Published Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 15:09
by
stephane.veyret 
(1164 views and 1 comments)
« Unis dans la
diversité », tel est le slogan qui a été adopté pour l'Europe. Mais
quelle diversité souhaitons-nous vraiment ? Une diversité absolue,
où l'on ne pratique aucun échange entre les peuples, où chacun
garde sa propre culture, sa propre langue et ne cherche pas à
communiquer avec ses voisins ? Ou une diversité limitée, où l'on
fait en sorte que toute l'Europe s'exprime dans une même langue et
se reconnaisse dans des valeurs similaires ?
Aujourd'hui, il semble que c'est ce second choix qui a été fait, avec l'anglais comme langue commune, et les valeurs des États-Unis comme base de notre culture, au détriment de nos propres coutumes.
La France, pays réputé pour sa tolérance se dote de lois de plus en plus strictes, alors que les adolescents se reconnaissent de plus en plus dans les cow-boys qui, au nom d'une certaine idée de la justice, se permettent d'ôter la vie aux hors-la-loi… La France, pays réputé mondialement pour sa nourriture voit fleurir de plus en plus de « fast-food » au coin de ses rues. Le français, la langue des... » read more ...
Tags: discrimination, languages, multiculturalism
Published Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 22:28
by
Sortir de l'Impasse
(826 views and 0 comments)
From a French
perspective, we always believe that Ireland has one of the lowest
taxation systems in Europe, and that one the reasons for the
Irish “no” was the protection of these low taxes.
A couple of days ago (on 26th June), Eurostat published very interesting and useful analysis to draw some comparisons between the different taxations in Europe. Thanks to this survey, we discovered that Ireland had now the highest implicit tax rate on capital amongst the 27 European countries: 42.5% in 2006, compared to 27.1% in 1996. In France for instance, this implicit tax rate on capital is “only” 41.5%... This proved once again that we, French people, should sometimes be more open minded and work at revamping our “idées préconçues”.
The survey also shows large spreads between taxation rates in Europe: on capital, the range of implicit taxation is between 8.4% in Estonia, and 42.5% in Ireland. On labour, it is between 21.5% in Malta and 44.2% in Sweden.
We strongly believe that to be efficient in the world, Europe should be able to speak one voice, whether it is for diplomacy... » read more ...
Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:45
by
negrescuvictor
(1052 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... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, citizens, democracy, diversity, EU
Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:34
by
rikkeindenmark
(1272 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”Tags: blogger of the week, discrimination, diversity, gay, LGBT
Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:53
by
chourka
(904 views and 1 comments)
Voilà une idée
originale portée par les camarades du SP.a qui mériterait d'être
étudiée sérieusement et pourquoi pas reprise dans notre manifeste
électoral.
De quoi s'agit-il exactement ?
On sait que les forces de police sont coordonnées au niveau européen par EUROPOL pour ce qui concerne les questions liées aux trafics en tout genre, le terrorisme. Bien que cette institution naissante aurait besoin de moyens pour fonctionner efficacement, elle a le mérite d'exister.
Ce que propose nos camarades belges, c'est que dans le domaine social, une sorte d'inspection européenne du Travail soit mise en place et que celle-ci puisse contrôler le respect au sein des Etats-membres des droits sociaux dans le but d'éviter le dumping social.
Dans de nombreuses contributions, revient également l'idée d'une harmonisation vers le haut des droits sociaux. Parfois avec des variations comme celle sur l'imposition d'un salaire minimum européen. Le SP.a ne précise pas comment il l'imagine son application quand la Fédération de Paris indique qu'il doit être... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, employment, justice, wages, workers
Published Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 16:30
by
arktika
(937 views and 7 comments)
Today EU has a Parliament. MEPs sit and travel between Strasbourg and Brussels, with no power and no authority. Commission, their army of bureaucrats and lobbyists keep EU as their playground.
One common custom is to... » read more ...
Tags: EU, European perspective, Western Balkans
Published Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 14:34
by
franciscopolo
(867 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... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, citizens, democracy, fundamental rights, political parties, transparency, treaty
Published Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 09:39
by
negrescuvictor
(908 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... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, citizens, elections, PES, political parties
Published Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 09:33
by
rikkeindenmark
(1574 views and 10 comments)
And now for
something completely different – as Monty Python would say! I’m
moving away from gender issues and on to a completely different
topic, namely education.
I work in the university sector, where tuition fees are currently
a burning hot topic for debate. In my home country we have a long
tradition for free – or rather publicly funded – higher
education. The argument is that when higher education is free
everyone – regardless of social or economic background – has the
opportunity to take a university degree. Basically, as Danes see
it free education is a question of equality and equal access to
education.
However, in globalization the Danish higher education model is
challenged: Denmark is one of very few countries in the world
which does not have tuition fees (correct me if I’m wrong, but I
think there are only 10 countries worldwide with free higher
education!). University education is increasingly becoming
‘internationalized’: more and more universities cooperate across
borders to offer joint degrees; more and more students go abroad
on exchange or take a full degree abroad, etc. With more
cooperation across borders it gets more difficult for Denmark to
stick with the ‘no... »
read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, education, equality, public services
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 16:42
by
Editor
(1090 views and 0 comments)
European Network Against Racism (ENAR), representing over 600 anti-racism NGOs all over Europe, put forward its suggestions for the manifesto2009!
Check them here with its director, Pascale Charhon.
Read ENAR' full contribution here and
leave us your comments to tackle minority problems across
Europe!
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 12:47
by
negrescuvictor
(1129 views and 2 comments)
While reading the
contributions submitted by several PES member parties or by
different NGOs I have noticed something that I thought has
disappeared. What is that exactly? The desire to
change the world, to ask ourselves what is wrong and, thus, to
think about improving the current situation.
We are far away from living in a perfect world and sometimes it can be difficult to imagine that thousands or millions of people are starving, getting incurable diseases, people who don’t have access to the basic survival needs, not to talk about the lack of education.
Europe is far from having resolved its own problems but the power of our political (social and economic) Union resides in the value of solidarity. Countries and regions have been reconstructed based on this solidarity, people have known prosperity and wealth, the living conditions have improved and no one can say otherwise. People from countries like Ireland, Greece, Spain, and Portugal know what I’m talking about… Solidarity is difficult when this means giving a bite of your wealth but you always have to remember that this is what EU is all about: mutual help when you are facing a bad economic situation.
... » read more ...Tags: blogger of the week, elections, EU, PES
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 12:29
by
Editor
(1063 views and 0 comments)
The European
Network of Social Democratic Foundations (ENSoF) became very
involved in the PES Manifesto consultation, coordinating research
with their 16 member organizations. They started in January 2008
with a preparatory workshop in Vienna and since then successively
held four further workshops in Sofia, Athens, Paris and Rome – one on each of the
core themes. Debating the draft papers with MEPs and other experts
in Brussels on May 29, ENSoF finally delivered a very comprehensive
booklet as their contribution to the PES
Manifesto consultation.
The scientific yet political approach of the foundations to the most important issues on the European agenda undoubtedly represents a unique enrichment to the consultation process. Having done extensive analytical research, ENSoF also presented a number of concrete proposals on “Europe in the world”, “European Democracy and Diversity”, “Save our Planet” and “New Social Europe”. Here is just a small selection:
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 09:36
by
franciscopolo
(1006 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:
A 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.... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, citizens, democracy, EU
Published Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 11:56
by
Editor
(912 views and 1 comments)
Have you ever
imagined how many elderly can not afford to go on holidays and the
consequences on their wellbeing?Tags: elderly, human rights, manifesto
Published Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 09:48
by
franciscopolo
(1147 views and 1 comments)
On 10 June the Labour
Ministries of the European Union agreed the possibility of
enlarging the work journey to 60 hour or, eventually, 65 hours if
the company and the worker agree to do so.
The reaction in Spain: this is a clear attack to the Social Europe we are trying to achieve and we are not going to assume it easily.
Today in Europe, the maximum work journey is set at 48 hours per week. It was set this way by the International Labour Organisation in 1917. According to Lourdes Muñoz a recognised socialist blogger in Spain:
This Directive will eliminate the right to rest during the continued working journeys, it attempts against the safety and health at the work place and difficult the conciliation of personal and working life.
The promoters of this initiative affirm that this Directive will implement the freedom to individually negotiate the length of our own working journey but as we all know theory is theory and there will be no negotiation. Individualisation of the working relations... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, employment, workers
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