"Socialism means peace, not war.  However it seems hard for EU politicians to admit it. Here are some facts: 90% of Bulgarian people were against Serbia bombing in 1994 but officially Bulgaria helped bombing and killing people.  I believe 80 to 90% of Europeans are against Iraq occupation or military presence in Afghanistan – what are we doing there?"

In Europe the Kosovo question highlights the core problem - uncritical following of US foreign (cowboy) policy - of EU.  The results one can see now: 

Year 2008 has showed the chaotic stage of international Kosovo administration. Local administration has been in same situation already earlier due parallel institutions, corruption, ethnic tensions, tribe dynasties etc.

When Albanian majority declared Independence Feb. 2008 the idea was to transfer international administration from UN to EU. However the only internationally accepted resolution 1244 - which says that Kosovo is part of Serbia - stayed valid. So that about independence which in mistake was was accepted through some 40 countries.

The unclear situation between UN and EU has now came conflict also between Nato and EU in relation cooperation between Kfor troops and EULEX-mission. Already earlier Kosovo status as special case has served as example to many other ethnic conflict around the world.

Isn´t it now finally time to confess the made mistakes and start new chapter through local stakeholders in stead of quackery by outsiders. I think that the best international crisis management would be to create opportunities for local agreement by means of stick and carrots. This could make it possible to transfer focus from legal nitpicking to long lasting development of economy and democratic process.

I am sure that countries in Balkans have more realstic, pragmatic and true picture about Balkan problems than americans.  This voice should be heard also in Brussels.

Hope to meet again everybody in Madrid in December.

"rock against racism" - well, you didn't invent that idea  :-) but you are welcome to borrow!

PES is leading the way in real European grassroots politics... 

A special thanks to those who attended the workshop on online campaigning! I appreciated all your questions and comments and look forward to more discussion on online campaigning in the future.  

We would like to thank you very much for this 2 days in Vienna. Debate, presentations and speakers were really excellent.

In Vienna, we got the feeling of what "Europe" could and should be.  Back home, I wish we will be able to diffuse this feeling.

Once again thanks a lot to all of you for this forum !

Europe is a fantastic experiment. We knew empires, small kingdoms fighting with each other, monarchies of devine right, then nation states. Their means was war. The european experience is the first in human history in which war is not an option. I am certain that by 2020 Europe will be the world reference and that's only 12 years from now. We are almost 500 million healthy, educates rich people living in a space of peace that does not export war. 6 countries (5,5 because Germany was divided) to start with, then 3 knocked at our door, then another, then two, then 3 more, then ten, two came later and 8 more are waiting in line, and many other hoping to qualify. That I call success. Still, we have a long way to go until we change the UN, WTO and other global organizations into democratic organizations in which the peoples of the world can organize. We are far away, but we are in the good track. Let's keep working, our next deadline are the european elections in not quite a year's time. Let's make a good campaign with a good manifesto.

Carlos, in Paris

But, if you look closely the Amsterdam Treaty and Maastricht criteria are not about solidarity among countries facing difficulties. Worst, penalties are given to countries having a too big deficit unable to cope with it.

Originally —and it is what it makes it unique— the Union has been founded on Peace as a goal and de facto Solidarity as a tool.

 You might miss something if you do not see the EU as a huge bargain. The wealthiest members pay for the poorest and in regard each member-state shares its soveignity with the others. The EU is much more than a sole economical project. It is a political project !

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Comme cela est dit dans l'article, l'Union européenne est l'endroit sur la planète où la solidarité est une valeur commune essentielle. C'est tellement vrai qu'elle a été mise en bonne position dans la Charte européenne des Droits fondamentaux par la première Convention.

Mais, si tu regardes attentivement, le Traité d'Amsterdam et surtout les critères de Maastricht sur la monnaie unique ne parlent pas du tout de solidarité en faveur de pays rencontrant des difficultés. Pire, des amendes sont imposées aux pays qui n'arrivent pas à résoudre rapidement un deficit conjoncturel.

A  l'origine —et c'est ce qui rend le projet européen unique— l'Union a été fondée sur la Paix comme objectif et la solidarité de fait comme un moyen.

Tu risques de faire une analyse erronée, si tu ne vois pas que l'UE est un immense échange. Les plus riches paient pour les plus pauvres et en échange chaque Etat-membre partage sa souveraineté avec les autres. L'Union est bien plus qu'un seul projet economique. C'est un projet politique ! 

Est-ce qu'une forme de concurrence entre les états sur les taux d'imposition est seulement négative ? Si nos voisins imposent peu, cela nous fait hésiter à créer de nouveaux prélèvement fiscaux. Cela contraint les administration à faire mieux avec autant de moyens, cela les pousse à l'efficacité. Je constate que dans mon entreprise, c'est parce que nos concurrents font mieux que nous que nous nous mobilisons et améliorons nos méthodes. C'est un moteur pour aller vers le mieux.

Alors pourquoi les institutions européennes devraient mettre leur nez dans la fiscalité des états ? Pourquoi ne pas laisser aux états la responsabilité de choisir les taux d'imposition qu'ils souhaitent ? Ce serait toujours au peuple de décider comment il veut être imposé (beaucoup d'impots pour beaucoup d'état, peu pour moins d'état). Quel est l'avantage de piloter la fiscalité de façon centralisée à Bruxelles ? Ne pourrait-on pas rester unis dans la disversité fiscale ?

Merci pour vos réponses,

Nicolas

And it's make many people upset to see the Irishmen, those who received billions of subsidies from the EU, giving back a 2 fingers.

People of Ireland has to understand that the maximal risk now is to become more and more marginalized. 

Au contraire, il est plus que temps de combattre les atteintes aux droits des plus faibles et des plus démunis : flexibilité, semaine des 60 heures, néo-libéralisme, chute du pouvoir d'achat,...

Il faut réconcilier l'Europe et les citoyens, surtout ceux de base, pour éviter de nouveaux clashs irlandais.

Jean-Pierre Molle

 This video made by the Labour is pretty good : 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etRg4_r7xbw