Published Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 16:33
by
Editor
in Debate (94 views and 0 comments)
Democratic governance
relies on active participation, both in terms of those who stand
for political office and those who elect them.
If you are interested in attending the event in order to have an
overview of the different electoral systems and voting patterns
across the EU, as well as explore particularities of specific
electorates such as expatriates and ethnic minorities, younger
and older voters, or women, you just have to fill in the online
registration form available here.
The conference will take place @ the Headquarters of the
Committee of the Regions (Room 52, rue Belliard 101, B-1040
Brussels) on 10 September 2008 (09h30-13h30).
The program and further information are available on the PES Group – Committee of the Regions
website.
Published Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 09:21
by
carl0s 
in Debate (575 views and 3 comments)
With the far-right on the rise across the EU, as socialists we need to look at ourselves in the cold light of morning. History tells us that fascism and its derivatives are fuelled by anger and disillusionment. What have we all done to contribute to this situation? Don't get me wrong - there's no justification for racism, violence or intolerance. But the current flaring of these sentiments across the EU may have causes to which we have contributed...
Read the rest of this article here
read morePublished Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 17:24
by
Editor
in Debate (518 views and 1 comments)
Often people complain that Europe is not democratic. But is this the case? At the Vienna Forum, one activist rejected this commonly held view, stating that there are indeed existing democratic mechanisms available to activists in the EU. Rather than complaining about a democratic deficit, activists must use these mechanisms to their full potential in the fight for a better Europe.
Julia from the SPÖ highlighted the role of fear in European politics, particularly in the debate on immigration. She argued that the EU must foster an image of “the good guy” in the form of a Social Union.
What is your image of the EU in the context of globalization? What can Europe do to better protect it's citizens from the negative effects of globalization?
Is there an institutionalised democratic deficit or do you agree that the problem is that we are simply not taking advantage of the mechanisms available to us?
read morePublished Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:04
by
Editor
in Debate (699 views and 0 comments)
Didn't make it to Vienna Forum? Miss it already?
Relive the moment and check out comments and interviews from the Vienna Forum with PES activists from across Europe on our Youtube page and stay tuned to Yourspace for more forum videos on themes such as online campaigning, emocracy and diversity, Europe in the world and Saving our planet.
read morePublished Monday, July 7, 2008 at 14:04
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (432 views and 0 comments)
Editor's note:
Aidan OSullivan, PES activists Dublin, sent us a live example of
good practices at European level, presented in Vienna during the
seminar on "Cross-border campaign exchanges".
In May 2007, we invited activists from all over Europe to come
help in the Irish General Election campaign.
The initiative was a fantastic success! We knocked on doors
together, we leafleted target areas together, we shared ideas and
stories and we formed new cross-European political
relationships!
This is how PES Activists works....activist to activist
co-operation, building the New Social Europe from the grassroots
level upward.
Check out the short presentation on our experience!
Tags: citizens, democracy, elections, EU, forum
File:
PESActivistsDublin.pps
Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:45
by
negrescuvictor
in New Social Europe (546 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 Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 14:34
by
franciscopolo
in European democracy & diversity (337 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 intergovernmental), the EU gains in its capability to create an international interlocution by creating both the positions of the permanent President of the European Counsel and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, among other things. But there is something much more important.
This Treaty is specially important because it makes the EU to be more democratic. It creates the civil initiative so a million of citizens will be able to suggest the creation of new rules; the European Parliament, our direct representative in the EU gains power and almost nothing can be...
read morePublished Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 09:36
by
franciscopolo
in New Social Europe (460 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:
read moreA 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. On the one hand, they receive positive messages (equality of 400...
Published Monday, June 23, 2008 at 18:26
by
chourka
in European democracy & diversity (713 views and 12 comments)
Plusieurs
contributions (Brussels PES working group, Contribution du PS 67,
contribution de la Fédération de Paris) mettent en avant la
nécessité pour les partis européens à commencer par le PSE
d'offrir aux électeurs un choix clairs entre la droite et la
gauche.
Toutes soulignent également qu'un mode de scrutin uniforme pour l'élection des députés européens est un objectif de plus en plus urgent de réaliser.
Enfin, la proposition formulée par Jacques Delors de faire du chef de file du parti arrivé en tête lors des Européennes, le Président de la Commission, est littéralement plébiscitée. Se pose alors pour les partis politiques européens la question de l'organisation concrête de cette désignation.
Pour un courant de pensée démocratique comme le socialisme, il n'est pas concevable que cela se fasse dans un conclave fermé à huis clos entre leaders des formations composant le PSE. Cela ne peut nécessairement se faire qu'à travers une consultation de l'ensemble des adhérents par un vote de désignation. A dire vrai, en tant que socialistes, nous avons une longueur d'avance par rapport aux Conservateurs et autres...
read morePublished Monday, June 23, 2008 at 14:05
by
rikkeindenmark
in European democracy & diversity (568 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 Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 17:10
by
Rui Miguel
in EU in the world (672 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
read morePublished Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 12:26
by
Maitresinh
in European democracy & diversity (603 views and 6 comments)
Note de la
rédaction : un sympathisant du PSE nous a envoyée une « lettre
ouverte » qui serait intégrée à une nouvelle section de
cafebabel.com, une magasine européen en ligne. Cette nouvelle
section du site traiterait le thème des élections européennes de
2009.
Pour un coup d’état démocratique européen en 2009 !
En juin 2009, pour la septième fois dans l’histoire de l’Europe, plus de 350 millions de citoyens voteront pour nommer leurs représentants au Parlement européen.
Trente ans se sont écoulés depuis les premières élections de 1979. Trente ans durant lesquels l’Europe et le monde ont beaucoup changé. Le Parlement européen lui aussi, de simple organe consultatif, a acquis d’année en année un pouvoir croissant au sein d’une Europe toujours plus unie.
Institution démocratique par excellence, exprimant la volonté des citoyens européens, le Parlement demeure pourtant dans l’ombre du Conseil des ministres, assemblée qui détient le dernier mot, privant l’Europe d’un pouvoir exécutif pleinement démocratique et de...
read morePublished Monday, June 16, 2008 at 08:47
by
mehmetsel
in European democracy & diversity (339 views and 0 comments)
Depuis l'origine de la construction européenne, les européens s'interrogent sur les moyens d'honorer le pacte politique liant les Etats membres. La politique d'unification de l'Europe a donné lieu à de nombreuses controverses sur la nature des institutions à créer pour rassembler les peuples européens. Lorsque le marché commun fut fondé en 1957 ses initiateurs ne pensaient qu'à une coopération purement économique. Si l'on tient compte des circonstances, on peut affirmer qu'ils ont atteint leur but.
Mais on en n'est pas rester là, l'Europe est devenu à...
read morePublished Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:52
by
Desmond O'Toole
in European democracy & diversity (432 views and 1 comments)
Well the polls have closed and the ballot boxes are now safely stored away until they are opened at 09h00 (10h00 CET) on Friday morning. As I predicted, a lot of the discussion in the media this evening has been on how many people turned out to vote. If you remember I said that the general view is that a turnout below 40% would suggest a NO vote, while a turnout above 45% would indicate a YES vote. Well, the national broadcaster, RTÉ, is reporting turnout in the region 40-45%, so I'm afraid I cannot offer even an educated guess as to how the Irish people have voted in this referendum! I will be attending the count in Dublin and we are expecting initial results to be available by lunchtime and a formal announcement of the result by about 17h00 (18h00 CET).
One possible indicator of the result is the view of Irish bookmakers. They are offering better odds on the YES side winning and as everyone knows, bookmakers don't like to lose money. It would not be the first time that Irish bookmakers knew more than Irish politicians and journalists about how the people have voted. However, all of this is just idle speculation. We will know on Friday afternoon whether Lisbon will proceed smoothly to ratification across the EU or whether there will be a crisis for the French Presidency of the EU in Brussels.
... read morePublished Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 18:15
by
pamela.derosa
in European democracy & diversity (367 views and 0 comments)
On parle de l'Europe
comme un grand pays, une confédération d'États modernes qui pensent
premièrement aux droits des personnes. Ce n'est pas vrai. Il y a
des États qui n’appliquent pas en échec certains principes, ce qui
risque de nous faire revenir en arriére.
Évidemment, je parle de mon pays, l'Italie. C'est dommage que dans le Partito Democratico il existe des querelles par rapport aux positions politiques au niveau européen: il y a les EX-DS (Democratici di Sinistra – ex parti communiste) qui veulent appartenir au PSE et puis il y a les EX-MARGHERITA (démocratie chrétienne) qui veulent appartenir au PPE. On ne sait pas si les deux veulent prendre (ou pas) des décisions, mais – dans ce cas – la décision sur le choix d’un Parti européen n'est pas une question de mon intérêt.
Le problème italien est le totale manque de respect pour les droits de l’Homme: les droits des homosexuels, les droits des étrangers et les droits des non catholiques.
Il me semble que le Partito Democratico et le Popolo delle Libertà sont...
read morePublished Friday, June 6, 2008 at 15:30
by
yoan.abiven
in European democracy & diversity (372 views and 0 comments)
La France réfléchit à une réforme de grande ampleur de sa constitution. Au final, ce serait près d’un tiers du texte de la Cinquième République qui serait bouleversée. Parmi les nombreux articles réformés, se trouve l'article 88-5 qui concerne la "ratification de l'adhésion d'un Etat à l'Union européenne". Un précédent gouvernement avait échafaudé ce fameux article 88-5 qui n'avait pour finalité que d'empêcher l'arrivée de la Turquie dans l'Union, et au passage de sauver la Constitution européenne, alors en débat référendaire. Nous n'eûmes hélas pas de constitution européenne, en revanche l'article 88-5, lui, a été comme gravé dans le marbre national.
A la place, la commission des lois propose qu'en France le référendum reste obligatoire lorsque la population de cet Etat représente plus de 5 % de la population de l’Union. Et ainsi tout le monde est content, pas besoin de référendum pour les honnêtes gens des petites nations d'Europe, mais les urnes attendent les masses barbares.
Cette disposition constitue une atteinte à cette démocratie européenne que nous, socialistes européens, entendons bâtir. Qu'à peine 50 millions d'électeurs à...
read morePublished Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 14:10
by
thanos
in New Social Europe (384 views and 0 comments)
Spain and its socialist government give hope to social democracy in Europe. People from the left have been disappointed...people are looking for something new and unfortunately things are not bright for socialist parties.
However, Spain has made huge steps forward and I think labour and social democratic parties should follow this country's model.
Zapatero not only acts but also delivers wonderful speeches. He always talks about accepting difference (gay people, disabled people, people who cannot hear or speak like the majority does...). All these things are important and they have an enormous impact on society. People listen and finally accept…
Zapatero is a pacifist. He will never support an illegal war.
The Spanish state has increased the percentage of the GDP dedicated to international aid.
Women and gender equality are at the core of all government policies.
I hope other parties will look at Spain and get inspired by this wonderful country. Problems in the world are enormous and time is limited. We have to react and change things around us.
Let us find hope again and try to diminish human misery in our societies. Let us take care of the human being. Let us not loose the feeling of compassion.
Spain has personally given me hope. I look at Spain and say to my self that things can change. I hope the wind of hope will soon reach my country!
read morePublished Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 10:17
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (201 views and 0 comments)
Many participants to the online consultation noted the need to push forward the anti-discrimination directive to deal with the increasing intolerance, homophobia and discrimination in Europe. We also need to educate people and politicians, and change backward mentalities to ensure legislation is effectively implemented. The PES should therefore produce a clear statement on this directive.
Natalia highlighted the need to put emphasis on equality policies as a cornerstone of the PES political action: “in defining socialist policies, we have a moral obligation to work in favour of this profound social change through education, legislation and the questioning of those social models based on the so-called superiority of one sex over the other”. The case of the Spanish government, with 9 women and 8 men, and a Ministry of Equality, should be used as a best practice.
read more
Published Monday, June 2, 2008 at 17:08
by
karinedaniel
in European democracy & diversity (505 views and 1 comments)
At a time when
European institutions and all political authorities are calling to
forge a European identity and bring closer together citizens of the
Union, it is deeply regrettable that the Barroso Commission should
have chosen to bury any discussion with a view to establish a
statute of the European association.Published Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:21
by
jose reis santos
in European democracy & diversity (456 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 Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 12:25
by
bverdeyen
in European democracy & diversity (383 views and 0 comments)
The answers, let’s say in Portugal, would be quite different from those you’d get in, let’s say, Germany. The identity of one European Union today is hardly existent. Even worse, due to (mis)communication of more locally oriented political groups, the EU is sometimes even seen as meddlesome and negative.
Democracy begins with citizenship, but if your citizens don’t feel like a part of ‘the European Nation’, it is no wonder that referenda are treated with a resolute ‘no!’ So perhaps Europe needs to turn its’ attention towards itself again and develop it’s image within the member states.
Better information, a stronger presence within education and clear visibility of the use in people’s everyday lives. A strong democracy and a social Europe also starts within the people’s minds and hearts.
read morePublished Monday, May 26, 2008 at 14:53
by
jose reis santos
in European democracy & diversity (555 views and 1 comments)
I am very happy to be the blogger of the week. It is not every day that one has the opportunity to be an active part of a project as the one the PES is promoting. I am talking about the Activists Project and the Manifesto 2009. Most of the people that read and consult this blog already know all about these projects, but I would like to take a moment and think about them.
Initial questions: what is the PES? It is the Party of the European Socialists. But is it really a party? Is it not the PES a confederation of national parties rather than a Political Party in classical terms? If we think about it and compare the party structures at a national and European level, we rapidly come to the conclusion that at a European level we are light-years away from the national organizations as they exists. Of course that one could say that we don’t need such an organized and complex party structure, because we don’t have to be prepared to exercise power. The PES is not running to govern nothing. We don’t run to manage local administrative government; as we don’t run to put forward any kind of European cabinet. We leave that responsibility to the national parties, both regarding the local and European affairs. So, what can we do as PES activists?
Bring EU to the next level
First we can start by thinking what the role is for political parties at an European level. When we think about the future of the European Union, do...
read morePublished Friday, May 23, 2008 at 15:24
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (516 views and 0 comments)
The second day of the
extraordinary Turin meeting of the PES group in the
Committee of the Regions started with a roundtable on European democracy and diversity. Four highly
interesting speeches put forward some very precise ideas for the
PES manifesto 2009.Published Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 09:23
by
carlosmoret
in European democracy & diversity (379 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 17:26
by
Zita_Gurmai
in European democracy & diversity (607 views and 0 comments)
I completely agree
with PES activist Natalia Reyes when she writes that gender equality
should be one of the top priorities of the PES manifesto – as it is
a priority for the Spanish government. Having Zapatero and PSOE in government in
Spain has demonstrated that when women vote for a socialist party
their lives really improve. In many ways we are experiencing the
New Social Europe in Spain: Equal pay, childcare and attention to
violence against women.Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:36
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (524 views and 1 comments)
Last Wednesday
evening around 18h30. In the renovated Brigittines chapel in
Brussels Sp.a co-workers are getting nervous. This
evening we present our input for the PES manifesto. We have
worked hard to provide for an interesting program (attached), but
can it compete with the beautiful spring evening?
At 7 o’clock our fears prove to be unfounded. Sp.a International
Secretary Saïd
El Khadraoui can introduce the evening before approximately
80 people. We kick off with a debate about New Social
Europe. Europe has done pioneering work on certain domains,
but it turns out that a lot more can be gained at European level.
For example, the health services directive that we are still
waiting for. There is no discussion about the need for a more
social approach of the Lisbon objectives. But ambitious and
enforceable European objectives concerning social themes are a
logical next step. The conclusions run parallel: Europe has a lot
of instruments at his disposal, but lacks ambition and
decisiveness when it comes to social themes. Political action
pays off, that becomes clear in dossiers such as the adjusted
Bolkenstein directive. As...
Tags: democracy, energy, environment, health, political parties, transparency, treaty, welfare
File:
manifesto_spa_FR.pdf,
flyer_spa.pdf
Published Friday, May 9, 2008 at 19:05
by
asa.westlund
in European democracy & diversity (736 views and 3 comments)
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 16:57
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (572 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 10:12
by
markus.austria
in EU in the world (676 views and 1 comments)
Tags: activists, Africa, defence, democracy, development, multilateralism, peace, poverty, UN
File:
PES manifesto consultation.pdf
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:01
by
noelhatch
in In the spotlight (731 views and 3 comments)
Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 11:49
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (719 views and 0 comments)
Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 15:31
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (717 views and 0 comments)
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