Published Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 15:31
by
mochinho 
in Debate (153 views and 0 comments)
This claim may be the essence of the discussion which the German Member of the Federal Parliament, Ortwin Runde (SPD), had invited to in Hamburg, Germany, on 2008-11-06. Subject of this evening meeting was how the current financial crisis could be mastered. As special guests Runde could welcome trade union chairman Michael Sommer (DGB), Knut Fleckenstein (SPD, Member of the Hamburg Parliament, MEP candidate 2009), and the former Secretary of State Dr. Cornelie Sonntag-Wolgast (SPD).
The panel reminded that today’s measures towards the financial
crisis were against the zeitgeist of the last 30 years which were
neo-liberal or market-radical then. People claiming these tools
had been laughed at and been put aside. Obviously the current
crisis will affect the small people in the end. Therefore the SPD
and the trade unions have to back these people and develop a
convincing socio-financial policy. The panel was of the opinion
that the economy has to be democratically controlled and that the
state should use and demand its influence. No one doubted the
(social) free-market economy, but the panel saw today’s world
economy as a kind of casino capitalism. The debaters argued that
the former German red-green government had its share in the
problematic developments in Germany. However, that government had
been fallen victim of the former zeitgeist, but could withstand a
total subjection under pure economic interests, e.g. in the field
of consumer...
Published Monday, October 6, 2008 at 17:28
by
Editor
in Debate (484 views and 0 comments)
Tomorrow, October 7 2008, the trade union movement is organising
a World Day for Decent Work, a broad global mobilisation day
focusing on three themes: Right at Work, Solidarity, Ending
Poverty and Inequality.
Take the opportunity to give your contribution, join the WDDW and
take part in the activities! You can find out the closest one on
the official website.
“Decent Work Decent Life”, because every person should be able to
have job that enable to live a good life. This is the theme of
the call for action which is going to be presented tomorrow to
the highest EU representatives in Brussels.
read more
Published Monday, October 6, 2008 at 16:10
by
Editor
in Debate (513 views and 0 comments)
The Global Progressive Forum, bringing together the progressive
forces from all over the planet, will hold a large scale event on
2nd and 3rd April 2009. Key politicians and leading personalities
from international institutions, trade unions and nongovernmental
organizations from different parts of the world will come
together in Brussels to discuss and to develop a renewed global
progressive agenda. We will renew our effort on how to tackle
climate change, the food, energy and financial crisis, and how we
have a positive impact on labor, decent work and
globalization.
Don't miss it! You can already pencil the date into your calendar
for the 3rd Global Progressive Forum. You can find further
information in the attached invitation.
Tags: activists, Global Progressive Forum, globalization
File:
Microsoft Word - GPF Brussels 2009 - Invitations Member Parties (2).pdf
Published Monday, September 29, 2008 at 10:00
by
robertsimon
in Debate (540 views and 1 comments)
Nous sommes socialistes et donc internationalistes. La paix et le développement doivent être dans les priorités de l'Union. Pour cela il nous faut une politique étrangère européenne et des débats démocratiques sur nos orientations internationales et notre politique de coopération.
L'Europe doit plaider pour le renforcement des instances globales : pour démocratiser les institutions internationales, à coté de l'assemblée générale des Etats, il nous faut proposer une Assemblée des peuples, ou une assemblée parlementaire, réunissant tous les pays. Nous pourrions aussi proposer de réunir une assemblée parlementaire des pays démocratiques et libres (avec élections libres et respect des droits de l'Homme).
Qu'en pensez vous?
Robert SIMON, Paris
read morePublished Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:28
by
julian_schaerbeek
in Debate (657 views and 3 comments)
Socialists should listen more to genuine public concerns about the impact on public services of migration, UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne told a fringe meeting at Labour Party conference in Manchester.
He argued that immigration was a fact of globalisation, and that Britain is richer as a result of migration – but that impacts on schools, hospitals and housing were real and that local and national Government must do more to anticipate and deal with these impacts.
Byrne outlined what the Labour Government was doing create a fair and progressive migration policy including independent assessment of the skills needed in the country, a points system for legal migration, a clampdown on illegal immigration (including illegal work and illegal employers), and better planning to anticipate impacts on services. He also said that more needed to be done about integration – especially language acquisition – and that employers would be expected to contribute to language training of migrant staff.
Interesting ideas ...
read morePublished Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:00
by
julian_schaerbeek
in Debate (986 views and 1 comments)
"International
solidarity is the principle that unites us" said Jacinda Ardern,
President of the International Union of Socialist Youth at a
meeting on international solidarity at ECOSY summer camp. Without
international solidarity other principles such as peace, democracy,
social justice and equality are meanginless she added. Citing the
case of workers in the Phillipines who work 24 hour shifts for 75%
of the national minimum wage because they are classed as
"apprentices", Jacinda pointed out that employment, economic growth
and poverty were not mutually exclusive. Now there is a message for
the world trade talks that look like having new life... trade alone
won't lift people out of poverty - we also need strong trade unions
and good employment and social policies. We all know it but it's
important to be reminded.
read more
Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 17:24
by
Editor
in Debate (845 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 Monday, June 23, 2008 at 09:11
by
Joel Cordier
in In the spotlight (787 views and 0 comments)
Je vous propose un texte rédigé par Antonio Carmelo Scifo et Renato Sallustio, militants PSE de Charleroi.
Par ailleurs, je vous invite à découvrir la contribution rédigée par leur groupe pour le manifeste.
La chute du mur de Berlin qui symbolisait la division de la planète en deux camps adverses a fait naitre un espoir de communication et de compréhension réciproque. Cet évènement pouvait même être perçu comme l'occasion de réaliser sur le plan économie et sociale ce que certains intellectuels nommaient une "troisième" voie qui serait en quelque sorte une synthèse, selon l'acception hégélienne du terme, dans laquelle se résoudrait la relation dialectique entretenue par les deux anciens systèmes. Cette synthèse aurait pu réunir les préoccupations relatives aux droits sociaux de l'un des systèmes et l'attention aux libertés individuelles propre à l'autre camp.
read morePublished Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 12:11
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (632 views and 0 comments)
Kurt Beck, SPD chairman, is determined to fight for decent work and minimum income! He also wants to lower the social security contributions of low-earners and make up for the budgetary shortfall by raising taxes for the wealthy.
The announcements were made during a debate between SPD party leadership and some 3.000 delegates that came together in Nuremberg in the end of May to discuss the future of Germany and its oldest party.
Attending one of about 20 thematic discussion forums, party members could mingle with prominent representatives of the German social democracy. The panel on “New Social Europe”, for example, brought together Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development), Michael Sommer (Chairman of the German Confederation of Trade Unions), Martin Schulz (MEP, President of the Parliamentary Group of the PES) and Bernhard Rapkay (MEP, Head of the SPD delegation).
There was a consensus among participants that the central idea of the European social model is still up to date: economic growth and social justice combined with ecological responsibility are no contradictions. In...
read morePublished Monday, June 2, 2008 at 14:15
by
Editor
in EU in the world (867 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.
read morePublished Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 14:40
by
jose reis santos
in EU in the world (997 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 well attended and the invited speakers delivered high quality speeches regarding the international relations of Europe. It was very helpful to have a broader view on today’s international problems and the political attitude that Europe develops towards them. As in the Faro initiative on the New Social Europe, the importance of the manifesto2009 consultation, the 2009 European Election and the PES activists initiative were also stressed - the videos on this initiative cam be seen
read morePublished Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:10
by
bverdeyen
in EU in the world (860 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. Aid should be a first step to
self-governance, not a hidden form...
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 17:00
by
eromerof
in European democracy & diversity (1070 views and 0 comments)
Today, European Union is an economic reality but not a political one because the weight of European Institutions in the international scene is very frail. This situation is not very good for the people who believe that economic liberalism is too strong in the whole world thanks to the globalization phenomenon. Social globalization is not so strong as the economical one and this is a real problem for the “socialist family” since the values of socialism are based on a social way of thinking.
That is the reason because the European Socialists should work to build a very strong Party of European Socialists. We have to compensate for the excessive power of economic liberalism with a new model of social protection. European Union should take enough power to become one of the main international players (such as the United States, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Japan, etc.) with real capacity of influence in the “international social agenda”. Today, decisions should be taken in a global way; socialists should bring together all their resources to push for a change in the European Institutions, and ways of acting of the European Union. Socialism must become global, as global as liberalism, otherwise our main institution (welfare state) will disappear.
Find a
read morePublished Friday, April 11, 2008 at 10:31
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (915 views and 0 comments)
However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by
globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we
debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate
the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases
within and between countries.
How can we develop a politics of international
redistribution?
Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and
international redistribution - we need to explore a global social
politics. This includes:
Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 16:46
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (913 views and 0 comments)
See more of his proposals and his debate here:
read more
Published Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 09:16
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (974 views and 0 comments)
On the 11 March 2008 Labour Movement for Europe held a debate on
"Globalisation in the Community - how can we
shape a Social Europe?" This was the third of six manifesto
debates in London. One of the PES activists in London has
submitted videos from the debate to the PES manifesto group on
YouTube. Here is Deborah Littman, Chair of London
Citizens Living Wage Network and UNISON
National Officer:
Find more videos from the debate here
read more
Published Friday, March 28, 2008 at 15:30
by
ania_skrzypek
in EU in the world (1452 views and 4 comments)
Today is the first
sunny day in Brussels, after a week of snow, rain, cold and
grey-dom. One wakes up – and U2 song ‘It’s a beautiful
day’ seem to be sung inside oneself just naturally….
This is how me and you wake up. Probably you open the sink listening to the water falling down into wash basin steadily…Sip of coffee with no thoughts of where it came from… Warm cotton t-shirt surrounds your neck… fair trade? What is fair trade during such a joyful morning? On TV the news presenter says something about some protests or riots in far away country, but no time for that – same tv claims it is already 8. Aha, you think with little anger, you will be late for work – why do people have to go to the office on such a beautiful Friday and sit there till 5 anyway? You think closing the door. The day begun – and within those two hours of pure enjoyment of yours – somewhere in Asia a kid went to factory instead of school, somewhere in Africa a poor family begun its walk to unknown, somewhere in Latin America a trade unionist get bullied again, somewhere in EU a jobless single mother goes for another job hunt. “Beautiful day”? Indeed!
You might think – I am crazy that I want you to bother everyday? Yes, I do! We must...
read morePublished Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 14:22
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (907 views and 0 comments)
The Swedish social
democrats discussed the future of EU when the Swedish Social
Democratic Party met in the Swedish Parliament on March 7th. The
keynote speakers were Mona Sahlin, party leader and chair of the
PES group Save our planet, Margot Wallström, Vice-president of
the EU Commission, Jan Eliasson, former Minister for foreign
affairs, and Wanja Lundby-Wedin, President of the Swedish LO and ETUC. Around 250 persons
attended the conference.Published Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 12:07
by
Duncan Anderson
in EU in the world (840 views and 2 comments)
Published Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 09:46
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (930 views and 0 comments)
Published Monday, March 3, 2008 at 10:06
by
Editor
in EU in the world (930 views and 0 comments)
Speaking at a PES
fringe meeting at Labour Party Spring Conference in Birmingham on
Saturday British Foreign Secretary David Milliband said “the
PES manifesto is an opportunity to mark a new stage in the way we
think of European politics."Published Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 10:05
by
negrescuvictor
in European democracy & diversity (1110 views and 3 comments)
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 09:59
by
amandinecrespy
in New Social Europe (977 views and 1 comments)
Tags: globalization, tax
File:
Motion taxation des transactions financières.doc
Published Friday, February 22, 2008 at 17:15
by
Editor
in EU in the world (1229 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 16:51
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (1346 views and 1 comments)
Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:42
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1881 views and 2 comments)
When speaking to Ilmar
Reepalu, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, and member of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, you realize
that mentality is really the key to change when it comes to
combating climate change. Since the mid-nineties Reepalu has been
working to change Malmö from an industrial town to a modern, green
capital of the region. And with great success – Malmö has received
numerous prizes for its green projects, most recently the
prestigious ‘LivCom’ award in London. Published Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 11:00
by
frederic.vareillas
in EU in the world (1205 views and 2 comments)
Je viens de voir hier
"le monde de Gazprom" sur ARTE. Au vu de ce reportage, il me semble
très urgent que l'UE renforce ses liens avec la Russie de Poutine
et de Medvedev.Published Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 16:28
by
Editor
in EU in the world (1243 views and 1 comments)
On 26 January, hundreds of organizations held events across the
world to mark the 8th World Social Forum and voice their demands for a
fair and inclusive globalization process. They did this on the
same day the Davos Economic Forum, which gathers the rich and
powerful to discuss the world’s problems. Problems that the World
Social Forum organizations feel are being treated without concern
for the needs of the world’s ordinary citizens, who are the first
affected by globalization.
Criticisms are often aimed at socialist and social democratic
parties, which fight for social progress, but are increasingly
seen as failing to offer an answer to the growing inequalities
generated by globalization. As a consequence, many people have
turned to civil society organizations to voice their concern,
rather than political parties.
How should Europe’s progressive political parties react to
globalization? Which solutions should they offer for making
globalization fairer and more inclusive and get closer to the
citizens? To what extent should the PES and its parties take part
in the WSF movement and the issues raised by international civil
society?
The World Social Forum was launched in 2001 in Porto Alegre,
Brazil, as a counter-event to the annual...
Published Monday, January 28, 2008 at 11:08
by
Editor
in European democracy & diversity (1224 views and 2 comments)
As a part of the newly started ‘Year of Intercultural
Dialogue’ the European Parliament has invited a number of state and
religious leaders to speak in its midst. Some weeks ago the grand
mufti of Syria, Sheik Ahmad Bader Hassoun, spoke in Strasbourg –
which triggered a heated debate among parliamentary members. Some
have aired concern that the list of guest speakers is more an
attempt to encourage ‘inter-religious’ rather than ‘intercultural’
dialogue. Others are worried that there are no women among the
invited guests - all speakers are men.Published Monday, November 12, 2007 at 16:58
by
anqa
in EU in the world (1321 views and 0 comments)
Here's a visit to the office of Marek Siwiec, Vice-President of the European Parliament. He talks about the role of Europe in an increasingly globalized world and our responsibility towards other continents.
read more
Published Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 23:28
by
Sortir de l'Impasse
in New Social Europe (1523 views and 1 comments)
The French PES activists propose a discussion on the policies that we will have to come up with to protect our European industry and services in an increasingly globalized world. This subject is interesting, not because socialists are sometimes perceived as advocates of “economic patriotism” (which may be true), but because of the recent examples of large sovereign funds that have the wealth to purchase industrial assets in Europe.
A few years ago, European and American companies were the sole ones “buying the world”, for example investing in emerging countries, buying shares of privatized companies (mainly in Africa) or entering a joint-venture scheme (for instance in China).
A couple of days ago, we discovered through a survey run by Standard Chartered and cited by the Financial Times, that sovereign funds hold huge amounts of money. These amounts are estimated at around $2,200bn (i.e. around the French annual GDP) and have been accumulated by states like China, Norwegian, Abu Dhabi, … coming either from oil exports or from current-account surpluses.
Concretely, these funds can invest in any share available in...
read morePublished Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 23:57
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (2362 views and 0 comments)
The “Putting the puzzle together: policy coherence for decent work” Conference organized by the Global Progressive Forum (GPF), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Solidar and Social Alert International took place today in Lisbon, Portugal, preceding the International Labour Confederation (ILO) forum on Decent Work for a fair globalization.
Among the participants, a strong presence of trade unionists, members of civil society organizations but also members of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU. All together they called for achieving Decent Work at global level – an essential condition to attain a fairer globalization.
Juan Somavia, Director-General of ILO, underlined the importance of creating alliances among progressive associations – and having them working together coherently according to a toolkit providing common guide-lines. Portuguese Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity, José Vieira da Silva, has also mentioned the Decent Work as a new global vision of development. The Portuguese Minister connected “Decent Work Decent Life” to the Lisbon Strategy, as the success of the external dimension of the Lisbon Strategy would permit to strongly support Decent Work at a global scale. Moreover, a new concept of sustainable development for the 21st century would comprehend three subjects: preserving the environment, assuring human rights but also making sure the agenda of Decent Work is put into...
read morePublished Monday, October 29, 2007 at 14:06
by
Editor
in EU in the world (1418 views and 0 comments)
”Today Arena Europe has turned into a meeting place for world leaders. This makes it even more important for us as social democrats to have a policy that addresses the big questions,” said Inger Segelström during this weekend's ‘Palme Days’ in Karlstad, Sweden.
Inger Segelström is a member of the European Parliament and represents the
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