Europe from below

Chiki - Chiki Precario, Euromayday 08

Europe — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:14:00 +02:00

El baile del chiki chiki: the new cool promo of next Euromayday.

Chiki-Chiki Precario,Euromayday'08

EUROMAYDAY 008 – PRESS RELEASE

Europe — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:46:00 +02:00

EUROMAYDAY PRESS CONFERENCE: Monday, April 14, in Brussels/Bruxelles/Brussel

contacts: info@blablaexpress.org

EUROMAYDAY 008 – PRESS RELEASE

What's EuroMayDay?

A transnational demonstration of precarious and migrant people held the First of May in more than a dozen European cities. The first MayDay Parade was held in Milan in 2001 (it now gathers 100,000 people), and since 2004 the process has spread all over Europe (see the Middlesex Declaration). In 2006, the EuroMayDay was launched with pink actions in the EU Quarter of Brussels, and in 2007 a EuroMayDay superhero block joined the fray against the G8 in Rostock-Heiligendamm. EuroMayday is a process by which actions and demands are put forward to fight the widespread precarization of youth and the discrimination of migrants in Europe and beyond: no borders, no workfare, no precarity!

Who organizes EuroMayDay and what for?

The EuroMayDay network, a web of media activists, labor organizers, migrant collectives convening each year in a different European city. Last mayday assembly was in Berlin, where it was agreed that these would be the demands surrounding the protests for EuroMayDay 008:

• full legalization for all persecuted migrants • self-organizing and unionizing rights freed from state repression • unconditional basic income • a european living wage • free access to culture, knowledge, and skills • the right to cheap housing Where will EuroMayDay 008 occur?

In Aachen - Berlin - Copenhagen - Hanau - Hamburg - Helsinki - Lisboa - Madrid - Malaga - Maribor - Milano - Napoli - Palermo - Terrassa - Thessaloniki - Tokyo - Wien.

This year, there is a focal point for the whole network in Aachen/Aix-la-Chapelle (http://euromayday.karlspreis.info), where Nicolas Sarkozy will present Angela Merkel with the EU Oscar, the Prix Charlemagne. Irony of the calendar, in 2008 syndicalist MayDay coincides with catholic Ascension Day, when the Karlspreis is handed out. This year for MayDay in Aachen, two worlds will clash together:

Utopian Society vs Capitalist Market; the radical europe of multitudes vs the conservative Europe of elites, grassroots networks and squatted social centers vs the EU diarchy (www.radicaleurope.org/visuals/euromayday_aachen_008.jpg).

What kind of people participate in EuroMayDay Parades?

Activists, artists, hackers, unionists, migrant associations, precarious2precarious networks, queer collectives, critical cyclists, leftist radicals of all stripes: red, black, green, pink, purple, silver. They are coming to Aachen and other EuroMayDay Parades to join the fight against a EU dominated by police security and financial privilege, by Barroso's neoliberalism, Trichet's monetarism, Solana's militarism…

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! no borders, no precarity, let's defeat the new inequality!

INFO LINX http://www.euromayday.org

http://euromayday.karlspreis.info

http://www.euromayday.be

http://liege.indymedia.org

http://www.wombles.org.uk/article2008021538.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromayday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precarity

VIDEO LINX

http://www.euromayday.be/maydaytv.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caKYW8qHJyU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM9ysjJ-9iw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPd29fr0rEs

I want my flag back!

Europe — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:17:00 +01:00

What? JEF Europe promotes the symbols of the EU while they have been left out of the Reform Treaty When? 13th December 2007, on the same day as the signing of the Reform Treaty Where? In almost 50 cities across Europe (see below for details)

On the 13th December the Young European Federalists will take to the streets in a pan European Action to coincide with the official signing of the Reform Treaty. 'Europe will not be united through legal treaties alone' is the message that JEF Europe sends to Heads of Government who will convene in Lisbon to sign the downsized version of the Constitution, stripped of any constitutional or political dimension.

The document, to be branded "Treaty of Lisbon" makes no reference to the symbols of Europe that were present in Article IV-1 of the failed Constitution.

"In almost 50 cities across Europe , youth is taking to the streets to protest against a black and white Europe " stated Samuele Pii, President of JEF Europe. "Europe has symbols and they must be acknowledged. They represent the values of Europe throughout the world – values of peace, unity, solidarity, democracy and respect for human rights " continued Pii.

In both EU and non EU member states, activists will fly the flag up high on December 13th while holding the banner 'I want my flag back'. " As Margaret Thatcher demanded her money back in 1979, we now demand our symbols back" commented Toni Giugliano, Action co-ordinator and Vice President JEF Europe. "Europe will not be united by force but by conviction. Without a sense of belonging and attachment, a union of citizens will not advance" Giugliano expressed.

In a recent declaration – initiated by the German Government – 16 Member States have expressed their support for the inclusion of the symbols of Europe in the Reform Treaty. " JEF Europe fully supports this initiative and calls on all other Heads of Government, including France, to add their name to the declaration" concluded Samuele Pii.

The purpose of the action will be to promote the European symbols among civil society across the European continent and to give a strong message to national leaders – 'The symbols of the EU are central to the construction of a true political and united Europe'.

Belgium – Bruges, Brussels

Bulgaria – Sofia Croatia – Zagreb

Denmark – Copenhagen France - Paris, Nancy, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lyon, Cabourg, Nimes

Germany – Berlin, Augsburg, Bonn, Jena, Bremen Greece – Komotini, Heraklion, Athens Hungary –Budapest Italy – Rome, Milan, Verona, Prato, Padova, Pescara, Genoa Latvia – Riga

Lithuania – Vilnius Macedonia – Bitola, Skopje

Malta – Valletta Norway – Oslo

Portugal – Lisbon Serbia – Nis

Slovakia – Bratislava Slovenia – Ljubljana

Spain – Tarragona, Barcelona Sweden – Uppsala

Turkey – Istanbul UK – London Edinburgh, Durham, York, Cardiff, Aberystwyth

Press contact:

For an updated list of participating cities and local contacts: JEF-Europe Vice-President and action co-ordinator Toni Giugliano: toni.giugliano@jef.eu +44 (0)7756663312.))

Citizens' agora on the future of Europe

Europe — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:33:00 +01:00

To step up the participation of civil society in European integration, the European Parliament is proposing a new way to involve citizens in a permanent dialogue on the EU's future.

And follow the debate live the 8th and the 9th on the following web page: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/faces/live/live-video.jsp?language=en

Sarkozy: "The future of Europe in the hands of 12 wise people"

Europe — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:44:00 +02:00

After the French referendum and before the bad compromise on the Reform Treaty will be reached in Lisbon in next days the French president Nicolas Sarkozy proposed (*) to convoke a "wise people's committee" to reflect on the future of the E.U. in 2020 and to report back in the first half of 2009. This proposal is not democratic and shows us the new Reform Treaty is not able to solve the structural problems of the Union.

After having adopted a more democratic method to write a Constitution with the European Convention the French president is choosing a closing method to discuss about the future of Europe not open to the citizens, neither to the representatives of citizens.

The future of Europe is too important to be left to a little group of 12 wise men.

This proposal underlines very clear which type of democracy is in the head of French president. An elitist democracy that Europefrombelow doesn't like. This is the reason to give our second 'carton rouge' to Nicolas Sarkozy.

European Constitution versus New Treaty : The name changes but not the content

Europe — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:27:00 +02:00

Declaration by the Initiative for a European Constituent Assembly following the European summit on 21st and 22nd June in Brussels. Paris - Berlin - Amsterdam - Brussels - Helsinki - Luxembourg - Madrid - Rome, 26th June 2007

Discussions behind the people's backs

The text under discussion by the European Council has been kept secret and was drawn up by "sherpas" behind closed doors and without the knowledge of the European citizens and their parliamentary representatives.

A return to the intergovernmental method, both undemocratic and inefficient

The draft text which the European Council is discussing is not the "slimmed-down" treaty initially announced. It is in fact a mandate to be given to an Intergovernmental Conference to draw up a new treaty.

Therefore, the European people still have no say in the content of the new text. Furthermore, there is a return to the intergovernmental method which has paralysed the European construction process for several years. This method, already difficult with 15 EU Member States and increasingly so with 25, will be even more complicated with 27. By allowing the discussions to emphasise national antagonisms rather than the general interest of the European people, this IGC method can only exacerbate nationalistic sentiment and lead to minimalist compromises. Instead of this, we call for Europe-wide election at the earliest occasion of a Constituent Assembly with the mandate to elaborate a Constitution for the European Union.

A text drawn from the Constitution which further reinforces the existing neo-liberal and anti-social EU policies

Quite logically the heads of state reunited in Brussels, who were all in favour of the draft European Constitution rejected by the French and Dutch people, have drawn up a compromise similar to the one they adopted in 2004. In substance, the content of the mandate given to the IGC maintains the non-democratic institutional content of the Constitution and makes no change to the neo-liberal orientation of the EU policies.

The new treaty presents no positive advances to the democratic functioning of the EU. The European Central Bank remains independent of all political influence. As stipulated in the Constitution, the European Parliament continues to be a subordinate institution, the Commission retains its monopoly on acts initiatives, and the powers of its President are reinforced. This institutional system encourages blockage situations and renders common EU policy ineffective.

Neither does the text under discussion by the European Council make any changes to the content of the EU social and economic policies. It stipulates that the "current treaties remain in force", and notably all references to the necessary respect of free market laws. Consequently it does not provide for any positive harmonisation of social or fiscal dispositions across the EU.

Whilst human and social rights demand the EU-wide and world-wide implementation of rigorous policies to fight against the expansion of poverty and inequality which exist also within Europe, the EU is refused the necessary means in terms of justice and social policy to counter these problems.

As the imperialistic war-mongering logic gains ground across the world, the EU is once again denied any real possibilities as regards common foreign policy and is subject to the constraints of "military security" imposed by the imperialistic powers that be. The EU still has no power to intervene for the promotion of world peace.

__A loss of legitimacy, a denial of democracy __ The adoption of the substance of the European Constitution under a new name is a serious violation of democratic principles. The EU citizens who rejected it by referendum cannot accept this denial of democracy. Furthermore, the method proposed by the European Council is no more easily acceptable to the citizens of Spain who accepted the previous text by referendum. On the contrary, this attempt to push through the text by deceptive means can only exacerbate the crisis of legitimacy that the EU is currently suffering in the eyes of its citizens.

The Initiative for a European Constituent Assembly reiterates its demand that a new EU Constitution should introduce a reorganisation of powers along genuinely democratic lines and therefore that it should be drawn up by a Constituent Assembly.

First signatories :

Oskar LAFONTAINE, MP, Co-Chairman of Die Linke, Chairman of Die Linke group at the Bundestag

Jean-Luc MELENCHON, Chairman Pour la République Sociale (PRS), Socialist Senator, former government minister

Fabio AMATO, international representative for Rifondazione Comunista, Italy

Diether DEHM, spokesperson on European affairs for Die Linke Parliamentary group, Germany

François DELAPIERRE, General Secretary PRS, France

Michael EFLER, Regional representative for Mehr Demokratie, Germany

Vicent GARCES, spokesperson for Izquierda Socialista - PSOE, Spain

Raquel GARRIDO, Coordinator of the Initiative for a European Constituent Assembly, France

Riccardo PETRELLA, Professor of political economics, Chairman of international world-wide water committee, Belgium

Thomas WALLGREN, academic, SDP Finland

Henri WEHENKEL, Dei Lenk, Luxembourg

Erik WESSELIUS, national spokesperson for the referendum NO campaign, the Netherlands

The European hypocrisy of Nicolas Sarkozy

Europe — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:28:00 +02:00

The Europefrombelow blog is very happy to award its third Carton rouge to Nicolas Sarkozy. The French President led a Bastille Day parade on Saturday along the Champs-Elysees that was joined for the first time by military contingents from all 27 countries of the European Union.

Only few weeks after the European Council decisions to delete every reference to the word Constitution in European treaties and to drop out the symbols of the Union as the hymn, the flag and the motto Sarkozy felt down in a strong contradiction.

During the Europarade the 12 stars European flag was waved jointly with the French one. http://www.youtube.com/v=ruCbR0QWXVo

And last but not least the European Ode to Joy hymn was played. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoINU7w6VFk

I have one question to all of you: is it yet possible for 27 national governments to hide the European reality to more than 450 million European citizens? How long do they have to wait for a true political integration of Europe? The European people exists ... and Europe ?

In 1941 Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi dreamt a federal Europe. Now it's time to let it become a reality.

EU summit: proclaimed success is democratic failure

Europe — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:06:00 +02:00

Brussels, 2007-06-23

After months of secret Sherpa negotiations outside of parliamentary control, European leaders came together to this weekend's EU summit to fix the institutional impasse for the better - or worse. The further weakening of the frail Constitutional Treaty is the ultimate evidence of the Union's biggest structural problem: The right of every random government to stop Europe from moving forward and tackling the challenges of our future.

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) are deeply concerned about the outcome of last night's EU summit. Jan Seifert, President of JEF Europe, described the so-called Reform Treaty as "a sad end to the least democratic Treaty reform process in EU's history". He further commented: "The worst of nationalist-bureaucratic Europe has struck back. As a consequence of the Sherpa negotiations between unelected bureaucrats national parliaments, civil society and citizens have been completely side-lined."

JEF Europe fears that EU leaders have forgotten their own bold promises from the Laeken declaration and all subsequent summits. The JEF President commented: "It has been repeated over and over again that Europe needs to match the challenges of the 21st century. With the envisaged new treaty, Europe will neither be able to speak with one voice in the world nor has it gained clear competences for energy and climate change in order to act in accordance with the self-proclaimed goals from only three months ago. Given the crucial decisions that have to be taken in the coming years, insisting to leave the current voting-mechanisms practically unchanged until 2017 makes the Kaczynski potatoes the most expensive EU leaders ever."

Seifert expressed JEF Europe's disappointment about the adopted procedure: "If anything becomes obvious, then it is the huge gap between the Europe of the bureaucrats and the Europe of the citizens. Europe's governments have opted for a Europe in which citizens and parliaments are deferred to the audience without any chance to influence. The result of this: The 'reformed' EU is the biggest in ambition and the smallest in democratic oversight and delivery."

"If there is one lesson to be learned from the Summit failure, then it is that no future reform can work with the same outdated principle of secret intergovernmental bargaining and unpredictable ratifications in 27+ member states. The veto right must be abolished!" Seifert stressed. He continued: "JEF Europe demands that a future Constitution and future Treaty revisions have to be exclusively prepared through a Convention. It should come into force if either 2/3 of the member states have ratified the new proposal or citizens have approved the reform in a pan-European referendum with a double majority system.

Seifert concluded: "Europe should be a project by and for its citizens. Today, Europe's leaders have chosen to diverge from this vision. We will keep on fighting for it!"

ENDS

Your contact is: Vassilis Stamogiannis, Secretary General, mobile +32 495 501383

JEF will publish a more detailed analysis on the individual innovations of the new treaty on its website www.jef.eu in the coming days.

The European people's red line.

Europe — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:31:00 +02:00

In these hours of bilateral meetings behind European Council's closed doors every leader underlines his conditions and indicates the 'national' red line. Under this red line every leader threatens he cannot go.

The European Council takes into account the voice of governments making national interests.

But who is in charge to make the general interest during the European Council meeting deciding important aspects of the future of 500 milion of European citizens?

Who can represent the common values and desires of European people as a whole?

European citizens, as shown in the last survey published by FT.com/Harris, are in favour of a European Constitution and want to be heard through a pan-European referendum. But this vision is not represented in the European Council. No one of the national leader is proposing these options coming from below.

The only person could represent the general interest is the chief of the European Parliament Hans Gert Poettering. But Angela Merkel denied him to be part in EU leaders summit.

If we want to build a stronger Europe we need to change the method restarting in a very different way:

NO more IGC,
NO more national veto,
NO more treaties.

YES to a constitutional assembly or convention,
YES to the majority vote and
YES to a European Constitution including the Rights Charter for all European citizens.

European democracy cannot be more denied to European people.

Angela Merkel excluded EP chief to the whole of EU leaders summit

Europe — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:57:00 +02:00

The German chancellor has been appointed for our second carton rouge. The raison for that is ...

the motivation given to the President of European Parliament Hans Gert Poettering to justify his exclusion to the whole of EU leaders summit:

there are too many Germans already!

In the name of democracy and transparency.

European democracy 'sous embargo': draft IGC mandate unveiled

Europe — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:12:00 +02:00

Just few hours before the European Council kick off (with the aim to relaunch the European constitutional process after two years reflection) the new cafebabel blog "Europefrombelow" unveils to European citizens the draft IGC mandate. It's the document prepared behind close doors by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The draft IGC mandate "sous embargo" is widely circulating since yesterday through the press and the internet.

Increasing number of citizens are asking to be involved in the process through a European wide referendum. Yesterday the Italian Foreign Minister D'Alema received the first 10,000 signatures claiming for it. It's not more possible to make new institutional changes without the Parliaments and civil society participation.

We can be sure 100% reading the draft that the results of compromise will be insufficient to give Europe real power to face problems affecting European citizens. The raison is very clear: the veto vote is blocking any progress in the process. UK and Poland (but also the little Luxembourg) can stop any improvement. The only way out is to decide to drop the veto tool that give an extraordinary force to anti-European and nationalistic countries. If it will not possible to reach a political and social Europe in the framework of 27 Member States a vanguard group should be permitted to move forward.

European Union needs a new start with a wide and public debate and the active participation of European citizens. Without them our national governments cannot impose any new Treaty or Constitution what ever will be name: Mini Treaty, Reform Treaty, TEC, TEU, etc.

In the following paragraph we underline the principal aspects and changes respect to 2004 IGC.

The "Draft IGC Mandate" prepared by German Presidency and circulated before the European Council is designing a new face to Europe that in our opinion will not enhance the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the EU and will not simplify the existing treaties.

The first principle accepted by all 27 Member States is that the word and the concept of Constitution disappeared definitely from the text.

A new Treaty, named "Reform Treaty", will introduce into the existing treaties, which remain in force, the innovation results from the 2004 IGC.

It generates a complicate treaties box.

Infact the circulating proposal says that the Reform Treaty will contain two substantive clauses amending respectively the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC). The TEU will keep its present name and the TEC will be called Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

The TEU and the Treaty on the Functioning of the Union will not have a constitutional character. The term "Constitution" will not be used, the denominations "law" and "framework law" will be abandoned and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs will be change.

All symbols creating an European identity will be deleted from the Treaty. The flag, the anthem and the motto "Unity in the diversity" will disappear.

The article on fundamental rights will contain a cross reference to the Charter on fundamental rights giving it legally binding value but concerning competences it will be specified that the Union shall act only within limits of competences conferred upon it by the Member states in the Treaties.

The national Parliaments will enhance their role: infact the period given to national parliaments to examine draft legislative texts and to give a reasoned opinion on subsidiarity will be extended from 6 to 8 weeks. And their control mechanism will be reinforced: with one third of the votes allocated to national parliaments the commission will reexamine the draft act.

It will be possible a voluntary withdrawal from the Union and the Treaties can be revised to increase or reduce the competences conferred upon the Union.

Regarding the Council vote system the introduction of the double majority has been blocked by two delegation asking for a more democratic, more transparent and more efficient Union (ridicule). The two delegation affirm that it can be achieved by degressive proportionality. This proposal came from Poland and Czech Republic.

For a new state accession the conditions of eligibility reference to the Union's will be replaced by the Union's value.

The Member States will be the masters of the Treaties: infact when a member of the Council considers that a draft legislative act would affect fundamental aspects of its social security system or criminal justice system it may request that the matter be referred to the European council. And the ordinary legislative procedure shall be suspended. And the Commission have to submit a new proposal.

That's all for the moment. Waiting for Bruxelles news.

Don't let the European governments decide for you. Ask your voice to be heard. Sign the petition for a European referendum:

http://www.europeanreferendum.eu

You can dowload the draft text of the IGC Mandate http://www.europeanmovement.org/news_det.cfm?news_id=492

10,000 signatures for a European referendum delivered to the Italian Foreign Minister D'Alema

Europe — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:11:00 +02:00

Rome: on June 20th an Italian delegation of the Union of European Federalists delivered to the Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema the first 10,000 signatures to demand a pan-European referendum on the European costitution or Treaty to be held in all European countries the same day in occasion of next European elections in 2009.

During the meeting the Minister D'Alema declared to be in favour of a European referendum on the Constitution. He added that Italy in the European Council will support the European Constitution together with the vanguard group that has already approved it.

The European Council talks will not be easy but Italia is not available to low profile compromise as Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi announced in last speech in front of the European Parliament.

The petition for a European referendum can be signed on line to the following web site: http://www.europeanreferendum.eu

The campaign was launched in Berlin in March 2007.

The photo gallery of a demonstration for a European referendum held on March 23rd in Rome in front of the Italian Senate: http://www.mfe.it/img/2007/roma2303/destination/index.htm

During the public action for a European referendum held in Rome the 23rd of March the ex President of the European Convention Giscard d'Estaing signed the petition for a European referendum

On the offensive for the Charter of Fundamental Rights - Etuc demonstration in Bruxelles

Europe — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:47:00 +02:00

3000 trade unionists on 20th gathered the European institutions in Brussels in support of the Charter of Fundamental Rights being included in any new European constitutional treaty. A minority of governments are trying to reduce its significance or to keep the unsatisfactory ‘status quo’ whereby it is binding only on European institutions. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) wants it to become binding on member states as well.

ETUC General Secretary, John Monks, and other leading European trade unionists will warn President Barroso that if the new text of a Treaty does not include the Charter of Fundamental Rights in a form binding on member states, then the ETUC will campaign against that new Treaty both at European and national levels. In particular the ETUC will demand that the European Parliament should not endorse any new text which is unsatisfactory on the Charter.

John Monks said “The Charter of Fundamental Rights is important to the working people of Europe. It indicates standards which should be observed by Governments and employers, standards which are currently threatened by the rising power of the new, financial capitalism. We are mobilising to take the offensive in favour of the Charter and warning member states not to retreat from what they have already agreed - to make the Charter binding on all EU countries.”

No Europe No Party!

Europe — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:29:00 +02:00

Behind close doors. This is the method our governments have chosen to redesign a new Constitutional Treaty. On 21 and 22 of June European council will meet in Bruxelles to decide how to move forward (or backward). Despite of transparency and democracy our political leaders are taking very important decisions about our future without any involvement of citizens and of national and European parliaments.

It's incredible that in 2007 democracy in Europe reduced itself in a narrow street where only 27 heads of state and government (with their sherpas) can decide in the name and on behalf of 500 million of European citizens.

It's incredible that European Parliament the only body directly elected by the people had accepted this method without any formal protest.

It's incredible that European and national political parties didn't trasmit to their members and affiliates the importance of what is going on.

It's incredible that European civil society, with a few exceptions such as European Trade Union Confederation and Union of European Federalists, didn't take any actions or mobilitations to demand a different Europe.

Where are the pro-European French people had voted NO in Constitutional referendum ?

Where are European social forum delegates demanding another Europe ?

It's time to wake up and to stand up for our rights to have a voice in European matters that will affect our everyday life in a substancial way.

It's time to ask a full participation of European citizens through the involvement of their representatives (at national level with national Parliaments and at European level with European Parliament) in a new European Convention with the aim to formulate a new Constitutional text and directly with a pan-European referendum on the European Constitution to be held on the same day as the elections to the European Parliament in 2009.

The proposal of a new intergovernmental conference behind close doors to draft a new version of the Constitutional Treaty is a shame for people who believe in democracy.

The only way out is to say 'basta' to intergovernmental method. 'No more IGC' is the first request to fill the gap of European democracy.

It's time to act for our future and for next generation in Europe and in the world. It's clear that without Europe young people will have no party at all. __ Europe needs a constitution and it's all the European people together who should decide on it! Sign now: http://www.europeanreferendum.eu__

European referendum campaign newsletter 01/07

Europe — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:13:00 +02:00

Welcome to the first edition of the REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER 01/07.

Content: About the campaign, What's at stake at the European Summit?, Activities, Supporters update, How can you help the campaign?, Who is on the organisational team?

The first edition of the REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER 01/07.

CONTENT

I. About the campaign

Why do we need this campaign?

II. What's at stake at the European Summit?

1. Commit to a European constitution 2. Commit to a European referendum

III. Activities

23 March: Campaign kicks-off in Rome! 21 April: Munich launch and street action 16 June: JEF pan-European action day

IV. Supporters update

V. Practical updates

VI. How can you help the campaign?

1. Sign the petition yourself 2. Tell friends and family 3. Link to europeanreferendum.eu 4. Donate to the campaign 5. Join the campaign groups

VII. Who is on the organisational team?

VIII.How to contact us

I. ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

On 21 April 2007 the campaign for an EU-wide consultative referendum on the European Constitution was officially launched by the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and the Young European Federalists (JEF). The goal of this campaign is to collect at least one million signatures in support of a European referendum to be held on the same day as the next European elections in 2009.

WHY DO WE NEED THIS CAMPAIGN?

An effective European Union must be democratic and founded on popular consent. Therefore any European Constitutional Treaty should be submitted to a consultative referendum of the citizens in all European states on the same day as the European elections in 2009, with a positive result if it is supported by a double majority of citizens and states of the Union.

To read more about the campaign visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at our website www.europeanreferendum.eu .

II. WHAT'S AT STAKE AT THE EUROPEAN SUMMIT?

The heads of government of the 27 EU member states will meet in Brussels on 21/22 June. Their summit meeting will decide the way forward for the European constitutional treaty. This campaign has been launched with two key demands:

1.COMMIT TO A EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION

The European Council should keep to the idea of a European constitution and reject the minimalist alternative of a mini-Treaty. The previous constitutional treaty was ratified by 18 out of 27 of the member states and received 55 per cent of the votes cast by citizens in the four referendums that were held. This is a mandate for progress, not for retreat.

There will be negotiations between now and the end of December to agree a new text for the future of the European Union. In order to deal with the challenges that Europe faces, this text should be ambitious. It should be faithful to the constitutional treaty, and faithful to the idea of Europe.

Read the statement by Mercedes Bresso, president of the UEF here: http://www.federaleurope.org/index.php?id=3327

Read the statement by JEF-Europe here: http://www.jef.eu/index.php?id=1374

2.COMMIT TO A EUROPEAN REFERENDUM

The decision about the future of Europe is not just a matter for the heads of government alone. It should be a matter for all European citizens.

That is why the campaign also calls on the European Council to agree to submit the results of their negotiations to a consultative Europe-wide referendum, which should be held in every European country on the same day. Democratic aims can only be achieved by democratic means. That means a European referendum and not a European summit.

If you agree that Europe in the future should be united and not divided, and if you agree that European citizens should be entitled to take this decision, then you can add your support to the campaign.

Visit our campaign website at www.europeanreferendum.eu

And tell your friends!

III. ACTIVITIES

23 March: CAMPAIGN KICKS-OFF IN ROME!

On Friday, March 23rd, during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Rome Treaties in Palazzo Madama (Italian Senate), the European Federalist Movement (MFE - UEF Italy) launched the Campaign for collecting a million signatures to demand a consultative referendum on the European Constitution. The event has shown the general support surrounding the proposal for a European referendum, which is increasing within the political forces. This proposal is quickly gathering more and more support among the citizens, who welcome favourably the perspective of involving the European people in the process that has to give Europe a Constitution, effectively summarised in the slogan of the Campaign: "Let the European people decide!".

Read more about it here: http://www.taurillon.org/Campaign-for-a-European-Referendum-kicks-off-in-Rome

21 April: MUNICH LAUNCH AND STREET ACTION

The European referendum campaign was officially launched in Munich during the Federal Committee meeting of UEF with discussion in the Bavarian parliament, featuring Mercedes Bresso, president of UEF, Claudia Roth, president of the German Greens and Paolo Ponzano, Director of the Task Force on the future of the Union and Institutional Matters.

In the city centre members of JEF-Germany organised a street action collecting signatures for the campaign. To read more about the action and see the photos go to http://www.jef.de/.

16 June: JEF PAN-EUROPEAN ACTION DAY

Whereas several of Europe's leaders are talking about burying the European constitution alive, JEF has got a solution: Let the European People decide! Together with UEF we are supporting the 1 million signatures in support of a pan-European consultative referendum on a (revised) European constitution - www.europeanreferendum.eu . . The action will take place Saturday 16 June - just one week before the Summit and a few days before Merkel concludes the German Presidency - i.e. straight in the spotlight!

We hope you will join in so that jointly we can send a strong message to the summit! Please contact asa.gunven@gmail.com to let her know that you are taking part in the action and to get further information and material.

And good luck!

IV. SUPPORTERS UPDATE

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, president of the European Convention, signs our petition during a street action in Rome, Italy marking the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaties.

Gérard Onesta, French MEP from the European Greens and Vice-President of the European Parliament officially supports the European referendum campaign and spreads the word about it in his newsletter.

Jürgen Habermas, the famous German philosopher in favour of a Euro-wide referendum; read the interview at http://europeanreferendum.blogspot.com

V. PRACTICAL UPDATES

THE COUNTER: on June 13 we have reached more than 7000 signatures!

LANGUAGE VERSIONS: the referendum website is now available in the following languages: English, French, German, and - new - in Italian and Finnish!

Czech, Esperanto and Slovenian will follow next week while many others are still in the pipe-line.

VI. HOW CAN YOU HELP THE CAMPAIGN?

1.Sign the petition yourself

The first thing is obviously to sign the petition on www.europeanreferendum.eu yourself.

2.Tell friends and family

There are many, many ways in which you can promote the campaign. The most basic thing is obviously to tell friends and family about the campaign. Don't get on their nerves - and don't force anyone to sign. But if you tell many people around you, you might be surprised by how many people are actually sympathetic to our campaign and our ideas.

3. Link to europeanreferendum.eu

If you are running your own website or even a blog you can make a very valuable contribution to the campaign: Publish a banner for the campaign. You can download two different banners on the campaign website. If you want you can even add the banner to your own E-mail signature - we know that this is something for the very committed.

4. Donate to the campaign

This is a self-financing campaign. Therefore we are highly depended on financial support by individuals. Your financial support will help the campaign to attract more publicity. You can donate to the campaign through PayPal: even a small donation of a few euros helps the campaign, but obviously large donations will help more. There is a button on the website from which you can directly reach our PayPal site: https://www.europeanreferendum.eu/en/how-can-i-help.html?no_cache=1

5. Join the campaign groups

Campaigning actions will be taking place in the following countries/cities on Saturday 16 June 2007:

Barcelona, Edinburgh, York, Athens, Lisbon, Vienna, Graz, Turin, Cagliari, Castelfranco, Verona, Padova, Prato, Bucharest, Berlin and many more.

Please contact your nearest JEF/UEF sections for more details.

Ongoing campaign groups: if you want to help out with translating the website into other European languages and/or help develop our communication feel free to contact us.

VII. THE ORGANISATIONAL TEAM

Campaign officer: Peter Matjasic

Campaign coordination: Hanneli Ebding, Francesco Ferrero, Richard Laming, Florian Rodeit and Peter Strempel

VIII. HOW TO CONTACT US

Referendum on Europe Campaign Secretariat Chaussée de Wavre 214d 1050 Brussels Belgium

Email: info@europeanreferendum.eu

To European activists for a different drug policy

Europe — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 23:43:00 +02:00

Herewith, we would like to invite you to the annual General Assembly of ENCOD (European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies).

This year’s meeting will be held at the ENCOD secretariat, Lange Lozanastraat 14, Antwerpen. It will start on Friday June 22nd at 11.00h, and end on Sunday, June 24th, at 17.00h.

See http://www.encod.org/info/IMG/pdf/GENERAL_ASSEMBLY_ANTWERP_2007-2.pdf for the agenda of the assembly.

Main issues:

The Viennna 2008 Campaign*

In 2008, the United Nations are supposed to produce the results of their 10-year strategy to ‘eliminate or significantly reduce the supply and demand of illicit drugs’, agreed upon during the Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) in New York in 1998. For this purpose, a meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs will be held in March 2008 in Vienna, Austria. On this meeting, delegates from approx. 60 countries as well as UN bureaucrats will have to come up with a credible explanation for the fact that their strategy has completely failed and is based on the wrong assumptions. Obviously, they will do everything to reduce public attention to the meeting, as this will undoubtedly lead to more debate about the need to change their policies.

In short: Vienna 2008 is the perfect opportunity for those citizens opposed to the global war on drugs to join forces and make a common effort to show the world there is much more to fear from prohibition than from a tolerant alternative.

We are considering to plan a 3 day programme (from Friday to Sunday) in which hundreds, perhaps thousands of activists from all over the world can participate. It will be a combination of both information, interaction and entertainment. In April 2003, ENCOD organised a similar march towards the UN headquarters in Vienna <http://www.vienna2003.org> that drew a total number of 3.000 participants.

The dialogue with the European Union.*

Drugs and drug problems are among the issues that concern EU citizens most. Not only because they relate to public health and safety, but also because until now, citizens have had no possibility whatsoever to be consulted in the elaboration of drug policies. EU governments started to work out the concept of a European drug policy in 1990. Since then, several official commitments have been made to involve civil society in the design and implementation of drug policies. Yet these commitments have never been put into practice. EU Strategies and Action Plans on Drugs have always been designed and adopted without any serious consultation of civil society.

In June 2006, the European Commission issued a Green Paper (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2006/com2006_0316en01.pdf) which is a reflection on the role of civil society in drug policy in Europe. European citizens were invited to give their comments to this Green Paper before 30 september 2006. In September 2006, ENCOD (European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies), a platform of 150 Civil Society Organisations from 24 European countries, presented its Green Pepper, (http://www.encod.org/info/IMG/pdf/GPENCOD-2.pdf), containing its comments to the Green Paper and a historical overview of the role of civil society in EU drug policy in the past 20 years.

The process of involving civil society in European drug policy can become a testcase for transparency in the European Union. But it remains to be seen whether the current process will mark the start of a sincere dialogue between citizens and authorities on drug policies. Not only have EU authorities yet been unable to establish a sincere dialogue with civil society on drug policy. Also the outcome of the evaluations of earlier strategies as well as the recommendations of the European Parliament that were pointing in the direction of a fundamental change in drug policies have been completely ignored.

The ENCOD-website*

Our new website offers possibilities for local ENCOD Members to participate. We will organise a workshop for those interested in collaborating with this site.

**** ENCOD GENERAL ASSEMBLIES ARE OPEN TO ANYONE, THOUGH NON-MEMBERS ARE IN PRINCIPLE ONLY OBSERVERS.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Joep Oomen, ENCOD coordinator E-mail: joep@encod.org

EUROPEAN COALITION FOR JUST AND EFFECTIVE DRUG POLICIES

Lange Lozanastraat 14 – 2018 Antwerpen - Belgium

Tel. + 32 (0)3 293 0886 – Mob. + 32 (0)495 122644

E-mail: info@encod.org <mailto:info@encod.org> / www.encod.org <http://www.encod.org>

World refugee day on 20 June

Europe — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +02:00

Since 1993 at least 8,000 migrants and refugees have died trying to enter ‘fortress’ Europe; that’s equivalent to three people every two days. Indiscriminate and inhumane border controls force desperate people to take even greater risks to flee extreme poverty, persecution and war.

On 20 June, World Refugee Day, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) calls on governments to reflect on this needless loss of life and act to place human rights above tight border security. While governments have a right to manage their borders, this right is not absolute. They also have obligations to protect those fleeing persecution and serious human rights abuses, and do all in their power to prevent unnecessary loss of life.

To remember those who died, JRS, in cooperation with Kerkwerk Multicultureel Samenleven, will hold an inter-religious prayer vigil ‘Chemin sans Issue’ at 19.00 in Saint Roch Church, on 60 Antwerpsesteenweg in Brussels on 15 June.

Christians, Moslems and Buddhists will pay their respects to those who never reached Europe alive. "We wish to highlight these inhumane policies which give border security precedence to human rights protection. We hope by raising public awareness others will not suffer the same fate" JRS Europe Director, Jan Stuyt SJ, stated.

European policies increasingly restrict entry into Europe. Border fences are higher and patrols have been intensified. Air and sea companies are fined for carrying undocumented migrants and immigration officials are sent to countries of origin to prevent migrants and refugees from leaving in the first place. However, these policies do not deter people from trying to enter Europe. Rather, they force the most vulnerable individuals to seek more and more dangerous and desperate methods of entry.

Below are two real-life case studies which illustrate the risks that fleeing refugees are prepared to take. For more information about the Prayer Vigil on 15 June or World Refugee Day (20 June) please contact Elizabeth Underhill, JRS Europe Media Officer, press.europe@mail07.jrs.net.

For more information about the victims of ‘fortress’ Europe, visit the following websites: In English: www.unitedagainstracism.org/pages/campfatalrealities.htm In French: www.fortresseurope.blogspot.com

CASE STUDIES

Ali, 26 years old from Sudan, is just one of many thousands of migrants who have taken the treacherous journey to Italy by sea. He spent one week crossing the desert to reach Libya before leaving for Italy on a rubber dingy with 16 other people. He was told the crossing would only take 12 hours: it actually took six days and five of the immigrants did not survive. Ali lost hope he would ever make it to Italy. He believed he was going to die. As Ali’s case illustrates, the tougher the sanctions and restrictions on entry, the more dangerous and extreme methods of entry are attempted by increasingly desperate groups of refugees and migrants. The suffering of those seeking sanctuary in Europe is masked by the rhetoric of border control. Refugees and migrants have died in deserts, at borders, crossing the sea and hidden in truck holds.

In May 2007, a group of 27 sub-Saharan Africans were found clinging to the fishing nets of a Maltese fishing boat. They had been there for three days and nights. The fishing crew had provided them with water and fruit but feared the consequences of granting them access to their boat. This is just one example of how a closed border policy forces individuals to take more extreme risks and hampers any offer of humanitarian support. A culture of fear, instilled by the state, forces those directly in contact with refugees and migrants to provide very little assistance or help.

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a global Catholic organisation, which was founded in 1980 and whose mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people regardless of their religious affiliations. The regional office of JRS - Europe in Brussels networks with JRS staff in over 20 European countries. JRS personnel in Europe accompany inter alia detained asylum seekers and former detainees.

The thousands forms of a global movement

Europe — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:13:00 +02:00

Shut down G8 Summit! Conflicts make Europe

The following text is by Marcello Tarì, Uninomade/Claims. You can also listen to the audio interview (in Italian).

The success of blockades comes from the movement’s intelligence and, specifically, to the new use of some former struggle practices. The most important used to be part of the so-called “castor” system, which managed to stop trains that carried nuclear waste. Many tactics we used during past days to pass through police control and make them useless do come from such experience. This fact is very important. Movement’s memory is not dead, it does not sit in history book. It on the other hand is a something that is continuously re-interrogated and re-invented according to actual contests. Blockades of smash G8, together with June 2nd demonstration and what’s to happen next, form a mosaic of movement that keeps transforming itself. There’s radical conflict, which June 2nd demonstration expressed. But there’s also is the Clown army with its fundamental role during blockades and there are all the different movement’s articulation as well. Here in Rostock things are very “global” in the sense we are referring to. There’s much commons in the declined field of movements. The field leads to commons, shared dimensions, practises and objectives. This is another important, perhaps fundamental, issue. We managed to assault the red zone’s lines and we did this through the synergic union of differences within movement’s networks. The union provoked an exceptional power. This exceptional power can modify and lead all of us to the affirmation of substantial freedom, which anti G8 mobilisations mean to affirm. The community that lives in Rostock’s, Reddelich’s and all others camping is capable of connections, of staying together without stupid ideological conflicts. This capacity is leading to the full confrontation of practises and objectives. To be sincere we must also state the we everyday live G8 in our own metropolises through the system of control, though the development of capitalism, through the permanent condition of global war. G8 is not an event. Powers of the earth wish to create a spectacular media event, which of course assume contestations as a part of it. The truth is that contestations continuously exceed the symbolic representation of powers. In this sense international networks decide to point out that what we now want to move the spirit of Rostock and Reddelich in one of the most important capitals of the world: Berlin. This is the political framework within which tomorrow in the evening we shall reclaim the city in Berlin through radical disobedience since everywhere else in Germany demos are forbidden.

Source: http://www.globalproject.info/index-en.html

Trade union assembly for the Charter of Fundamental Rights - Brussels, 20 June 2007

Europe — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:08:00 +02:00

BRUSSELS - ROND-POINT SCHUMAN (PETITE RUE DE LA LOI), 20 JUNE 2007 AT 11H30 On the offensive with the ETUC to defend fundamental rights, Social Europe, and more and better jobs

Why?

In the current negotiations to devise a new Constitutional Treaty, there are already indications that the Charter of Fundamental Rights (including the right to organise and to strike) will be ignored and not made binding on Member States. The ETUC has campaigned for the incorporation of the Charter in EU treaties for many years (including holding demonstrations in Nice and Laeken, Brussels). We were successful in the Convention which drew up the present draft Constitutional Treaty. That success is now at risk.

On the eve of the European summit taking place on 21-22 June 2007, the ETUC is therefore going on the offensive and warns that if the outcome is the relegation of the Charter, the ETUC will campaign against any new treaty (an emergency statement adopted by the ETUC Congress on May 24 is attached).

Where & When?

Place of assembly: Rond-Point Schuman - Petite Rue de la Loi at 11:30. There will be a mass assembly of European trade unionists, and a delegation of union leaders will meet the President of the European Commission to present the ETUC’s case.

European Parliament: Roadmapping without a compass - June 7th, 2007

Europe — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:45:00 +02:00

As the European Parliament debates the Report on the roadmap for the Union's Constitutional Process this afternoon, the Young European Federalists point out the shortcomings of the EP's standpoint. JEF Europe expects the parliamentary representatives of the European citizens to live up to their mission in a more responsible way than with this tame resolution almost 6 month late.

"We are truly disappointed by the report. Not only because a document like this should have been adopted before the German presidency to actually influence the Sherpa negotiations, but also because it clearly lacks a concrete direction and fails to tackle crucial points." Jan Seifert, President of JEF Europe, opened his statement on the European Parliament's Report on the roadmap for the Union's Constitutional Process, which is debated in the plenary session on Wednesday, 6 June 2007.

JEF Europe, the organisation of Young European Federalists, points out that the EP's resolution proposal lacks concrete criticsm of the intransparent and undemocratic sherpa method employed by the German presidency and thus implicitly supports for the constitutional process to be moved away from the citizens and behind closed doors. That the Parliament is supporting a new IGC rather then a new convention is a clear step backwards.

"It's a shame that Parliament has lost any ambition to demand going beyond the classical IGC method", Seifert added, describing the proposal to make use of the Maastricht procedure involving EP respresentatives in the IGC as non-workable with 27 member states.

JEF Europe has for long been fighting for a democratic and transparent constitutional process involving the European citizens in the decision-making. "What Parliament should rather ask for is full transparency during the whole consultation process with access to all documents and possibly a revival of the convention method as this is what the Heads of State agreed to in the first round", Seifert said.

Regarding Parliament's call for a coordinated ratification procedure, JEF Europe's president concluded: "We don't need a mere coordination. We need every single European citizen to have a say on the future of Europe and this can only be achieved having a pan-European referendum on any future treaty revision. That's what Parliament should ask for!"

JEF Europe is one of the partner organisations to the European Referendum campaign collecting one million signatures demanding a pan-European referendum on a future European Constitution. For more information, go to www.europeanreferendum.eu.