Unity or diversity? Which Europe do we want? 26th February

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Democracy at the EU level is stronger than ever before but is far from complete. Citizens feel more at ease with national politics than the European Union. If the EU is the 4th house of our democracy (after the local, regional and national) how can we make it more like a home? At the same time European countries are becoming more diverse with immigration and EU citizens moving from one Member State to another. What should the European Union do to make our societies fully at ease with our new diversity? How can the EU protect and improve the rights of the individual?

Join us at the first of our PES Manifesto debates, with a fantastic range of speakers confirmed:

1. In what ways should European democracy be strengthened?
2. How can European citizens’ participation in and understanding of European politics be improved?
3. How can the EU reflect Europe’s diversity better?
4. How can the EU contribute further to the fight against discrimination?
5. Should the European Parliament have more democratic powers in policy-making and holding the European Commission to account?
6. Should the President of the European Commission be directly elected by European citizens or by the European Parliament on a proposal by European political parties?
7. How should European political parties develop their democratic role in the European Union?

We will be putting together all the ideas submitted both online and submitting them to the PES Manifesto!

We aim to make connections that will keep the PES in touch with the most dynamic and innovative thinking, but also enhance mutual understanding between Europeans. Through our series of debates, we will actively encourage participants to share their insights but also put forward innovative ideas and practical solutions to each of the four manifesto themes. Through this, we hope to promote a more social and democratic Europe by making it more relevant to people’s everyday lives.

To read more

* Yourspace manifesto 2009 discussion paper ‘European democracy and diversity’
* PES Declaration for the 50th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty

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2 comments | February 10th, 2008by Noel Hatch

Register for the Spanish elections and help us campaign for Zapatero!

Call out to all Spanish voters, if you haven’t added yourself on the consultate immatriculation, go to the consulate before the 9th February with your DNI/passport and a passport photo to register. At the same time, ask the consulate for papers to register to vote. They will the send you by the post the relevant documentation.

You can send your vote by recorded delivery before the 9th March

In the PSOE manifesto, there are several European proposals

• the introduction of a European framework directive on public services
• strengthening workers’ rights, notably through the revision of European law on worker information and consultation
• a common European migration policy, defining integration policies, the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration and favouring legal migration
• the creation of a common border police
• regulating hedge funds and tackling financial speculation
• promoting the creation of an Alliance of Civilisations at global level
• introducing a solidarity mechanism for energy supply

The PES Manifesto site relates another very interesting proposal here to fight “brain drain” from the developing world is that every time Spain receives a highly skilled immigrant, like a doctor, from a developing country, the Spanish government should pay for the education and training of another highly skilled worker from that country to replace him/her. This reflects the widespread problem in Africa of doctors, nurses and other vital professionals leaving to take better paid jobs in Europe (eg. until recently there were more Malawian doctors in Manchester than in the whole of Malawi – their doctors can now be found working across the UK and other EU countries, leaving Malawi with 2 doctors for every 100,000 Malawians!).

PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen says, “We cannot have a Social Europe without a Social Spain”!

Compass Youth will be helping campaign with the Young Spanish Socialists and PES Activists in Spain. See here for more details.

But what ideas can we take from the PSOE Manifesto and adapt for the PES Manifesto and even the Labour Party Manifesto?

1 comment | February 2nd, 2008by Noel Hatch