Tuesday 26th February at 6.30 - 8.30 pm House of Commons, Committee Room 16 Westminster, London SW1 0AA
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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:
Before the debate, join in the debate around the questions below and submit your ideas here!
In what ways should European democracy be strengthened?
How can European citizens’ participation in and understanding of European politics be improved?
How can the EU reflect Europe’s diversity better?
How can the EU contribute further to the fight against discrimination?
Should the European Parliament have more democratic powers in policy-making and holding the European Commission to account?
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?
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.
Why is it vital for young people throughout Europe to engage in European politics?
How can young activists throughout Europe collaborate?
To coincide with the launch of a new program of events and manifestations leading up to the London Festival of Europe 2008 and with the launch of the free European monthly journal Europa, European Alternatives calls a youth summit to discuss methods and means of European engagement, to promote student activism and youth collaboration.
This call is addressed to student activists and young Europeans throughout the UK, who will be joined by selected international invitees.
3 – 3.40: Introductory presentations; Niccolo Milanese and Lorenzo Marsili (European Alternatives) and Matteo Saccani (Terra del Fuoco, Turin)
3.40 – 5.30: Chaired Discussion; Themes:
The state of pro-Europeanism in the UK: future possibilities
An overview of the current situation in the UK, with reference both to the Reform Treaty and the prospect of a UK referendum, and, most importantly, the longer-term possibilities of European engagement in the UK.
What is the situation across the EU?
Brief 5-mins presentations from invited EU participants on the reality in their country followed by discussion
An overview of the overall situation across the Union. Again, both for what concerns “institutional” responses to the integration process, and “grassroots” sentiments towards the European ideal. How is “Europe” perceived in the different European countries? How is this different from the perception in the UK?
From the Europe of finance to the Europe of politics
Brief presentation by Lorenzo Marsili followed by discussion
So far European economic integration has amply preceded political integration, understood as both the pooling of national political decision-making and the creation of a truly active and pan-European citizenry. This has led to many complaints against the EU being a mere neoliberal inevitability or a seat of “technocratic” decision-making distant from its citizens. But what would it mean to invest Europe with political meaning, both at the institutional level and at that of grassroots political engagement?
How can we all collaborate?
Based on our discussion and one the personal and professional experiences of the invited participants, can we work on an initial joint initiative? The work regularly carried out by European Alternatives, and the monthly journal EUROPA, will here offer a possible seat of common involvement.
The PES, kindly supported by Labour International - the International Section of the British Labour Party, invites you to: MEP Richard Corbett and PES policy advisor Alexandra Pardal on Active party membership for a strong PES - take up the debate at the open Executive Committee meeting of Labour International.
When? September 23 from 4.30 - 6 pm
Where? Purbeck Room, Bourne Hall Hotel, 14 Priory Road, Bournemouth
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen invites you to a special PREVIEW on the upcoming PES European manifesto campaign. Debate co-hosted by Labour International
When? September 24 from 6 to 7 pm
Where? Piano Room, Bourne Hall Hotel, 14 Priory Road, Bournemouth
If you would like to join your local PES Activist citygroup for London and the South East click here
In this seminar Professor Erik Jones will build on a series of lectures held between 1997- 2004 in an attempt to clarify whether our current problem consitutes a crisis, why it is happening now, and what, if anything we should do about it. Will economic growth and interaction eradicate this malaise, or do we have to make some changes to our approach, outlook and policies?
Nearly every other decade has had its own ‘crisis’ in Europe. The word crisis, however, though it may evoke emotion, does not add much in terms of meaning. What is our ‘crisis’ all about?
There have been periods of instability in Europe in the past, but the troubled times we are going through at the moment differ from those experienced since the second world war. Geographically, institutionally, economically and politically, we appear to have reached what could be called ‘the limits of European integration’.
Places are free but limited, and on a first-come first -serve basis. To join us RSVP to anna.shandro@demos.co.uk, or call 0207 367 6318.
Reijo Kemppinen, Head of Representation, European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom
Chaired by Dr Catherine Fieschi, Director, DEMOS
Lecture poll
The speaker is interested in your views and invites to you complete a quick online survey. Your responses will be fed into the evening’s lecture.
