4.1. EM Belgium
‘THE FUTURE OF EUROPE’
Discussion with youngsters on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaties.
On Wednesday 28th of February 2007, Flemish students will debate about what Europe should look like in the future. This initiative wants to evoke a debate about Europe between young people. With the results of this debates and discussion, some of the youngsters will go to a youth conference in Rome from 23 to 25 March, to present the results. At the place where it all started, there will be written a new chapter on the future. The debate-evening is organised by Jint, the Flemish Youth Council, the Flemish Government and the European Movement Belgium.
Place: Internationaal Jeugdcentrum – Grétrystraat 26 – 1000 Brussel.
For information and inscriptions:David.wemel@jint.be
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Debate about the European Immigration Policy
The European Movement Belgium, together with the newspaper Le Soir and the Information Office of the European Parliament, organises a big debate on the 19th of March about the EU-immigration policy. The lecturers are Louis Michel, European Commissioner of Development and Humanitarian Aid, Martine Roure, Member of the European Parliament and Philippe Hensmans, Head of Amnesty International Belgium Francophone.
The interactive debate takes place in the European Parliament and starts at 20PM.
More information at the website www.mouvement-europeen.be
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Brussels, capital of Europe - Discover Europe in Brussels!
Windbag and the European Movement Belgium let you discover special European places in Brussels. During the weekend of 24th and 25th of March about 150 places from the 27 member states, open their doors for the public. You can visit embassies, churches, cultural centres, etc. The different places organise animation, as painters, musicians, expositions, and lots more. This activity wants to make people discover the European diversity that exists within the capital of Brussels.
More information on http://www.windbag.be/
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4.2. EM Croatia
Europe at crossroads
On the 5th of December 2006, European Movement Croatia & Croatian-Austrian Society for Cultural and Economic Co-operation organized lecture of Mr Erhard Busek, special coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Mr. Busek gave a lecture “Europe at crossroad” as his personal insight to the understanding of Europe, challenging full attention of the audience consisted of diplomats, politicians, journalists, students and citizens.
The audience was very interested in Busek’s opinion on when Croatia could fully access to the EU, but Busek emphasized that essence of accession is not the date, but fulfilment of all conditions and readiness to fully participate in ongoing process of creation of Europe’s unity.
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German Presidency of the European Union / 16th of January 2007
In brimful ‘Brussels hall’ of Europe House Zagreb Mr Peters spoke about the main goals of the German presidency and current situation in the EU. “European Union is in the double crisis right now. At first, it is constitution crisis after rejections in France and Netherlands, but the same importance has other type of crisis – lack of citizens’ confidence in the EU. This situation determines our main tasks, restart of ratification of the European constitution and celebration of Rome Treaty as guideline for future Europe” Peters said. He also pointed out that Croatia should be very interested in new European constitution, because without it there is no legal and institutional ways for enlargement which should adopt Croatia.
Regarding the Croatian negotiations for accession to the EU, Peters said that thoroughgoing negotiations which will take care about fulfilment of specified criteria need more time, but it should not cause suspicion among the Croatian citizens. “Negotiations don’t start to be failed, but to be successful, so I believe that at the end of our presidency we’ll be able to say that we saw off Croatia on the significant part of its way to the EU. Be sure that we want Croatia in the EU, we need you as much as you need EU” Peters emphasized.
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“Romanian Accession to the European Union – added values and future challenges” / 6th of February 2007
Mrs Popa, Ambassador of Romania to Croatia, described the Romanian way to the EU, making a point that 2002 and 2003 were two the most significant years in Romanian accession process. Commenting Atlantic integration she stressed the role of NATO in the transformation of the Romanian society. “All adjustments made for Romanian membership in NATO helped us to make another step in adjustments to the EU criteria” Mrs Popa said.
Regarding the role of civil society in Romania ambassador Popa told that early transition years didn’t favour to the development of the civil society, but in the most intensive years in accession process its role was growing rapidly, so basically thanks to the civil society efforts accession process succeeded. She also strongly supported Croatian accession process offering Romanian experience and help on that way.
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Presentation of the Croatian edition of “Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010” / 30th of January 2007
Croatian translation and edition of the European strategy “Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010” was officially presented to the Croatian public at Europe House Zagreb on Tuesday, 30th of January 2007. Croatian programme of gender equality was presented by Mrs Jadranka Kosor, Croatian deputy prime minister, Mrs Helena Štimac Radin, Head of governmental Office for the gender equality, Mrs Suzana Kunac from the group for women’s human rights B.a.B.e. and Mr Vincent Degert, Chief of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia.
Mrs Kosor pointed out that Croatian government is fully dedicated to the gender equality what is integrated in the Croatian national policy for gender equality, confirmed by Parliament in October last year. “We are very glad that our national policy is identical to the European strategy” Mrs Kosor said. Mr Degert emphasized that European Commission gives only guidelines, but responsibility for implementation lies on each country government.
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Interactive public debate “Water – Strategic resource of Croatia” organized by European Movement Croatia and e-STUDENT / 30th of January 2007
Interactive public debate “Water – Strategic resource of Croatia” was organized by European Movement Croatia and e-STUDENT, university organization for excellence in studying. The guests at this debate were Mrs Sanja Barbalic, Head of Institute for water resources management, and Mr Miroslav Rozic, Member of Parliament (MP) and member of National Water Council.
Mrs Barbalic explained National strategy for water management, pointing out that strategy is a valuable document, but that there are many problems in every-day implementation.
MP Rozic accused Government for lack of concern for water resources, offering few possible solutions which will be presented in the Parliament.
The audience was mainly consisted of proactive students and it joined to the discussion also giving new ideas about water resources management.
Contact: Renato Pandža
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4.3. EM Denmark
Courses on EU-policy to local members
As a service to members of the Danish European Movement, the General Secretary Rina Valeur Rasmussen and Information Officer Sebastian Lang-Jensen gave evening-courses to local committees of the movement in different parts of the country. The aim of the courses was to strengthen the EU-knowledge of local members, to promote participation in the everyday EU-debate and to offer some ideas on fundraising and member-recruitment.
Go-Cards
In the first quarter of 2007 the Danish European Movement are producing and distributing post cards through the GO-Card net. Ten eye catching postcards with information on EU will be distributed countrywide in cafes and cinemas to make a broad audience learn about the EU in a new and fun way. The postcards are on topics like equal rights, environment and the 50 year celebration of the Rome Treaty.
Debating energy
The preparations for Speak up Europe have started and 10. April a panel of politicians and stakeholders on producer as well as consumer side will discuss the EU energy strategy. The participants - who among others include MEP, Karin Riis-Jørgensen, Minister of Environment, Connie Hedegaard, and director of the wind mill industry, Bjarne Lundager Jensen – have contributed to a publication on energy that will be launched at the occasion. The debate will be filmed and broadcasted via TV and Internet.
Contact: Rina Valeur Rasmussen
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4.4. EM Georgia
Bulletin for November and December published
The European Movement Georgia published its November/December bulletin and it is now available on-line here (PDF).
Contact: Vasili Tchkoidze
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4.5. EM Germany
EU-Briefing: Priorities of the Environment-Policy
Approximately 100 guests attended on the 27th of November 2006 in the Berlin Visitors’ Centre of the Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, und Reaktorsicherheit (Federal Ministry for Environment) the briefing “Environmental Priorities of the German Council’s Presidency”, held by the State Secretary Matthias Machnig and organised by the Network European Movement Germany. The more general theme “Environment – Innovation – Employment” includes, according to the referent, areas such as environmental Industry-Policy, Climate and Energy policies, and also bio-diversity and environmentally compatible mobility. According to Machnig, during the first EU spring summit in March 2007 a reduction by 30% of the greenhouse gas emission within the year 2020 should be decided.
Contact: Graziano Paolicelli
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4.6. EM Romania
Mr. Henrik H. Kroner, the Secretary General of the EMI visited Romania
Mr. Henrik H. Kroner, Secretary General of EMI and Honorary President of the European Movement Romania paid a three days visit to Romania, from 1st to 4th of February. Mr. Kroner met with the members of the Steering Committee of the European Movement Romania at EMR’s office in Bucharest and participated at the General election Assembly of the EMR. The visit included also meeetings with the Calarasi Local Branch of the European Movement Romania, with the Mayor and the Local Council of Calarasi, the second biggest city after Bucharest.
EMR to cooperate for EP ellections in Romania
European Movement Romnania will co-operate with the European Parliament Office in Bucharest during the elections to the European Parliament to be held in May 2007.
Contact: Mircea Constantinescu
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4.7. EM Luxembourg
Meeting with EM Saarland
The European Movement Luxembourg met the European Movement from Saarland -Germany on the 2nd of February in order to strengthen their relationship and establish strong regional cooperation.
Contact: Haude Lannon
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4.8. EM Finland
Speak up Europe – Mitä iloa Euroopasta?
The European Movement in Finland participates in the Speak up Europe titled
Mitä iloa Euroopasta? in Finnish. The national action includes discussion
events around the country, a publication and a website. The campaign begun
with a seminar on 6th February in Helsinki. Speakers at the event included
two Finnish representatives in the EU convention Mr. Kiljunen and Mrs.
Tiilikainen, the Minister for European affairs Mrs. Lehtomäki and former
Minister for European affairs Mr. Salolainen.
To see the pictures from the event click here.
50th Anniversary of the Treaties of Rome
The 50 years anniversary of the EU will be commemorated in many ways. On the
24th March we will organize a festive seminar in connection with our annual
meeting. During the week before the seminar we participate in the
organisation of an exhibition by the German EU presidency and the German
embassy to Finland on the advantages of European integration at the main
railway station in Helsinki. The 50th anniversary is also the main theme of
our Europe Day celebrations on 9th May all around the country.
Other events during the spring include a European Gala on 17th February in
Oulu and a seminar
on the EU energy strategy in cooperation with the employers’ organisations
and trade unions.
Two annual pamphlets on European politics
The European Movement in Finland aims to participate more actively in the
political debate in Finland. For this purpose we will in future release two
pamphlets per year discussing the Finnish European politics. The first one
of these pamphlets will be published at our 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome festive seminar and annual meeting on 24th March.
Contact: Mikael von Rabenau
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4.9. EM Serbia
REGIONAL FRAMEWORK
On January 29th 2007 the first meeting of the Regional Project Team within the project REGIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATION AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION was held in Belgrade. The meeting gathered representatives of the European Movement in Montenegro, Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Center for Institutional Development - Macedonia, Albanian Institute for International Studies – Albania, Institute for International Relations – Croatia and European Movement in Serbia.
The structure of the brochure on recent regional programmes and projects was agreed at the meeting as well as the timeline of the future activities (regional meetings, presentations etc.). It was agreed that the following meeting will take place in Montenegro at the beginning of April 2007.
The project aims to promote the role of regional cooperation in South Eastern Europe as important instrument aimed to support faster European integration, sustainable development and poverty reduction.
More about the project at www.emins.org
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Let women decide
European Movement in Serbia and Women Government in Serbia in cooperation with EMinS Local Councils, have conducted campaign Let women decide. The main aims of this campaign was to motivate greater turnout of women voters at parliamentary elections in Serbia in January 21, 2007 and entrance of greater number of women in the Serbian institutions after the election-minimum 30%.
During this campaign in Belgrade and 30 municipalities in Serbia were organized street actions where young activists were disseminating informative material (brochure, pens, badges, posters and flags) to the women. Also members of the Women’s Government and EMinS were guest speakers together with women politicians at the local media.
The final activity in the campaign “Let women decide!” was organization of the Women Convention on January 13, at 5 minutes to 12 a.m.
More about the EM Serbia campaigns here.
Contact: Nebojša Milenković
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4.10. UEF
National Committee for the celebrations of the centenary of the birth of Altiero Spinelli /
6 December 2006, University “Sapienza”, Rome
This year, federalists are celebrating the centenary anniversary of the birth of Altiero Spinelli, founding father of the European federalist movement. The Movimento Federalista Europeo (MFE, UEF-Italy) has set up a special National Committee for the coordination of the year long celebrations. The celebrations were opened with a speech by MFE President Guido Montani, to the President of the Republic of Italy and Members of the Italian Government and Parliament.
The full text of the speech is available here.
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“The advantages and disadvantages of Slovakia’s entry in EMU”/ 30 January 2007, Bratislava
The UEF in cooperation with the Young European Federalists (JEF) and EurActiv, organized a debate within the framework of Speak-up Europe held on 30 January, 2007 at the EU Commission representation in Bratislava, Slovakia. The debate was aimed at discussing the benefits and disadvantages of Slovakia joining the Economic Monetary Union (EMU). The two hour event, which drew over 40 participants was opened by Mr. Branislav SLYSKO, the EU Commission representative, and closed with a vibrant reception.
Full article on the event here (DOC).
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Letter from the UEF President to the European Heads of State who gathered in Madrid on 26 January 2007
Prior to the Madrid meeting, UEF President Mercedes BRESSO sent a letter to all European Heads of State who gathered at the “Friends of the Constitution” event.
In her letter, the President stressed the need for a European Constitution as “a pact between citizens and States”. She urged pro-European governments not to “show themselves timid and on the defensive” and requested the Heads of Government:
1) to submit to the European Council a request to convene a new European Convention with a limited mandate in order to change only the more sensitive parts of the Constitution,
2) to engage themselves so that the new project of the European Constitution is submitted to the European citizens in a consultative referendum, to be held at the same time as the European elections in 2009, simultaneously in all European countries, and
3) to engage themselves so that the European Constitution comes into effect if a majority of citizens and a majority of States have approved it.
If you would like to read the full letter, please click here (PDF).
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Next UEF Federal Committee / 21-22 April, Munich
The next UEF Federal Committee will be held in Munich on 21-22 April 2007.
Main focus of the meeting will be the European launch of the referendum campaign. Details of the road ahead will be discussed and planned, and potential partner organisations will be invited.
The FC will be preceded by a seminar on the afternoon of Friday 20 April revolving around the European Constitution and social aspects.
More detailed information about the seminar, the FC agenda, the location and the travel reimbursement conditions will be sent to the members shortly, and will also be available on the UEF website.
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Referendum campaign launch
The next stage of the UEF/JEF campaign for the European constitution will be launched in Berlin on Saturday 17 March 2007.
The aim of the campaign is that there should be a consultative referendum on the constitution held in every member state of the EU on the same day as the European elections in 2009. A consultative referendum is the means of breaking through the logjam in the intergovernmental negotiations and national ratification of the constitution. Rather than being left to the politicians, UEF and JEF argue that the European people should decide.
The European launch of the campaign will take place in Munich at the occasion of the next UEF FC on 21-22 April. The UEF’s members and friends from partner organisations will be invited. Federalist activists will thus be working with people from other organisations to win the backing and involvement of NGOs and civil society for this campaign. They will also be aiming to collect the signatures of 1 million European citizens who support this demand.
The latest Federal Committee resolution setting out the strategy is here (DOC).
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4.11. ELDR
Federica Sabbati becomes new ELDR Secretary General
Federica Sabbati will succeed Lex Corijn as ELDR Secretary General as of January 2007. She was appointed to this function during the ELDR Party Congress on 13th October, in Bucharest, Romania.
Federica Sabbati possesses a deep knowledge of the liberal democrat political family in Europe and the world, thanks to her previous function as Secretary General of Liberal International, the world federation of Liberal parties. Before joining Liberal International, she worked as assistant to the ELDR Secretary General from 1997 to 1999 and as Executive Director of the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) in 1997. Federica holds a university degree in International Relations from the University of Trieste, Italy,
Full article here.
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Lex Corijn bids farewell to ELDR
On 6th February, ELDR hosted a good bye reception for its former Secretary General Lex Corijn to thank him for 15 years of dedication to the growth of the party. Lex Corijn started working for ELDR as a stagiaire 15 years ago and then progressively raised to the post of Secretary-General in 2000. In his good bye speech, he expressed his confidence that, under the leadership of Annemie Neyts, ELDR will reach a higher sky and play a significant part in bringing about true European common elections.
Full news here.
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ELDR / ELWN launch calendar featuring successful liberal women
Vesna Pusic, Chair of the European Liberal Women Network (ELWN), Annemie Neyts, European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party President, Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection and Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, MEP, launched a 2007 calendar featuring successful campaigns run by liberal women across Europe during a press conference on 30th January in the European Parliament.
Full news here.
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Annemie Neyts supports universal moratorium on the death penalty
European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party President, MEP Annemie Neyts supports a universal moratorium on the death penalty and congratulates the Italian government for its initiative to restart the debate on this issue at the UN General Assembly.
In this view, she has signed the appeal for the adoption of a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty by the General Assembly of the United Nations, launched by MEP Marco Pannella and the Transnational Radical Party. Already 50498 people from 143 countries have signed this appeal on the radical party website (www.radicalparty.org).
Full news here.
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