European Movement News

EMI Secretary General Diogo Pinto visited European Movement Germany

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:37:00 +0200

"We need to know more about each other in order to be able to launch more common projects", said Diogo Pinto, Secretary General of the European Movement International (EMI), during his visit on the 23 and 24 of August to the National Council of the European Movement in Germany. Board members and staff of the European Movement in Germany met with Mr Pinto to discuss best practices and the potential for further cooperation. In particular, as the EMI is committed to expanding its membership at the international level, Mr Pinto was eager to know more about the very successful membership enlargement strategy of the European Movement in Germany, which is currently one of the largest EMI national networks, encompassing more than two hundred member organisations.

Furthermore, Mr Pinto underlined the need to improve the exchange of information between the EMI and its Member Organisations and among the latter. In order to nurture this enhanced dialogue, Mr Pinto also met with Christian Moos, European Affairs Coordinator of the German Civil Service Association, a national branch of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI), and an EMI member organisation. Both parties stressed that it will be their priority to promote and intensify the networking structures within the European Movement.

Finally, Mr Pinto was updated on the latest developments of the international project �Train4EU�. �Train4EU� is a training programme, jointly developed by the European Movement in Germany and Serbia, that supports local administrators in South Eastern Europe in the process of EU integration. The programme provides participants with an advanced EU-training while building up a network of EU key-experts with special focus on local administrations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

For more information on Train 4EU please visit:

http://www.europaeische-bewegung.de/aktivitaeten-projekte/train4eu/

Third edition of the European Cycling Tour to kick off this week

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:20:00 +0200

Whilst Brussels is drafting a new EU cooperation strategy for the Danube region, a group of intrepid European cyclists are going on field and cycling over 1300 km along the river to mobilize local populations and their representatives on the unification process of the region.

Despite the many vicissitudes the region went through, the 3000 km long Europa Danubiana - as formerly known in Latin - has always been a common cultural space for its 75 million inhabitants. The fall of the iron curtain marked the start of the reunification process between the west and the east of Europe in this geographic area. It also meant that the European project could further emancipate. The 2004 & 2007 enlargements marked the second stage of the cultural, political and economic reunification of the region. The central position of the Danube provides a vital connection between northern and southern, eastern and western Europe, hence a huge potential for more regional cooperation in transport, environment and for a surge in trade & economic exchanges.

In this context, the European Cycling Tour seeks to contribute to the campaign for a comprehensive and efficient EU strategy for the Danube region involving local political and economic actors as well as the civil society.

This year�s edition was preceded by two similar cycling tours in Ireland (for the Yes campaign) and across the Netherlands, Begium, Germany and Poland (as part of the awareness campaign to the European Elections). To catch a quick glimpse of the ECT awareness campaign for the European elections 2009 you can go online and see the recently published pictures and a videoclip of the tour and events.

This year�s ECT edition will kick off on 26 August from the source monument of the river in Donaueschingen all the way to Budapest on 11 September, comprising over 15 stages across 4 countries. Several MEPs, personalities working for the EU and members of the European Movement are cycling from one town hall to another on both banks of the river to meet local mayors and representatives of the civil society as well as local and regional media. Every local citizen and visitor is invited to join in these meetings and colloquia.

A map of the route of the Tour is available online. You can view what event is planned in your town, whether it is a meeting with local representatives or a larger colloquium with European and local personalities. If you have missed our Eurocyclists, the map offers insight into past events through a selection of pictures and videos. All the picture galleries can be viewed here.

Another tour d�Europe is due to start in spring 2011 and continue this year�s edition from Budapest all the way down to estuary of the river by the Black Sea.

-> The European Cycling Tour in the local press.

Europe day celebrations 2010 at a glance�

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:33:00 +0200

This year�s festivities in honour of Europe Day were once again very successful! Thanks to the efforts of our member and partner organisations, a series of original and innovative activities took place across the continent for this very special day.

In Brussels, the International Secretariat, for its part, announced publicly the miscellaneous initiatives prior to the launch of the festivities. The EMI has now published an interactive googlemap on its website which provides a clear account of the events and activities supported by the EMI. You can check out our map by clicking here or on the �9 May Events Googlemap Logo�.

If your organization has planned any kind of event or activity for Europe Day 2010 which does not appear on our map and which you wish to publish, feel free to e-mail us!

First Mediterranen Citizens Assembly in Valencia

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:38:00 +0200

From the 2 until 4 of July, the first Mediterranean Citizens Assembly (MCA) took place in Valencia. This civil society initiative complements the general efforts undertaken to reconcile the two shores of the Mare Nostrum, but is compared to other initiatives undoubtebly different and innovative.

This first Assembly was entitled �Mediterranean Dialogue: Institutions and Citizenship in the Mediterranean� and the themes that were discussed in the form of an Agora were the following:

1. Thinking about the Mediterranean Region;
2. Mediterranean Citizenship, rights and responsibilities ;
3. Creation of a sustainable area of peace: are there any prerequisites?
4. The current and future challenges in the Mediterranean: the individual and collective responsibility of citizens.

Over 70 people from more than 20 countries around the Mediterranean participated in the event.

This meeting was organised in cooperation with the European Movement International, the CERAI, The European University of Tirana and the support of the Charles-L�opold Mayer Foundation, la Casa Arabe and la Casa Mediterraneo.

For further information please feel free to contact Mr. Charles Kleinermann, European Movement International: c.kleinermann@europeanmovement.eu

Call for participation: EMI Training Academy, 13 - 19 September 2010

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:07:00 +0200

The EMI Training Academy � Summer School is a high-level, tailor-made training course on the workings of the EU institutions and on programmes available to university students.

The European Movement International, with its growing network of 42 National Councils and 25 International member associations across Europe has direct access to professionals of the EU structure at all levels, making the EMI Training Academy the perfect tool for students who want to pursue a career in EU affairs, or who want to perfect their knowledge of the EU.

During the one-week course, students meet with officials from the EU institutions, professionals from European civil society organisations and consultants based in Brussels, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Programme

Monday 13 September: arrivals + evening dinner at a restaurant
Tuesday 14 � Friday 17 September: lectures and visits during the day and evening dinner
Saturday 18 September: Evaluation of the training (interviews, questionnaire, photos), and free afternoon
Sunday 19 September: departures

Foreseen lecture themes

The History of European Integration
The EU institutions from the inside and decision-making process
The Future of the European Union
Lobbying and Networking
Programmes available to Youths through the EU and Civil Society Organisations
European Citizenship
EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy/ External Relations
The Role of Civil Society in the EU construction process and its future development
The work of European Political Parties

The EMI Training Academy is more than a professional experience, it�s also a great way to discover Brussels in summer and to make new international contacts!

Target group

University/PhD students or recent graduates who have a strong interest in European affairs.

Selection procedure

Students will be selected according to the following criteria:

Fluency in English � the training will be in English

Good knowledge of the EU

Motivation

Participation fees

In order to facilitate the participation of students, we have decided to give two possibilities:

Paying the full fee of 750�, our �all-in� option that includes accommodation, meals, lectures and local transport (does not include travel to and from Brussels)

Or paying the reduced fee of 300� which includes meals, lectures and local transport. In this case students are free to find their own accommodation (youth hostel or other), or to stay with friends.

Click here to see who our confirmed speakers are so far!

Registrations and further information

To register or for more details, please send an e-mail to mljacquemin@europeanmovement.eu

[28/05/2010] - Report International EMI Training Academy

30 November - 6 December 2009

Related file

Report EMI Training Academy 2009 (PDF EN)

Francisca Tarazaga elected as Board Member of the European Women's Lobby

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:36:00 +0200

The European Movement International (EMI) congratulates Francisca Tarazaga, EMI Board Member, to her election as member of the Board of the European Women's Lobby (EWL). The EWL General Assembly recently elected Ms Tarazaga at its annual meeting in Madrid, Spain.

Brigitte Triems, EWL President, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Francisca Tarazaga to the new Board of the European Women�s Lobby. As an Executive Member of the European Movement International and a lifelong supporter of women�s rights throughout her work, including as a member of the EWL�s National Coordination in Spain, Francisca brings exceptionally rich expertise to this position. We very much look forward to working closely with Francisca, and more generally, with our member organisation and partner, the European Movement, over the coming years, towards our common goal of a European Union respectful of the rights of all of its peoples, women and men".

Response of the European Movement International to the consultation of the European Commission on �EU citizens� rights � the way forward�

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:00:00 +0200

The European Movement International (EMI) has responded to the consultation process of the European Commission on �EU citizens� rights � the way forward�. The consultation aims to strengthen citizens� rights stemming from Union Citizenship, with particular reference to issues such as free movement of persons, diplomatic and consular protection, electoral rights, free movement of civil status documents and consumers' rights.

In substance, the EMI response highlights common obstacles in the fields of student mobility and partners� free movement rights. In order to facilitate free movement rights, the EMI suggests for example the harmonisation of basic administrative structures and obligations between Member States.

In addition, the EMI is particularly concerned with the extent to which citizens exercise their political rights.

Whereas in some cases obstacles may result from various practicalities from one Member State to another, political rights will not be fully exercised if the European parties do not initiate a genuine European electoral campaign, attracting citizens� and identifying significant political stakes.

The EMI also regrets that the consultation was only available in English when it precisely sought to consult, amongst others, citizens on their own rights.

To download the full version of the EMI response, please click here.

The ideas put forward in this consultation will be debated at a conference which will be organised by the Commission on 1st � 2nd July 2010 and the preparation of the Communication on Citizenship scheduled for October 2010.

Press Release: Call for radical strengthening of Economic Union

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0200

Call for radical strengthening of Economic Union

Meeting in Toledo on 11 � 12 June 2010, the Federal Assembly of the European Movement International (EMI) called on the European Council to radically strengthen the economic part of the Economic and Monetary Union at its summit meeting this week.

The European Movement recommends that consideration be given to the appointment of High Representative for Economic and Fiscal Policies, who would be a Vice-President of the European Commission while also chairing the ECOFIN council and the Eurogroup. S/he would also represent the EU in the relevant international economic fora.

�This could be achieved within the terms of the Lisbon Treaty�, according to Jo Leinen, EMI Vice-President, who said, �together with stronger surveillance and governance procedures this could make a real difference�.

The Toledo Assembly insisted on the need for EU budgetary reform based on truly European �own resources� and the issuing of Eurobonds to help finance cross border European projects in the fields of transport, energy and communications infrastructure.

Delegates welcomed the establishment of the European financial stabilisation mechanism but insisted that it should evolve into a genuinely European monetary fund and should not merely be the sum of 27 different parts.

�Given the return to mass unemployment, heavy youth unemployment and the halving of the EU�s potential output growth because of the economic crisis, the summit must offer hope for the re-launch of the European economy through new, visible and concerted EU economic action�, said Pat Cox, President of the EMI, who added �there is a fierce urgency to the crisis now that requires an immediate response that cannot wait for a new financial perspective in 2014�.

[ENDS]

For French, please click here

For Spanish, please click here

For pictures of the Federal Assembly , please click here

------------------------
Editors' Note: The EUROPEAN MOVEMENT is an international organisation open to all political, economic, social and cultural trends in civil society.

For more information, please contact the secretariat: +32 (0)2 508 30 85, email: communication@europeanmovement.eu