‘Heerlen’ Declaration/Manifeste ‘Heerlen’ (2002)

F Let’s dream in green …. and make it real!

On January 18-20, party members of the green parties Agalev (Flames), Ecolo (Wallony), Bündnis ’90/Die Grünen (Northern Rhine Westphalia) and Groenlinks (the Netherlands) met in Heerlen in the Netherlands. Representatives of national working groups, as well as rank-and-file members and officials discussed the prospects of a deeper integration of Green Parties in Europe and especially of the Euregio Netherlands-Belgium-NRW.

As there is very little knowledge on green parties in the neighbouring countries, there was first an introduction to every party, its structure, history, successes, failures and programmatic key points. Alexander de Roo, MEP, explained the history and present situation of the Federation of Green Parties (EFGP). We, the participants of this meeting, have agreed on the long term perspective of working towards a deeply integrated European Party.

DECLARATION

The following points form our key principles :

This meeting is, of course, no competition to the EFGP (since 2004 European Green Party), but an addition to the existing structures.

  • We want to improve and add to the development of the Party.
  • We want to multiply the links between the parties in our regions and countries.
  • Because we see a gap in attention for European subjects and for the Federation between the normal members and the top level, we want to build a bridge right there. We need the growth of the grassroots level for a further integration and a transformation process to some day become a united European party.

Strategy

This declaration speaks for participants of the Euregio, but we are no closed-shop and hope that other regions will also take initiatives to come closer together. To achieve this goal we have come up with the following proposals an ideas:

1. Public relations:

  • publishing more articles in party magazines, producing materials; maybe we can publish a common European publication.
  • put the Internet – link to the federation in every national and regional green homepage
  • making the EGP more popular with Newsletters and founding of (moderated) newsgroups

2. Networking:

  • Founding of an Euregio Network Netherlands-Belgium–NRW within the EGP
  • Put a note about the federation in publications, member cards, letter heads etc.
  • Introducing persons from the other countries in the parties magazines
  • Exchange of Common campaign issues and learn from each other

3. “Travelling”:

  • Invitations and common activities on every level, i.e. invite each other and the representatives of EGP to congresses, forums and other meetings (and be nice to the guests!)
  • Meetings on bottom level, also Meetings on special topics
  • Twinning projects on local level.
  • Exchange programmes for volunteers and staff

4. Feeling European:

  • More integration in the EGP structures.
  • Individual membership – at this stage on symbolic level, maybe more in the future?

5. Green Governance:

  • More resources to strengthen the staff of EGP bureau and for PR
  • Common projects (f.e. limited for 1 year)
  • This cooperation will be an input for a renewed programme of the EGP
  • Common goals of green parties, brainstorm together about that common goal and communicate it.
  • Name contact persons for special issues

All these measures are thought to improve our green European identity. Let’s make our Green dreams come true!

Heerlen 20.1.2002

Green Dream Team

Sabine Brauer, Antoinette Brouyaux, Didier Coeurnelle, Henrike Cornelissen, Elke Decruynaere, Bas Eickhout, Stefan Engstfeld, Reinhard Esser, Niels Fischer, Wendy Geens, Dirk Hanke , Ferdinand Harmsen, Jelle Janssens, Kees Kalkman, Luc Lamote, Edith Müller, Alexander de Roo, Klaus Samer, Diana Siebert, Lynn Tabak, Piet de Vries

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