A Grassroots’ Strategy for 2014


Hereby you find, as the Green grassroots’ contribution to the future of the European Green Party, goals & strategy of their GreenYourope Network from 2012 to June 2014, when the new European Parliament will be elected.

Because the European project as GreenYourope sees it, is both a societal process and an experiment in supra national democracy, rather than a clear-cut blueprint for a better world, we have formulated most goals in terms of processes. Together with the tools to be used and the partners with whom the network intends to cooperate, they form Part 1. Part 2 consists of a Time Table. Details and concrete actions are specified in the Action Plans for each year.

Brussels, 5 November 2012, on behalf of the GreenYourope Team:Alexander Tietz, Christoph Becker-Schaum, Joline Suijkerbuik, Lynn Tabak, Michael Leibman.

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Part I – Strategy

GreenYourope, the grassroots Network of the EGP, contributes to a Green community of people thinking and acting across borders for common causes linked to everyday life, just like they do in national contexts; Green parties that are gateways to other Green parties, the Greens in the European Parliament, and the European Greens; and a European Green Party that paves the way to a democratic Europe of citizens. Our goal is, in short, to Europeanise democracy and democratise the EU. 

a. Building a culture of democracy 

Democracy isn’t exclusively about voting. It is also about being informed, about discussing and exchanging views and arguments – in our case in a trans-border and European context, and only in the end about collectively taking decisions, either by creating consensus or through a vote. It is about creating a culture of decision-making that goes beyond country and language borders.

That culture has to be built step by step, not only in the European Parliament and by the party delegates in the EGP, but also on the level of grassroots activists. GreenYourope

  • Informs Green-minded people about what is at stake on the international and European level, and across their own country, language and cultural borders;

  • Connects people – to people, branches, special interest-, local and regional groups – across cultural and language barriers by creating spaces in which they can discuss, exchange, and engage in common proposals and action;

  • Participates in reflection and debate on European democracy – related issues, and

  • Lobbies and campaigns for European democracy.

Because of its larger scale and indirect links to citizens, trans border and European affairs tend to remain the playfield of the experienced and higher educated. To compensate for the distance and open up to many, GreenYourope combines the light structure of the network with principles like inclusiveness and proximity. Everyone is welcome to contribute, have a say, and become co-responsible.

b. Partners and Tools 

Individual party members are GreenYourope’s focus. Because individuals are organised in national and regional parties, those parties are important partners, as well as their common structure: the EGP, which provides the context in which it operates, the Members of the European Parliament who are the main Green actors on the European stage; and partners in society with whom it shares goals.

Those levels are connected: the more individuals engage in cross border and EU actions, the more attractive the parties will be to European minded citizens and help to make the European Greens the strong actors for a democratic Europe of citizens. And the better links Green MEPs have with individual Greens, the more voices they have in the streets of Europe.

  • Individuals: are at the core of the networks’ mission, rank and file Greens who help to build the European Greens bottom-up, and strive for a democratic EU of citizens. So all our tools and actions are designed to provide them with a concrete participation perspective and mobilise them for common action.

  • Parties: have to be tempted to advertise what the network does and stimulate their members to participate. That is best done by showing that cross border action reinforces the parties’ international image and makes it more interesting for internationally minded people to join, and by systematically cooperate with party groups and branches.

TOOLS: Supporters on Tour, ready-to-use online and printed material, local cross-border events, debates/projects on trans-national issues.

  • EGP – synergy, complementarity, and coordination. Although the network shares the overall aims of the EGP, its emphasis is different: it mobilises active citizens’ discussion & participation. Both motivate parties and people for the common cause. The EGP maintains the contacts with the party leadership, and convinces it to advertise EGP supportership; GreenYourope acts as a bridge between the EGP and local members. Supporters tell about what’s happening in Green Europe, discuss relevant issues with local members and bring the results back to the European party. They nourish European campaigns with local stories, and reinforce them with grassroots creativity and energy. Network members participate in EGP working groups whenever appropriate.

TOOLS: GreenYourope on Tour, Cross Border EU Election Campaigns, local debates on EGP issues, EGP campaign input & participation.

  • Green Group in the European Parliament and EU – close co-operation. Green MEP’s are our voices in the European arena – and Green individuals are their voices in the streets. The network adds an extra dimension, because it spreads the work of each MEP to all member states. Together with them, the EGP, and other European federalist movements, it paves the way for a democratic Europe of citizens.

TOOLS: GreenYourope website, theme debates, common campaigns.

  • Stakeholders in society – coproduction. To make actions addressed at the general public more effective, the Network systematically looks for partners in other political families and society.

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Part II - TIME TABLE – towards the European Elections of June 2014
2012: loading the batteries

To increase its action capacity, the network will systematically invite new activists in all initiatives. It shifts its focus from setting up an organisation to organising, getting things done, and inspiring newcomers to join. It systematically looks for allies inside the Green world to increase synergy. Looking for links with partners in society, it adds to the Greens’ public visibility.

By perfecting online tools, live presence, and printed material it paves the way for accommodating more supporters. In cooperation with the EGP campaign specialist, it develops and tests a Join & Participate campaign, addressed at all Green minded people In Europe. By organising a few successful events in strategical places, and involving strategically chosen partners, it paves the way for expanding the geographical scope. As soon as the team has enough people to assure a follow-up, supporters will be sent a questionnaire about their preferences.

2013: Expansion

This year’s target is, to get more people from more parties involved. Two methods are used: through personal lobbies with party boards, by using local contacts and starting with the ‘low hanging fruit’, we pave the way. A multi media campaign addressed at individuals, together with ready to use material, should bring larger numbers in.

To increase participation, we’ll be linking up with party branches and groups, be present at party conferences, and setting up or facilitating cross border events, which, in turn, can serve as stepping stones for further expansion. Before the end of the year we unite people from all these places for a brainstorm to prepare the European elections the following year.

2013/14: A Cross-Border European Elections Campaign

Together with local and European actors, GreenYourope organises a pan-European Cross Border Campaign for the European Elections 2014 along as many borders as we can manage. The campaign links the European Greens’ message to local issues. An international pool of activists assists local groups, and literally brings the EU to people’s doorsteps. MEPs and local politicians add visibility.

The kick off takes place during the EGP Congress, the finish either on different locations or, depending on what EGP and Green Group are planning, by bringing back the local plans and demands to the central stage.

 

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