We went to EELV’s Journées d’été in Clermont-Ferrand, where we were present with a stand and gadgets, told the participants about the European Green world, and reported about the debates (see elsewhere on this site). The sun and the enthusiastic French people made our visit a great experience, as you can see on the pictures below.

If you want us to be present at one of your party meetings, or conferences, don’t hesitate to contact us! We will be more than happy to attend.

E Les listes pan-Europeénnes, sont-elles la solution au déficit démocratique européen? Les élections pour le Parlement européen étant organisées au niveau national, les questions européennes sont systématiquement ramenée au deuxième plan. quant aux candidats, une fois qu’ils ont déménagé à Bruxelles et à Strasbourg, ils disparaissent aussitôt de la scène principale. L’élection de 25 députés sur une base européenne, peut-elle resoudre les problèmes et inciter les partis politiques à s’organiser, au niveau européen, comme des vraies machines de campagne?

Ou sont-elles une illusion? Les gouvernements nationaux se comportent de plus en plus nationalistes et empoisonnent l’UE avec leurs demandes de réintroduire des contrôles frontaliers et d’encore plus restreindre l’entrée d’immigrés. <awaiting translation…> Adopting pan-European lists would require a European mentality that simply isn’t there. And if you wanted to draw public attention to non-nationals, you’d need real celebrities, big shots that immediately would downgrade national candidates to second-hand politicians.

Click here for background paper. And please do send us your additions, corrections and comments.

Read also our previous entries on the issue:

• Interview with Gerald Häfner (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), the Greens/EFA specialist on constitutional affairs and strongly in favour
• Duff and Häfner’s reactions after the report had been sent back to the drawing board.

And if we all could vote for Europeans . . . wouldn’t that unite people across borders, push politicians to address common interests instead of national ones during European elections, and make voters feel part of a common political space? Wouldn’t that turn the ‘what is best for us all’ into priority number one?

Dedicated democrats in the European Parliament are convinced it will. After years of lobbying, they have prepared a proposition on which Parliament votes on July 7/8. A yes, however, is far from sure. The Greens/EFA are, the Finnish members excepted, in favour. But all other political families are divided or opposed to adding 25 seats to the Parliament for that purpose, as the English ‘rapporteur’ Andrew Duff (Liberals & Democrats) proposes.

But even if Parliament agrees, the battle isn’t won; the consent of government leaders is needed as well. And that consent is far from obvious in nationalistic times like ours.Therefore the debate needs to be broadened and pressure from outside the Brussels-Strasbourg arena be built up.

The Supporters’ Network makes a first attempt during the European Summer University in Frankfurt/Odder, from 8-11 September. It organises a workshop in which an MEP and a critical journalist discuss, together with the participants, the resistances that need to be overcome and the ways that could be done.

Wanted: your opinion Are European lists a brilliant idea or an idée fixe

Read Duff’s background paper Post National Democracy and the Reform of the European Parliament.

Amsterdam – Media freedom is under growing threat. Hungary recently hit the headlines with its new law that puts the press under the authority of a one-party (Fidesz) body. But in Italy, Rumania, and Bulgaria the free press is in danger too, according to international ngo’s.

So what about an international watchdog with teeth, like the EU? The issue will be at the core of a debate organised by European Alternatives, in cooperation with, amongst others, the EGP Supporters’ Network. The debate is part of the Transeurope Festival (6-16 May), a 12 cities happening that promotes democracy, equality and culture beyond borders. And it is part of a Media Initiative that started on 13 March in Brussel, and will be concluded by a transnational forum in Bologna in which ngo’s, media and civil society from 12 cities intend to launch a European Initiative on media pluralism.

Debate: Media Freedom in Europe