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Hola, Madrid !
Newsletter - September
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La SALAMANDRE |
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Summer is over, Newropeans’ are backA month-long summer break has re-generated our Newropeans’ salamanders, who are now back to their activities, with new ideas and new will to change Europe. Starting these days, the party members will show up in Europe’s streets, distributing leaflets, more information about \Newropeans and asking questions about Europe and the citizens’ idea of it. We need youDo you want to help us building a future for a democratic Europe? You can do it, also without entering the party. You can, for exemple, tell your friends about us; you can help our local networks to spread the word (also distributing leaflets, for exemple); you can give us your ideas about Europe; you can donate any amount for the party or any specific activity done by us. For example, the Marathon, which is very important to re-launch the debate about Europe. Next steps: Germany and DenmarkThe first Democracy Marathon steps after the summer are in Luxemburg, Germany, Poland, UK and Denmark. Before the break, we already visited tens of cities and villages across Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovlakia, Hungary, Poland, Latvia… And we will meet the citizens of several other countries before the end of the year: Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania… If you want us to come in your city, contact us: marathon2007@newropeans.eu From Luxembourg to Cambridge… a hot september for NewropeansNewropeans shows out in Luxemburg, during the first days of this month. Franck Biancheri meets the citizens of the Grand Duchy before travelling to Bonn and Cologne to keep on his meeting with European citizens and Newropeans supporters. On October 8th, he is invited by the Cambridge University Student European Union Society to debate the question of EU democratisation and to present Newropeans. By the way, remember that 2007 is the 20th anniversary of Erasmus, and Franck Biancheri was one of the main figures contributing to the launch of the popular students’ exchange program. If you want him to talk in your University, contact us: erasmus20@newropeans.eu Wroclaw is hosting the Newropeans’ Network ConferenceWroclaw is going to host, on September 29th, the 4th Newropeans’ Network Management Conference. Newropeans’ members will convene in the Polish city to discuss about how to better organize the movement, to make it stronger and to prepare it for 2009 European elections. Remember: Newropeans lives of a day-by-day on-line debate, through its intranet, and holds four meeting every year: two NMCs, and two Agoras, where we debate on the political agenda and the electoral program. The next Agora will be in Madrid, in December. A more diverse leadership for NewropeansNewropeans has a new, larger Executive Committee, with clear roles defined for every member of it. The party’s new leadership got the approval by the members, who voted electronically, through our intranet system. In the list, most of the previous members of the Executive Committee are going for a new round of volunteer activism, and as many newcomers are joining them, doubling the size of Newropeans leadership. The 24 members strong Committee is now mixing in equal proportion people from the age of 40-50, 30-40 and 20-30. New member states are now largely represented as well. The new Newropeans leading team is definitely starting to look like the EU, diverse in ages, cultures, professions, languages, … but with a clear common goal : democratizing the EU by getting the first trans-European political movement into the European Parliament in June 2009! A new social and economic policy for EuropeNewropeans’ members are going to adopt a new point in our program: the social and economic European policy. Not an easy point, as it’s a hot debate all around Europe. But we come out with several new ideas. The whole of it has been debated during Newropeans’ summer Agora, in Koszeg (Hungary), and the discussion goes on through our intranet until final approval, as always, by all our members through an electronic vote. In the same way, we already adopted several other points, like immigration, education, foreign policy… Find our program here « L’amour en Europe »: to be read on Newropeans MagazineFranck Biancheri wrote, a few years ago, about love: the founder of the first European students’ association (Aegee), now founder and president of the first trans-European party (Newropeans) gives some precious suggestion to build up a successful trans-European love story. And… well, if it doesn’t work, you can still take it positively. How? Read it (in French) on Newropeans Magazine
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Add comment September 30th, 2007 g.medard
*The SALAMANDRE**Newropeans’ Newsletter – July/August 2007*
+ “Europe must change”: we say it, we do it
New videos are now available on Newropeans TV (http://www.dailymotion.com/NewropeansTVinEnglish) (on Dailymotion, with an English (http://www.dailymotion.com/NewropeansTVinEnglish) and a French (http://www.dailymotion.com/newropeans) channel). Following an interview with Franck Biancheri, Newropeans’ president, we are now showing a clip featuring some of our members underlining the main point: Europe must change!
The video was shot in Köszeg.
+ Köszeg: a charming venue for the Agora
The Newropeans’ Agora took place in the beautiful Hungarian city of Köszeg. Our members met in the rooms of the Institute for Social and European Studies (ISES), led by Newropeans member Ferenc Mislivetz. The debate focused on socio-economical issues with attendees exploring the key themes in group workshops.
And… well, the new version of the Newropeans’ salamander T-shirt was also unveiled!
You can buy it for just 15 euros (mailto: contact@newropeans.eu).
+ Our last steps in Hungary
The food is good and people are very welcoming in Hungary, as some Newropeans discovered
even before the Agora. Veronique Swinkels, Franck Biancheri and Ferenc Mislivetz met many people interested in giving a future to Europe in Budapest, Szeged and Szombathely.
Actually, we already knew about Hungarian hospitality. Last year, the Newropeans’ Democracy Marathon had a successful start in Budapest.
+ Marathon in Bulgaria-Romania
There is huge interest in Newropeans in the region. Franck Biancheri took part in a conference in Bucharest just after our Hungarian Agora. He will be back in Eastern Europe in December as part of a marathon-week taking in several Romanian and Bulgarian cities. We have found that several NGOs and even political parties are willing to co-organise some of the conferences – clear evidence of the demand among the new wave of EU members for renewed European politics.
Newropeans Marathon 2007 (http://www.newropeans.eu/spip.php?rubrique70&lang=en)
+ Our first member from Luxembourg
The Newropeans gained many new members from across Europe during the past month. The most recent Newropeans include members from Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands and Italy, but we would like to highlight our first member from Luxembourg!
Hopefully, we will have a local group there very soon. And our curious members are looking forward to meeting him as soon as possible, either at the end of September in Wroclaw (Newropeans’ NMC) or in December in Madrid, during our winter Agora.
+ And now… let’s take the streets!
Newropeans will start campaigning in the streets very soon. As you know, we have held hundreds of conferences and debates around Europe over several years to meet European citizens. Now, we are taking the next step – starting next September our members will take direct action in their cities by giving out flyers and explaining what we are doing, what we will do, why and how they can help.
+ Ask Newropeans!
If you have a question about Europe, or you want European institutions to do more, or just want to tell us why it is not working… well, just ask Newropeans.
Our members are going to ask ordinary Europeans about their view on the EU. What do you expect from Europe? What are the pros and cons? And any other questions that may arise… They will film everything – using anything from professional video-cameras to cellphones – and these mini-interviews will be included in a monthly video bulletin together with news about Newropeans and some comments by our leaders. It will be part of our street campaign and Newropeans TV.
contact@newropeans.eu (mailto: contact@newropeans.eu)
+ Read Newropeans-Magazine
“The TGV gets European”, according to an article in the Newropeans’ Magazine on the opening of the eastern lines of the high-speed French railway in June. The new line is part of the European corridor which will connect Paris to Budapest via neighbouring countries.
But the new eastern lines are often overbooked and not cheap at all, says the editorial (in French) entitled “Could you catch the Eastern TGV? (http://www.newropeans-magazine.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6758&Itemid=84)” by Louise Beauchêne
More on Newropeans-Magazine (http://www.newropeans-magazine.org/index.php)
Add comment August 4th, 2007 g.medard
Europe: No to ideology
By Franck Biancheri, president of Newropeans
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28j03_no-to-ideology
Add comment July 19th, 2007 g.medard
Press Release 8 June 2007: Newropeans / US missile-defence bases in the EU: Where are the representatives of the European common interest within the EU?
According to Newropeans, the answer is clear: nowhere! Neither among European Union leaders nor within NATO. The EU Commission, Council and Parliament are unable to shape up or represent the collective interest of 500 million European citizens! Their members all come from political parties with a narrow national vision. Thus they stay mute or inactive in the face of Bush administration’s provocations. As to moribund NATO, it no longer plays its role.
However, an overwhelming majority of citizens are opposed to letting Europe become the playground of Washington’s and Moscow ‘s battle of interests. However, a large majority of Poles and Czechs, the two countries directly concerned by hosting the US missile defence bases, are opposed to the project. However, the « threat » that the shield is meant to block, is as real as Saddam Hussein’s « mass destruction weapons » were.
According to Newropeans, it is now obvious that in the area of defence policy, no Member State should have the right to negotiate on its own in a bilateral dialogue with Washington or Moscow: all decisions made in the area of defence and foreign policies in relation with the US or Russia must be prepared and implemented at the EU level. Therefore it should not belong to the Czech or Polish government to decide on their own about whether they will host or not non-European missiles on their territory.
It is time to reorganise NATO and to create a European pillar of the Alliance, to be managed and run by the EU, where EU member states would prepare and define together their transatlantic-related decisions. Any decision reaching beyond one member-state’s territory must belong to the EU’s exclusive field of competence, in defence-related issues or in any other ones.
Only an independent trans-European political movement such as Newropeans can provide credible and workable answers to our aspirations in terms of future, independence and common security.
In response to these expectations, Newropeans will present candidates in the 27 EU member states to stand the 2009 European elections. Newropeans has recently adopted its international political programme for the EU, which constitutes a major component of its trans-European political offer in June 2009.
Add comment June 8th, 2007 g.medard
Your erasmus stories …
Newropeans Magazine is organising a section dedicated to Erasmus or ex Erasmus students testimonies, this is how Newropeans Magazine will celebrate the 20th Erasmus birthday. We’re looking for volunteers being Erasmus or ex Erasmus students, who would agree to tell their experience on one page, in their own language, and if possible to translate it in one of the four languages used by Newropeans Magazine, English, French, German or Spanish. If you wish to help please contact Marianne: mranke-cormier@newropeans-magazine.org or David: erasmus20@newropeans.eu
Best regards
Marianne and David
Add comment June 2nd, 2007 g.medard
Are your national parties (or candidates) Newropeans-compatible?
16 questions to know if they are really ready to contribute to the democratization of the EU ! Indeed, that is not because Newropeans only presents itself at the European elections, in the 27 Member States, that Newropeans does not think that national politics is important, and this for two essential reasons.On the other hand, the national political classes, in their great majority, are currently characterized, all over the EU, by a general incompetence to deal with the European topics and to discuss European questions with their fellow citizens.Because the Member States are strategic actors of the decision-making process Community and because the national political classes are currently unable to discuss the EU with the European citizens, here thus are two good reasons for Newropeans to propose a test in sixteen questions “Are your national parties (or candidates) Newropeans-compatible? Do they want to make the EU and democracy compatible? Or the opposite? ”. read more…
Add comment May 27th, 2007 g.medard
Tomorrow’s European identity will be what tomorrow’s Europeans will democratically make of it !
Written by Franck Biancheri
From blood to soil and from soil to values
For centuries the question of collective identity has been one of the most controversial question at the core of the European debate. In the past decade it has become a crucial topic within the European political debate…
Add comment April 29th, 2007 g.medard
The resounding anniversary of the European vision.
March 2007 – From the Treaty of Rome to Erasmus:
The resounding anniversary of the European vision.
March 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and at the same time the 20th anniversary of the launch of the education programme “Erasmus”. For Newropeans, this double anniversary illustrates perfectly the historical transition period which the EU is currently experiencing: from the end of the construction phase and the beginning of the EU governance phase. The past 50 years, which have witnessed the success of the construction of Europe by the administrative and political elites, have opened the door to the next decades for European citizens to organise their new common environment.
For Newropeans, who – for the first time in the European Union history - will have candidates running for European elections in the 27 Member States in June 2009, this jubilee month is a milestone step toward the historical democratic governance of 500 million united Europeans citizens.
This step will require as much imagination, endeavour, courage and political will as the founders of the EU needed 50 years ago. Because it is their very memory which carried the European vision for so long that needs to revive and inspire us. Forget about slipping into the fetishism of the foundation Treaty celebrations, which EU institutions and today’s national political class use to hide their political vacuum regarding European’s future. The Treaty of Rome did not create the generations of that time, but vice versa: it is the people of that time that made the Treaty of Rome and built up the European Community. It was their choice to develop European unity within a divided Europe.
The European vision was indeed well alive in the heart of the generations that built the Community foundations before 1957 and that helped to successfully overcome huge obstacles such as the deep wounds and scars the war left and its massive destructions, the division of the continent and eternal national suspicions.
This vision was the outcome of a unique awareness, which was born after the European civil wars of the first half of the XX century. This awareness was a very European mixture of pessimistic intelligence and optimistic will-power, which was constantly aware of the risks of failure, and nevertheless always intently moved forward in order to resume the work initiated, i.e.: to democratise as many European states as possible and simultaneously unite as many of those as possible in the same political entity.
This European vision was carried by non-conformist generations, that usually matured from the fight for freedom, solidarity and democracy, against Nazism and Fascism. The EU founders were bold enough to question the impossible by evading the fatality of never-ending resumptions of European history. They accepted being considered dreamers, while they were precisely refusing the irrationality of a collective dream that always ended in an historical nightmare. On the contrary, the EU founders enshrined their action in the field of a rational vision, because they were aware of the risks of failure. It is for this very reason, that they managed to pave the new and infinitely promising way of a future for the Europeans, which now even make sense for the rest of the world.
Fortunately this vision is alive in the founders’ grand-children, who are the Erasmus generations. They were the first generations to be born after the Treaty of Rome and they are ready to carry on in the face of the new historical challenge: to invent a governance for 500 millions European citizens from 27 different peoples, while staying faithful to the principles of democracy, solidarity and freedom.
While those very same people who created a flop out of the project of a European Constitution are trying, like fallen dwarfs from giants’ shoulders, to revitalize with memorializing pomposity, Europe’s spring is sprouting out. Europe’s spring is preparing the political and public fields, besides official ceremonies.
Indeed, March on our continent symbolises the month of renewal. With the 20-year anniversary of Erasmus, the Treaty of Rome’s direct inheritor is on track. The Newropeans and their project of democratisation of the EU is European’s first sign of spring. It is the best present that we can offer the master-builder generation of post-war years: to revive the European vision, not because we pretend to know all answers to the upcoming challenges that the future will bring, but because, such as the post-war generations, we humbly hope to be able to deal with them.
Add comment March 14th, 2007 g.medard
