'There are now more than 490 million consumers in Europe and their expenditure represents over half of the EU's gross domestic product (GDP). Consumers are essential to economic growth and job creation...' (Meglena Kuneva, EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs)
The statement of the EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Meglana Kuneva underlines the fact that consumers are the key players in the European economy. To buttress the key players position as consumers, the EU consumer protection policy supports by legislation a fair, open and transparant European Single Market.
Editorial
Politeia is officially an association! Organisations from all over Europe dealing with citizenship, democracy and political participation are invited to apply for membership, in order to share knowledge, know-how, and to conduct joint projects. Send an email to info@politeia.net.
While many of us are running different projects to educate and involve citizens in Europe, another crisis has emerged on the political EU level. After the Irish 'no' to the Lisbon Treaty on 12 June, Europe's heads of states and governments met at the EU summit last week (19 and 20 June) to discuss the situation. How to proceed from here? It seems like the EU will continue with the ratification process in most of the seven remaining countries. But what about the Czech Republic? And Ireland? We will probably get an answer to these questions after the summer, in October. It remains to be seen, however, if the reform treaty will go into force at 1 January 2009.
One of the most important actors in forming public opinion are the media. A great deal of EU coverage is in their hands. What do they write? Is it wide coverage, or minimal, is it positive, negative, of high quality or gossip? In the Quarterly Theme of this Politeia Newsletter you can read about Europe in the national media in some of the old, new and future member states. There are, however, also pan-European projects, for example euranet, euro-topics and café Babel. Apart from that you can read about projects in Croatia and Romania in Politeia News, about conferences in the Agenda, and an article about Slovenian presidency in Miscellaneous.
Enjoy this Newsletter and of course the summer months!
Suzanne Jansen, IPP (Dutch Institute for Political Participation)
6 May 2008
Friday 9 May is Europe Day! As described on the official EU website:
On the 9th of May 1950, Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations.
This proposal, known as the "Schuman declaration", is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
Today, the 9th of May has become a European symbol (Europe Day) which, along with the flag, the anthem, the motto and the single currency (the euro), identifies the political entity of the European Union. Europe Day is the occasion for activities and festivities that bring Europe closer to its citizens and peoples of the Union closer to one another.
Last year we dedicated a special issue to this annual event, click here to read all about these festivities. Some of them, and many others, will take place again this year. Surf the web for Europe Day activities in your town/country.
25 April 2008
After the French NON and Dutch NEE to the European Constitutional Treaty in 2005, Europe is now in the process of ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon or the Reform Treaty. It was signed on 13 December 2007, and in order to go into force on 1 January 2009 it has to be ratified by all 27 EU member countries by the end of 2008. How does it work and how far are we?
We are very happy to announce that since 4 March 2008 Politeia is officially an association. Politeia - Participation for Citizenship and Democracy in Europe - is a network of institutions and organisations throughout Europe. General aim of the association is to promote active democratic citizenship in countries of Europe and, more specifically, political and social participation of citizens and their organizations. Browse this website fore more information about Politeia.
Interested in joining Politeia? Send an email to: info@politeia.net.
11 March 2008
The PSOE, the Socialist party of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, won the Spanish elections on 9 March. Zapatero will have another term in office. The PSOE won 43.72 per cent of the votes, the right-wing conservative Popular Party became second with 40.13 per cent of the votes. This brings the PSOE up to 169 of the total 350 seats in parliament . The Socialists did not get a parliamentary majority, which means they will have to govern in coalition with Spain's smaller parties, just as before in 2004. The party lacked only seven seats for an absolute majority.
Click on here to read all about Politeia and its members in the latest Politeia Newsletter!
21 January 2008
During the first round of the presidential elections in Serbia yesterday ultra-nationalist Tomislav Nikolić from the Serbian Radical Party received 39 % of the votes, against 35 % for pro-Western Boris Tadić from the Democratic Party. The estimated 61 % turnout is exceptionally high in comparison to the 48 % turn-out four years ago; this shows the importance of the elections for the future of Serbia.
Slovenia is presiding the European Union the first six months of 2008. Just like every presidency, the Slovenian government has formulated its main priorities, focussing on: the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the new Lisbon Strategy cycle, the climate-energy issue, the European perspective on the Western Balkans and the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
Click here to read all about Politeia and the situation and social and political participation of women in Europe. We wish you a merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
Click here to find the new Politeia Newsletter on 'Euroscepticism in Europe'!
Click here for the special edition of the Politeia Newsletter on EUROPE DAY.
29 May 2007
Click here to find out more about Politeia News, the situation of Roma in Europe and more....
3 April 2007
Three Politeia member organisations were in February and March quite busy with the organisation of their national consultations of the European Citizens Consultations.
The Centre for Liberal Strategies in Bulgaria, the Partners for Democratic Change in Slovakia and the Dutch Centre for Political Participation are the national partners for the implementation of the unique and ambitious project “European Citizens Consultations”.
On a large agenda setting event in Brussel last year 200 ad random chosen citizens from throughout the EU decided the topics for the national consultations during two days of intensive discussion:
‘Energy and Environment’, ‘Family and Social Policy’, and ‘Immigration and the Role of the EU in the World’ turned out to be the most important issues.
In February and March national consultations were held in 27 EU-member states, where during a weekend groups of representative citizens tried to work out their national vision about the Europe they would like to live in in about 20 years. During these sessions, which were partly taking place at the same time, the participants of the national consultations even got the opportunity to get in touch with national consultations in other countries via Skype.
An impression of the Dutch national consultation will follow, and see the next article of the ‘News’ section for an impression of the Bulgarian discussion on the three European topics.
