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JEF-Info English - Week 50 - Friday 14 December 2001
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English language news and debate from the Young European Federalists
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PART 1 LAEKEN SPECIAL
Info A: Introduction
Info B: Open Letter
Info C: Citizen’s Assembly 2004
Info D: Romano Prodi on Laeken
Info E :The Guardian
PART 2 - SEMINARS and CONFERENCES
Info A: Berlin week-end : evaluation of Laeken
Info B: East West Dialogue
Info C: Conference on Federalism
Info D: Salto Training Course
PART 3 - THE FEDERALIST CALENDAR
PART 4 - TECHNICAL INFORMATION
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PART 1 - FEDERALIST NEWS & DEBATE
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INFO A: Introduction
Dear friends, dear members of JEF
This weekend, the Heads of State and Government will meet in Laeken to
discuss the future reform of the European Union. After the failure of Nice,
even they have come to understand that the traditional IGC method of treaty
reform is unable to deliver the changes necessary to guarantee democracy
and transparency in decision-making and to secure efficiency in an enlarged
Union. The Laeken Summit is expected to launch a new political process for
drawing up proposals for reform: the Convention. The Executive Bureau of
JEF Europe has sent an open letter to the Heads of State and Government,
demanding that this opportunity for genuine reform is taken, not turned
into yet another diplomatic talking shop behind closed doors. Many
activists will this week meet here in Brussels to demand that the
Convention be given a strong mandate to draft a genuine federal
Constitution for Europe. Our political leaders have in the past argued that
the people of Europe are not interested in their common future. We are
gathering here in Brussels this weekend to tell them that they are wrong.
JEF will be strongly represented in the events surrounding Laeken. A large
number of activists are expected for the human chain in front of the
European institutions on Friday 14th, organised by UEF. We would
particularly like to thank JEF Italy for their invaluable contribution to
this event. Anyone in Brussels or nearby is very welcome to attend. JEF
members will be speakers at the Citizens’ Assembly, the largest NGO
gathering here this weekend, and I will participate on Saturday in the NGO
delegation to meet Romano Prodi, Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of
Belgium, and Jose Maria Aznar, Prime Minister of Spain. Jan Kreutz, Vice
President of JEF, and David Schneider-Addae-Mensah, President of JEF
Germany, will be in the press centre during the whole weekend.
Each one of you can also make a difference. There is still time to write to
your local newspapers, to collect some signatures, to produce a press
release from your local or national section. Make sure you send any press
coverage or photos of your activities to the Secretariat in Brussels. It is
time for all of us to make our voices heard in calling for a more united
and democratic Europe.
Best wishes and good luck with your activities!
Alison Weston
President of JEF
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INFO B: OPEN LETTER OF THE YOUNG EUROPEAN FEDERALISTS
TO THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
The Young European Federalists call on our political leaders at Laeken to
take a bold
step towards a European Federation
At the start of the twenty-first century, the European Union can look back
on remarkable achievements in the field of economic integration. In the
fifty years since the integration process was launched, the process of
gradual integration has produced the single market, the single currency,
and unparalleled achievements in securing peace, democracy and prosperity.
The Union also stands on the brink of a historic enlargement to Central and
Eastern Europe, extending the process of unification and reconciliation
across the continent. However, Robert Schuman’s vision, of economic
integration as ”a first step towards a European Federation”, still remains
to be realised.
Today, the European Union has extensive powers to make decisions which
affect the everyday lives of the citizens of Europe. Its policies touch on
many aspects of government. Yet its decision-making processes are opaque
and complex, its institutions are difficult to understand, and effective
democratic control of the decision-making process is lacking. The EU has
remained an elite project, neglecting public opinion, with all major
decisions still taken behind closed doors. Instead of representing
diversity and decentralisation, the Union has come to be associated in the
public mind with centralisation and petty bureaucracy. In addition, the
increase in powers exercised at the European level and the ongoing process
of enlargement have put intolerable strains on the structures of the Union.
Designed for the economic integration of six countries, the existing
institutional arrangements of the Union are inadequate for the demands of
the Union of today. The only solution for a united, democratic and
effective European Union is for the establishment of a truly federal Union,
organised on the basis of a federal Constitution. It is time to relaunch
the European political project.
The European Union today faces a historic opportunity to move beyond the
tired and discredited intergovernmental method of treaty reform, and to
seize the opportunity for a genuine and radical reform of the Union along
federal lines. The debate on the future of Europe, launched in recognition
of the predictable failure of the Nice Treaty to address the existing
problems of the Union, has for the first time begun to engage public
interest in the reform process. The traditional Intergovernmental
Conference method, based on secret negotiation between governments on the
basis of unanimity, has been demonstrated incapable of delivering the
reform that is necessary. What is needed is a new political process, one
which can involve the citizens of Europe, which can work in an open and
transparent manner, and which will be given the mandate to draft a genuine
federal Constitution.
The expected launch of the Convention process at the Laeken Summit offers
new opportunities for the future development of the Union. However, this
Convention will be useless if it is established merely as a talking-shop
for politicians, and is not given a strong mandate which will allow it to
develop clear proposals for genuine and radical reform of the Union. The
Convention must conduct its work in an open and transparent manner, and
must work to engage the interest and involvement of the citizens of Europe.
A continued insistence on the unanimity principle will only result in the
same deadlock which has been demonstrated time and again: at Nice, at
Amsterdam and at Maastricht. While it is essential that the reform process
be as broadly based as possible, it is unacceptable for it to be held
ransom to special interests or single member states. Therefore, the
unanimity principle must finally be laid to rest, and the Convention given
the mandate to operate on the basis of majority voting.
The Union’s failure to reform itself can no longer be used as an excuse to
delay or block enlargement. Candidate countries remain still in the waiting
room of Union membership 12 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall,
despite their great efforts to fulfil all requirements. The candidate
countries must be given a voice in the Convention process, and be able to
participate effectively in its work, to ensure that the future European
Union is one which reflects all the diversity and variety of Europe, and is
one to which all states of Europe feel that they belong.
As we stand at the beginning of the twenty-first century, JEF appeals to
the Heads of State and Government of the European Union, meeting as the
European Council in Laeken, to send a clear signal to the people of Europe
and launch an initiative for a European federal Constitution. We call upon
our political leaders to establish a strong mandate for the Convention, one
which will allow it to draft a genuine federal European Constitution, which
will be completed in time for the European Parliament elections of 2004.
The Convention will have meaning only if it is granted this strong mandate,
and takes seriously the need to work in an open and transparent manner.
Anything less will prove as ineffective and inadequate as the traditional
and discredited IGC method.
The Young European Federalists, now active in 30 countries across Europe,
will campaign to support any initiative for a federal Europe, and will work
to increase public support for a united and democratic federal Europe. The
historic mission of European integration, to unite the peoples of Europe in
peace, democracy, and prosperity, requires bold and brave steps on the part
of the political leaders of today. Yet the rewards are great, and the
vision articulated by Robert Schuman fifty years ago remains as valid as
ever in showing the way to a united Europe.
Thus, we, the Young European Federalists, call on our political leaders at
Laeken to take a bold step towards a genuine European Federation.
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INFO C : NGOs UNITE TO PROMOTE A PEACEFUL DIALOGUE
December 13, 2001 -- Civil society organisations participating in the
Citizens’ Assembly in Brussels on 13-15 December are demonstrating that
productive and peaceful dialogue with political leaders is the way ahead.
The message from the huge range of organisations that are meeting on the
occasion of the Laeken Summit is clear: We believe that peaceful dialogue
is the way forward, and civil society is ready to talk.
An unprecedented range of NGOs from different sectors, including Amnesty
International, the European Environmental Bureau, the Social Platform, the
Liaison Committee of Development NGOs, and the Permanent Forum for Civil
Society, have joined with the European Trade Union Confederation in signing
a letter calling upon the EU’s leaders to ensure that the Convention on the
Future of the EU consults regularly with civil society on the future
direction of the EU.
In addition to the planned program including interventions from Belgian
Deputy Prime Minister, Laurette Onkelinx, President of the European
Parliament, Nicole Fontaine and British Liberal Democrat Leader Charles
Kennedy, NGOs will be holding meetings with other key figures over the next
three days to reinforce the message:
Thursday -NGOs from the Citizens’ Assembly are meeting with Green Group
politicians, including Noel Mamère (Green Candidate in the French
Presidential election) and Hélène Flautre MEP to discuss on-going
collaboration on a range of issues.
Friday - representative NGOs are meeting with the Party of European
Socialists to discuss future co-operation between the PES and civil society
on issues including globalisation. Robin Cook, Elio di Ruppo, and Enrique
Baron Crespo will attend the meeting.
Saturday - NGOs will meet with Prime Minister Verhofstadt immediately at
the end of the Laeken Summit to discuss the results of the Citizens’
Assembly, the Laeken Summit, and to present the NGO declaration ‘Europe is
our Future’.
The Citizens’ Assembly is taking place in the heart of the European Quarter
in Brussels at the Theatre du Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, 1040
Brussels. Over 1000 representatives from NGOs all over Europe have registered.
Journalists with Belgian or EU press accreditation do not need to register
for Citizens Assembly in advance
The official languages of the Assembly will be English and French, but
there will be an opportunity to hold interviews in numerous other European
languages including Italian, German and Dutch.
For more information please contact Saskia Stegeman +32 (0)477 750354 or
see website www.citizensassembly2004.org
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INFO D : Romano Prodi on Laeken : Looking ahead to the Laeken European
Council, overall positive expectations with a degree of concern.
President Romano Prodi: Speaking points for the pre-Laeken press conference
on December 12 2001
Looking ahead to the Laeken European Council, overall positive expectations
with a degree of concern.
1. Already today I’m ready to greet with satisfaction
First and foremost, the declaration of Laeken
Text of the declaration is not yet approved but as I said in my press
conference last week the main thing looks increasingly certain: the
European Council will decide to set up a convention to prepare future
changes to the Treaties of the Union.
Second positive development is naturally enlargement
On this issue the European Council will review the situation in the
enlargement process and take note of the reports of the Commission. The
process and the negotiations are well on track and there are no major
surprises to be expected.
I’m going to stress to my colleagues the need to continue the negotiations
with vigour with a view to concluding them by the end of next year.
Thirdly, we shall discuss our fight against terrorism and the follow-up to
Tampere European Council
On the fight against terrorism, since the events of September 11 the action
of the Union has been swift and decisive.
The hard work of the past months has demonstrated that the EU really can
deliver in the areas where our citizens most expect results.
In this respect, I noted with satisfaction the agreement reached yesterday
in Rome to go ahead with the European arrest warrant.
European extradition rules are as essential to the freedom and security of
our people as the single currency is to our economy.
At Laeken I’m going to stress that the time has come to demonstrate the
same commitment to delivery across the rest of the so-called Tampere agenda.
There’s still a lot to be done:
First, it is important we focus on the gradual development of an integrated
system of external border controls. The Commission will produce an
initiative on this in the coming months. In addition, Europol should be
strengthened to become an integrated police force to combat crime and
terrorism and to guarantee security.
Second, I’m going to emphasise the need for the Council to implement the
commitments taken in Tampere. Clear progress on this must be achieved by
next June.
Third, I expect concrete results on the implementation of mutual
recognition approach over the course of the coming year.
Fourth, we will have to strengthen the external dimension of these policies.
2. I’m expecting difficult discussions on some issues
Community Patent
A lot of hard work has been put to this and we must reach a decision now.
Package on agencies
I hope that the decision taken will guarantee efficiency and be in the
interests of the Union, helping bring Europe closer to the citizens. I do
not think this issue has been stressed enough. It would certainly be
appropriate as we pointed out in our White Paper on Governance that there
should be a cohesive overall reference framework for the executive agencies.
I am particularly pleased that the Food Safety Agency is being set up, as
this is something I had proposed at the start of my term of office.
Stress the importance of reaching a decision on the location of the
agencies for which a legislative framework has already been determined.
3. Disappointments
Today my only real and if I may say so growing concern is the inability
of the Council of Ministers to live up to its responsibilities.
In an enlarged Union issues like Congo or Community Patent simply have to
be solved by the Council of Ministers. If not, the European Council may
eventually degrade to a high-level marketplace. The Heads of State and
Government are there to give political direction to the Union, not to
strike cosy deals on matters where their ministers in respective Council
formations have failed.
My concern stems from the delays between the official adoption of the
decisions and their actual implementation.
The boulder blocking the road to the development of Galileo, an essential
initiative and technology for the growth and competitiveness of the
European economy, is only the latest on a list of stumbling-blocks that is
simply too long.
There is no point in recalling them all. One example is enough: the
European patent.
The incapacity to fulfil solemnly given and announced undertakings and the
lack of will to proceed along the course to final completion of the single
market are costing Europe dearly.
The cost of the failure to deliver on Europe - which today we could call
the failure to deliver on Lisbon - is rapidly becoming unbearable.
The annual economic report that the Commission will present in just over a
month's time as part of the preparations for the spring Council will
contain a detailed analysis of this situation.
On its own, the Commission cannot do enough. The Member States need to take
their responsibilities and the decisions that are incumbent upon them.
Source: Giovanni Biava, member of the Federal Committee of JEF
giovanni.biava@tiscalinet.it
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INFO E : Ian Black, Thursday December 13, 2001, The Guardian,
European Union leaders face a messier than usual summit agenda when they
gather at the Belgian royal chateau of Laeken tomorrow: from terrorism and
war in Afghanistan, through British plane spotters in Greece to haggling
over the site of specialised agencies for the 15 member states (the union's
equivalent of jobs for the boys). But their most important mission may be
launching a great debate on the future of the EU - and ensuring it brings
some changes in its wake. Summit memories blur into a succession of
cliffhanging rows, heavy security and lavish catering: this one will stand
out only if it generates genuine discussion about how to reconnect the EU's
complex and unloved institutions with its 375m deeply disenchanted people.
Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister of Belgium and holder of the rotating
presidency, got the analysis right in his draft declaration for Laeken:
despite the union's huge achievements, its citizens are out of touch and
disillusioned. Polls show that over the past decade those voters who
consider the EU "a good thing" have dropped from over 70% to under 50%.
Last week a Foreign Office/ICM survey showed that 24% of respondents were
unaware Britain was even a member.
The problem is that love it or loathe it, the union plays an increasingly
important role in European lives. Euro banknotes and coins go into
circulation in two weeks, offering the most tangible sign yet of the
reality of a uniquely successful experiment in integration. Britain's own
intensifying euro debate cannot but be affected.
There is more to come: the summiteers will confirm that enlarging the EU by
as many as 10 new members, from Estonia to Cyprus, probably in one
extraordinary "big bang", is now a question of when rather than whether -
and sooner rather than later. This holds out the prospect that within 10
years the club will comprise 500m people between the west coast of Ireland
and the shores of the Black sea, using the same currency in a single
economic system. Add to that the EU's gradually improving capacity for
acting on the world stage - in defence and foreign affairs - and
harmonising in the once jealously guarded national domains of judicial and
police cooperation (partly in response to September 11). EU members are getting
more "Europe" than ever.
Ignorance and prejudice go hand in hand. But governments must take the
blame too, especially the big ones which stitched up the rules at last
year's Nice summit to perpetuate their dominance when they were supposed to
be reforming institutions and procedures - originally created for six
members in 1957 - in order to prepare for enlargement.
Even before the shenanigans on the Riviera, Danish voters had rejected
the euro. Then the Irish followed suit with an instinctive but ill-informed
"No" vote in their referendum on what was agreed at Nice. So Laeken takes
up what has become known as the "disconnect" problem with a declaration by
Verhofstadt setting the mandate and working methods for a convention to
discuss nothing less than the future of the union.
Its tasks are to look at four narrow questions: legally binding fundamental
rights, the simplification of EU treaties, the role of national parliaments
and the delimitation of competences between Brussels and member states. In
reality it will range far wider, including the highly sensitive question of
whether the union should have its own constitution.
This method is a novelty. Previous EU reforms have been considered by
groups of "wise men" and unattractively named inter-governmental
conferences of diplomats and lawyers. The new body, in contrast, will be
composed of the representatives of all 15 governments, national
parliaments, the European parliament, European commission and observers
from all 13 candidate countries, including Turkey. It will be the widest
ever forum to consider how the EU should work.
Civil society and NGOs will have their turn in a parallel structured
network that will make representations about transparency, consultation and
legitimacy. The end result, in the summer of 2003, should be a series of
options for the future, ranging from the most federalist - with a directly
elected president of the commission and more majority voting - to the most
conservative.
Success is far from guaranteed. Governments are wary of losing control, and
Britain worked especially hard to secure a firebreak between the end of the
convention and a new round of treaty negotiations between national
capitals. But it will be hard for governments to completely ignore the
results of this unique consultative exercise.
The Laeken summiteers have a delicate task in choosing a president for the
convention. France wants its former president, Valery Giscard d'Estaing,
though many consider him a backward-looking choice. Italy's candidate,
Guiliano Amato, has been damaged by the behaviour of Silvio Berlusconi over
the EU's new arrest warrant. Brits and others are hoping that Wim Kok, the
highly regarded Dutch premier, can be dragged kicking and screaming into
the job.
None of the convention's tasks are going to be easy: the EU currently has
four treaties, over 700 articles, over 50 protocols and over 100
declarations. Just reducing that lot to something readable - never mind
comprehensible - would be a major achievement. Harry Potter it won't be,
quipped one Brussels policy wonk. But it's still worth a try.
Ian Black is the Guardian's European editor.
Source: Giovanni Biava, member of the Federal Committee of JEF
giovanni.biava@tiscalinet.it
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PART 2 SEMINARS and CONFERENCES
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INFO A
Berlin Training Week-end
Berlin - January 25-27, 2002
After Laeken: which prospects for the European Federation?
The meeting of the European Council in Laeken in December 2001 will decide
whether or not to convene a Convention to prepare the next reform of the
Union in 2003-2004 and on its mandate and powers. Following the Congress of
U.E.F. in October and of JEF in November, that have set the broad
guidelines of the U.E.F. and JEF campaigns for the next years, JEF and
U.E.F. will get together in Berlin - also with the Altiero Spinelli
Institute and the International European Movement - in order to:
· assess the results of the European Council in Laeken,
· debate which "roads to a European Federation" are possible after Laeken,
· evaluate the impact on the federalist initiatives and actions" for the
next years,
· debate such views with some MPs, MEPs, representatives of political
youthorganisations and other political figures considered interesting
interlocutors for the "post-Laeken"
The meeting is open to all JEF activists and is particularly suited for new
members of the Federal Committee and Executive Bureau. We expect
approximately 30 young participants from JEF-Europe and JEF-Germany.
Members of the Bureau of the Union of European Federalists are invited to
participate. Representatives of the Altiero Spinelli Institute and of the
International European Movement will also participate.
JEF PARTICIPANTS:
· A participation fee of 30 EURO is due to cover accommodation (2 nights in
a hostel) and meals (from the dinner of Friday to the lunch of Sunday),
arranged by JEF.
· A partial travel reimbursement is provided on the spot, to cover 80% of
the travel costs, up to a max of 150 EURO.
· Places for JEF people are limited, therefore application should be sent
as soon as possible and in any case BY 6 JANUARY 2002 to both JEF-Europe
(email: jef.europe@euronet.be ) and JEF-Germany ( email:info@jef.de ). By
10 January 2002, accepted participants will receive a confirmation and then
further instructions and material.
OTHER PARTICIPANTS
· Participation is free, however participants are kindly requested to
communicate their participation to the Secretariat of UEF, BY JANUARY 20
2002, by email: uef.european.federalists@skynet.be or by fax: 32.2.626.9501.
· A participation fee of 15 EURO is due to cover lunch and dinner on Saturday.
· Accommodation in Berlin has to be arranged by the individual participants.
Suggestions for cheap hotels will be available at the U.E.F. Secretariat in
early January.
Berlin - January 25-27, 2002
After Laeken: which prospects for the European Federation?
Friday, 25 January, 2002
Arrival and Registration of Participants
7.00 pm Dinner in the hostel
After dinner
Welcome and brief presentation of the seminar concept (by DAVID
SCHNEIDER-ADDAE-MENSAH, President of JEF-Germany, and NIKI KLESL, Secretary
General of JEF-Europe).
Introduction of participants
Evening together in the Centre of Berlin
Saturday, 26 January, 2002
9.30: CAMPAIGN MEETING
"AFTER LAEKEN: PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION THE
FEDERALIST INITIATIVES"
Introductions by:
· BRUNO BOISSIERE, Secretary General of U.E.F.
· ALISON WESTON, President of JEF
· FRANCO SPOLTORE, Director of the Altiero Spinelli Institute
· HENRIK KROENER, Secretary General of the International European Movement
(tbc)
· AXEL SCHAEFER, Secretary General of European Union Deutschland (tbc)
Debate
12.30: Lunch
14.30: External Political Debate
"AFTER LAEKEN, THE "CONVENTION" AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TOWARDS A
CONSTITUTION FOR A EUROPEAN FEDERATION"
Introductions
· JO LEINEN, President of the Union of European Federalists
· German MPs and MEPs
Debate
17.30: Debate with other Youth Political Organisations
"THE VIEW OF YOUTH ORGANISATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE AFTER LAEKEN:
EUROPEAN CONVENTION, EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION, ENLARGEMENT".
Interventions by:
· DAVID SCHNEIDER-ADDAE-MENSAH, President of JEF-Germany, to open
· Young Socialdemocrats
· Young Liberals
· Young Greens
· Young Conservatives
· European Youth Forum - German national council
· NIKI KLESL, Secretary General of JEF-Europe, to close
19.30: Dinner
Evening together in the Centre of Berlin
Sunday,
9.00 - 13.00 - Some more detailed discussions on some topics related to the
Convention
"ROADS TO A FEDERAL EUROPE"
Introductions by:
· GIOVANNI BIAVA, JEF Federal Committee
· Others by JEF-Europe and JEF national sections
Lunch in the hostel
JEF European Secretariat
jef.europe@euronet.be
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INFO B
EAST WEST DIALOGUE
Invitation: East-West Dialogue 2002 for young Europeans July 21st to August
10th 2002
I am writing to you as a representative of an NGO, voluntary association or
because you are involved in youth/student work. With this we invite young
NGO-activist or students interested in European issues to take part in the
following youth event to be held in Aabenraa Denmark and Poznan Poland in
the summer 2002. We hope that you will take an interest in our idea and
will distribute this information within your networks.
The basic aim of East-West Dialogue 2002 is to enhance personal and
intercultural understanding among the participating 60 young Europeans, who
will represent Central, East, and West Europe, majority population-groups
and minority population-groups. We expect participation from 25 countries
and about 35 cultures, nationalities and linguistic population-groups. We
especially invite minority representatives as their perspective is crucial
for the Course.
Dialogue connecting Europe and local/regional communities
Why? Parallel to the EU's largest enlargement ever, Europe is still
witnessing widespread indifference to the integration-process among
ordinary citizens. This is the case in both East and West and it is a huge
democratic challenge. How can there be integration without popular support
or even interest? Citizens feel excluded because they experience a distant
Union that does not really concern them in their everyday life. People lack
knowledge about the real connections between European issues and their
community, as they are absent from local and regional political and media
agendas. However the EU does have relevance for local/regional communities
in many ways, beside subsidies, that does matter for local democracy and
people's everyday life.
How? East-West Dialogue 2002 will bring the "local" and the "European"
together as an inspiration for a joint European debate about how to bring
the Union closer to the citizen. How is the EU actually linked with the
communities of the 60 participants themselves? The participants will
contribute actively with experiences on how Europe effects their community
by beforehand interviewing a local or regional politician in order to
benefit from their practical experience. The results will be made available
for the other participants and the wider European public at the website of
the project "Peoplesite" at www.people.hojoster.dk.
East-West Dialogue 2002 will take as it's point of departure how two of the
main challenges on the current European agenda directly links with local
and regional communities: The East enlargement of the EU and the debate on
the future role of the regions in the European landscape. Case studies will
be presented in lectures and workshops and a 3-day programme will be
carried out in Poznan Poland. This so that the participants better realise
that many challenges are common European challenges effecting real
communities and real people throughout Europe.
Ideas for the future
East-West Dialogue 2002 will also look to the future! Can more be done by
local politicians/civil society/local media to bring the EU onto local
agendas of debate and to generally raise European awareness locally? During
East-West Dialogue 2002 the participants will work out recommendations and
ideas aimed at bringing the Union closer to the attention of citizens on
local level. The ideas will be presented to the wider public at a final
one-day conference and local politicians in the communities of the
participants will after the Course be invited to comment on and debate the
ideas on the internet. In this way East-West Dialogue 2002 will be an
experiment in how citizens can reflect and debate European while acting
locally!
East-West Dialogue 2002 is not an academic course for experts, but for
young people interested in European issues who wants to debate Europe on a
general level. The aim of the Course is just as much the personal, social
and intercultural learning. This means that the Course is also a social
event, where close personal friendships and contacts will evolve, and which
can serve as the basis of a future network among the 60 participants.
Højskolen Østersøen has long tradition of carrying out European youth
meetings. In the past the annual Minority Course bringing young Europeans
with minority and majority backgrounds together for a debate about
minority-majority relations. East-West Dialogue 2002 is the successor to
the Minority Courses continuing to target common challenges facing all
Europeans!
Practical information: Young Europeans between the age of 18 and 25 active
in an NGO or students especially interested in European issues are invited.
A significant number of participants with minority backgrounds will be
invited as their regional experience is of particular interest. An
application-form should be send to Højskolen Østersøen before March 10th
2002 for Central and Eastern European applicants and April 12th 2002 for
West European applicants. To participate, English must be well understood
and spoken. There is a participation fee of 100 EURO, which covers full
cost of travel to/from Denmark, board and lodging for the 3 weeks and
programme in Denmark and Poland. For more information about Højskolen
Østersøen, our previous European courses, application form and updated
programme, please visit Peoplesite at www.people.hojoster.dk. At the site
you will also find debate forums, articles on Europe, NGO profiles, and
much more. You are of course also welcome to contribute to the site.
Best wishes and looking forward to hearing from you.
Jesper Nielsen, Project co-ordinator
(Email: jen@hojoster.dk, Telephone: +45 74 62 47 00, Fax: +45 74 62 47 01)
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INFO C
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FEDERALISM
What is it?
The International Conference on Federalism 2002, to be held from 27-30
August 2002 in St. Gallen, aims to provide a platform for the exchange of
ideas and experiences between people with a practical involvement in
federalism from the fields of politics and administration, along with
scientists and representatives of business and other areas of society. We
will be inviting public figures and decision-makers from all over the world
who are interested in a constructive exchange of experiences and
information with regard to federalism.
The youth program at the International Conference on Federalism 2002 in St.
Gallen is intended to open up the Conference to young people. One or two
representatives from each federation will be given the opportunity to gain
experience at a high-level international conference, working together with
other young researchers and practitioners from all over the world. The
youth programme will take place on the days before and after the conference.
Who can take part?
You can take part in the youth program at the International Conference on
Federalism 2002 if you are a federalism practitioner or federalism
researcher aged between 20 and 30.
You may for example be a young politician, a graduate student studying
federalism, or a member of an NGO. The important thing is that you have a
significant interest in the subject of federalism and some experience in
this field. You should also be prepared to get involved in an international
team of young people before, during and after the Conference. You must be
able to prepare a written paper in English and to take part in dialogue in
English.
What will I have to do?
You will work together with other young people from all over the world to
prepare a paper of ten pages A4 on one of the sub-themes to be covered by
the Conference. You will find further information on themes and sub-themes
on our website, (www.federalism2002.ch) by the end of the year. In your
paper you will answer the following question:
What are the challenges facing federations in the future in relation to the
sub-themes in question, and how can these challenges be met?
You will co-ordinate your work with the others in your group via e-mail.
You will discuss your paper with the other young people before the
Conference, and after the Conference you will consider it again in the
light of what you have just learnt. Based on these reflections, you will
rewrite the paper after the Conference.
How can I apply?
Please complete the attached Application Form using a computer or
typewriter. Send it to us, together with a passport photograph of yourself
and no more than 2000 characters (including spaces) in English, explaining
why you want to take part in the youth program.
Applications must be received by the International Conference on Federalism
2002 no later than 31 January 2002. Your application will be deemed to have
arrived on time if we receive your curriculum vitae, and the one-page
letter requested, by e-mail or fax. However, you must still send us the
full documentation by post.
Travel and accommodation expenses for the participation in the youth
program will be covered by the Project Organisation.
ursula.abderhalden@eda.admin.ch
-----------------------------JEF-INFO-------------------------------
INFO D
SALTO TRAINING COURSES
New Training offers for 2002
I hope that you are all happy and well. I am writing to you with the
release of the application forms for the new SALTO training courses
(Support for Advanced Learning and training Opportunities). In September
2000 four SALTO-YOUTH centres were set up within the network of the
National Agencies for the YOUTH programme of the European Commission. The
centres are located within the Agencies of Flanders-Belgium, Germany, UK
and France. For more in-depth reading on their nature access the SALTO
website on www.salto-youth.net
In the meantime the four new courses to take place in 2002 are as follows:
1. Co-operation with South Eastern European countries - Co-ordinated by
SALTO-JUGEND fuer Europa (Germany)
2. Co-operation with EuroMed countries - Co-ordinated by SALTO-INJEP
(France) - please note application form not available yet - if you are
interested be careful to keep checking the website address given above
3. Anti-Racism work in the YOUTH programme
http://www.britishcouncil.org/education/connectyouth/anti_racism.html -
Co-ordinated by SALTO-Connect Youth International (UK)
4. Inclusion in the YOUTH programme with a focus on Youth initatives in
Action 3 http://www.jint.be/salto/index.htm Co-ordinated by SALTO-JINT
(Flanders, Belgium) If you are interested in taking part in as a
participant in one of these courses or know someone that you would like to
nominate then for all the content, practical information and application
forms for each of the courses follow the links above or go directly to the
SALTO webpage
Note well that the Deadline to send the application form to your National
Agency or one of the SALTO-YOUTH centres is the 20th of January 2002. You
will be informed by your National Agency or SALTO about the results of the
selection procedure by the 15th of February 2002. To find out the contact
details of your national Agency go
to..http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth/program/natage.html
Good luck and if you have some holidays coming up - enjoy!
Source:
youthforum@youthforum.org
-----------------------------JEF-INFO-------------------------------
PART 3 - THE FEDERALIST CALENDAR
Please, inform us of your events, mailto:JEF-info.English@jef.de
DECEMBER
* 13-14-15, Brussels/Belgium, Citizen's Assembly 2004, "Europe is our
Future", http://www.europeanmovement.org
* 14, Human Chain for a European Federal Constitution, Bruxelles,
uef.european.federalists@skynet.be
* 14-15, Laeken/Brussels/Belgium, Meeting of the European Council
* 27-03.01.2002 Frankfurt/Germany, JEF International seminar and JEF New
Year Party for the birth of the Euro http://www.jef-europe.org
JANUARY
* 25-27, Berlin, week end seminar "Follow up of the European Council in Laeken"
MARCH
* 17-24, Hungary, international seminar
-----------------------------JEF-INFO-------------------------------
PART 4 - TECHNICAL INFORMATION
The English language version of JEF-Info is published by JEF-Europe.
Only comments and information not signed or signed JEF-Europe or
JEF-Secretariat or represent an official opinion or official information of
JEF-Europe.
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