manifesto2009 barometer: EU in the world

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Published Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 11:33
by Editor in EU in the world (556 views and 2 comments)

Participants in the EU in the world debate seem to agree that the EU should play a greater role in international politics and some offered specific proposals on how this could be done.

Development - a lot more than economic growth
Development has been a central issue of the debates. Pattheact noted the need to deal with the emergence of new donors, such as China in Africa. This new aid and loans come without conditions of good governance, and therefore can have a negative impact in developing countries, perpetuating the corrupt systems. Eurodad proposed that the EU adheres to a set of responsible financing standards, to avoid the resurgence of the spiral of unpayable debt in developing countries. Our previous blogger of the week Victor Negrescu also insists on the need for more coherent development cooperation strategies to improve the efficiency of development aid and ensure its focus on the needs of local populations. On a related topic, Kim noted that the PES should take part in the discussions on globalisation, including through the World Social Forum, to ensure the protection of social rights throughout the world. It was also agreed that the UN Security Council should be reformed to give emerging and developing states the possibility to influence decisions that concern them.

A fairer distribution of goods
A fairer distribution of the world’s goods was another concern. While water is a universal good, many people don’t have direct access to it and 14.000 to 20.000 people die every day because of contaminated water. Therefore participants agreed that the PES manifesto should include proposals to make water a resource accessible to everyone: refrain the privatization of water networks; support water transfers, improve irrigation systems, etc.

Basic human rights – for all
Participants also highlighted the need to ensure human rights are a basic principle of EU development and foreign policies, including the rights of women, migrants, asylum seekers, and LGBT rights. Hopefully many European states already do so (including LGBT rights: Spain, the Netherlands, UK…) but we have to ensure that the EU as a whole follows this good practice.

EU as a peace force
The importance of the role of the EU in international peace and security was also discussed. The PES should, according to Thanos, include in its manifesto positions on major conflicts and condemn violations of international law. And, as Julian rightly puts it, “The PES should lead the EU into taking a much more active and constructive, peaceful role in the world”.

Outside Europe
Developing partnerships all over the world was also a recurring theme. The American elections are closely followed by the participants, who consider that developing dialogue between young US democrats and socialist youth in Europe is crucial. Relations with Russia were also discussed, especially the need to work with this emerging economy while at the same time engaging in a firm dialogue on democracy and human rights.

An alternative to the conservative world-view
A final, but not less important issue highlighted by our previous guest blogger Eric Sundström was the need to develop a progressive, socialist discourse on foreign policy that could appeal to a socialist public, based on our ideals and values. It is indeed important, as Julian underlines it, to shift attention to security and terrorism and focus on human rights, social justice, climate change, and other socialist values.

What do you think – does this sum up the debate on EU in the world? Did we miss any topics or conclusions? Let us know in a comment. The Yourspace team looks forward to continuing the debate!

The manifesto2009 Barometer
Over the next weeks the Yourspace team will take the temperature of the PES manifesto debate so far. A series of ‘manifesto2009 Barometer’ posts will give the highlights of the posts and comments we have had since the campaign start in October 2007.

Tags: barometer, climate change, development, human rights, peace, UN, USA

Comments

1. Mention our socialist values more explicitly by fairness Join PES activists on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 11:49

Hi editor, thanks for mentioning my post about miniature earth and how we can make 'live size earth' a better place to live! I think this is a pretty good summary of the debate on EU in the world, just one additional idea: I think the part about offering an alternative to the conservative world-view should have priority in the PES manifesto. In this summary it is mentioned last - in my view it should be number one.

What do others think?

2. Thanks for the barometer post, but tell me what do our party leaders or advisers say? by pattheact Join PES activists on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 15:06

Dear editor, dear comrades,
I have followed this unique consultation process right from the beginning and my very feeling hasn't change since then: this online consultation process for the political manifesto of the PES for the 2009 elections is a true democratic challenge and a pro-active way to make grassroots activists or simple citizens participate in the public debate, whilst being offered a chance to make proposals to our party leaders in the hope to contribute to an open and fruitful debate on our common european future.
The debate on Europe in the World has certainly been an interesting one and the numerous reactions from the readers has shown how important the relations with the rest of the world are in the eyes of most of the social-democrats. I do therefore agree with fairness in her reaction to this post when stating that the PES EU's foreign policies should have a stronger identity in order to offer our citizens a clearer alternative to the conservatives.
But now that the Manifesto team starts to resume the numerous blogs, posts and comments on the different subjects there is one thing I have really been missing throughout the whole campaign so far: the opinion of our party's leadership and of the different political advisers who should in my eyes profit from this barometer exercise to give us their impressions on the content of the different contributions that have been posted so far and to give the debate a more political exploitable shape. Grassroots activists or simple citizens that are interested in EU politics might be the heart of this consultation process, our party's leadership should then be the head of it. It is time to build up a connection between the two organs. This would in my eyes be the least of the signals one could expect from our political leaders and thinkers towards all the energy, the time and the passion that has been expressed on these web-pages so far.
Thanks for all your precious comments and arguments, they have certainly helped me to better define my social-democratic values... and to fight for them. I hope that the good work will continue. Looking forward to reading your contributions.

A bon entendeur, salut
Pat

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