Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 08:31
by
joelld
in European democracy & diversity (984 views and 2 comments)
The first day of the PES Council in Sofia went well, despite the climate conditions, with rich debates and conferences. Rainbow Rose LGBT was well represented by Rodrigo Martín Galán during the debate on European democracy and diversity yesterday afternoon. As many speakers remarked, article 13 of the EC treaty, and other binding European laws such as anti-discrimination directives 2000/78 and 2000/43, are already implemented in all member States, improving the conditions of LGBT persons, women or disabled persons in all areas of social life. Still, it also appears clearly that EU treaties and regulations, being no magic solutions, had not eliminated racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia in our societies. As socialist activists and NGOs report daily, discriminations in employment and work conditions, hate crimes, intolerant speeches in day-to-day life, are a reality we must face.
Rainbow Rose met at lunch time, outside the Council, with Bulgarian LGBT activists who could explain us what kind of exactions they live with in their country – and Bulgaria is not an exception. As European socialists are talking, these days in Sofia, of the ways to make diversity the very blood of our “New Social Europe”, we must in no case forget what our social democratic values stand for. That is, meeting high social standards in justice and social protection, for all European citizens that must be treated as equals. This can become reality only if Human Rights are binding obligations, as binding as economic, monetary and budgetary policies such as settled in the EU since the Maastricht treaty. This is the only way to the inclusive society we stand for. Rainbow Rose, for what is about LGBT equality matters, was glad, in this first Council day, to meet with some members of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and its Youth Movement (BSY). It is only fighting all together that we will be able to get rid of intolerance in the whole EU.
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Comments
1. Thanks for sharing your experiences by editor on Friday, November 23, 2007 at 14:30
We're happy to hear that you and Rainbow Rose had good experiences in Sofia! It's great to have you so active on Yourspace - keep up the good work!2. Another angle on the fringe session about «European Democracy and Diversity» by jose reis santos
on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 19:58
European democracy and diversity European democracy and diversity There were actually two fringe meeting dedicated to European democracy and diversity, one o the diversity subject, another on democracy. Zita Gurmai chaired both sessions. With a good audience, the first hour was dedicated to the diversity problems that Europe is feeling today, mainly the ones regarding minority rights. The main idea was that if all the known laws were attended, the minority rights problem would never exists. It is a matter of enforcing policies that already are written. On this topic we call your attention to the contribution delivered by the Rainbow Rose organization, a guest at the Council. Another topic was the value fight that we, socialists, are losing to the right wing parties, mainly because of its strategy to create think tanks, focus groups and so on dedicated to the construction of a political discourse. This articulated move, going on for the past 30 years, have already create an intellectual and political elite without the socialist counterpart. The idea of a European Foundation came in support if this undisputable need. The second sessions was dedicated to «democracy», and I liked very much the intervention of a Spanish MEP, Carlos Carnero, who spoke about the necessity of creating an European party, to bring more Europe to the common citizen. He gave also the idea of presenting a Commission President candidate, supported by PES in 2009, as well as the candidate exchange experience that could exist in the next European elections. With a lively and participated debate (where I also intervened) the session was closed and people were send to their hotels to freshen up to be presentable at the reception that will take place in 15 minutes. Needless to say that yours truly is not going to the hotel, will not change or freshen up or anything else, and if he doesn’t finish this text soon he will miss the reception. So… from Sofia we close the report for the day. José Reis SantosTo be able to post comments you need to be logged in. No account yet? Register here! Lost your password?