New Social Europe Archives: April 2008

  • Esteban Romero: The political agenda of the left

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    Rating: 3.8/5 with 4 votes

    Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 14:45
    by eromerof Join PES activists (957 views and 2 comments)

    Nowadays, the panorama of the left in Europe does not seem to be very tempting. Only 7 out of 27 countries belonging to EU are ruled by socialist parties. These are: United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Cyprus. We could argue that there is a lack of real political leadership, a leadership that in other decades was embodied by politicians such as Francois Mitterrand.

     

    The political victory of Zapatero in Spain last march gives the Spanish socialism a great opportunity to implement and develop politics that can be seen as an example for other European countries. It generates a new opportunity to take the initiative in the European context. Whereas the majority of countries in South America are governed by left parties, sometimes with a strong and questionable populist sense, and whereas United States are given an opportunity to give the power again to the Democratic party, regardless of whether Clinton or Obama wins, the European left movement needs to reshape its political agenda, taking the initiative and dismantling the demagogic and populist discourse of conservative countries, too much focused on very sensitive and easy to be manipulated issues such as security, migration, taxes...

    From a Spanish perspective, I would... » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, climate change, development, diversity, equality, welfare, women

  • The current food crisis is alarming

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    Rating: 3.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 14:33
    by raphi sternfeld Join PES activists (707 views and 2 comments)

    According to the media a number of Italian pensioners are forced to stealing since they cannot afford food anymore. The food crisis has finally reached Europe. This terrible situation needs to be dealt with. This could be the moment of European social democracy. The era of neo-liberalism finally seems to be over. The time is there to discuss social responsibility. (Western) Europe has been in a positive development since 1945, while governments have paid attention to social symmetry. Now we are experiencing a growing gap in society – we need to reduce this gap. Europe must become social. This can only be achieved if social democracy is strengthened. Let us be brave and take the fight with the conservatives. Europe’s citizens are on our side.

    Original version in German is attached to this post.

    Tags: elderly, food crisis, welfare

    File: Hungerkrise_DE.pdf

  • Isabella Frenning: Common media and basic education

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    Rating: 3.5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 09:30
    by Isabella_Frenning Join PES activists (629 views and 2 comments)

    The great thing about the European Championships or the Eurovision is not only the love of the game or the passion for great (?) music – but also that both events are shared throughout our member states and can be used as a common point of reference.

    So far, most other events are not. We need to make it possible for Europeans to receive information about the same developments in public life if we want to deepen the European identity. It is often said that a common public sphere should be the foundation for building a stronger sense of European community and shared identity; that we need to talk to each other and share the same experiences if we want to share the same political goals as well. But when trying to construct European-wide medias, we must not only overcome the challenges of our diverse languages, but also those of education and participation. Though many members of my generation speak at least one European language besides from their own, many still find it hard enough just to learn their native tongue.

    And while talking about how to make people participate in the European debate, we... » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, education

  • Neil Kinnock: Adressing security in the PES manifesto

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    Rating: 5/5 with 3 votes

    Published Monday, April 21, 2008 at 16:05
    by Editor (753 views and 5 comments)

    Neil Kinnock, leader of the UK Labour Party 1983 - 1992, gives his suggestions to the PES manifesto in the video interview below:



    What do you think? Add your comments and have your say on Neil Kinnock's suggestions!

    Tags: security, welfare

  • FREE health and education as a human right

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    Rating: 4.3/5 with 3 votes

    Published Monday, April 21, 2008 at 12:08
    by Duncan Anderson Join PES activists (751 views and 2 comments)

    I know the British National Health Service can be improved, but I still personally believe that Free Health Service and Free Education from cradle to grave should be part of the fundamental human rights of every citizen, but let's start in the EU first.

     

    Tags: education, health, human rights, public services

  • German input: Eight building blocks

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 11:48
    by Salvador E. Becker Join PES activists (1093 views and 1 comments)

    Within the last weeks, a working group of the regional SPD in Berlin, discussed and published 8 building blocks to put the PES manifesto debate on a more concrete level. Following the analysis of the European element in the different national programmes, we tried to focus on some 8 main topics, of which we were sure, that there should be consensus amongst Europe's socialist and social democratic parties.

    Our idea was, that if it wouldn't be possible to agree on a PES manifesto as a whole, it should at least be possible to find some key ideas to put in the different national programms for the European elcections in next year: at the last election in 2004 not even the national programme became very popular in the German public... Which is why we hope, that a more discussed and therefore implemented manifesto in all EU member states would not only gain more success in the elections itself, it could in addition help to give the citizens of Europe a better idea of socialist or social democratic policy in an for europe!

    The 8 blocks are now also available in French and » read more ...

    Tags: activists, manifesto

  • Brian Booth: Of elevators and wages

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    Rating: 4/5 with 4 votes

    Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 10:13
    by brianfrombrussels Join PES activists (841 views and 3 comments)

    For people who like to know what their fellow earthmen think of the world's affairs, nothing can match an elevator. Your local pub or the back seat of a cab are close competitors for sure, but still they don't quite make it in front of an elevator. Well, perhaps I'm biased, considering that I happen to spend more time in elevators than in cabs or at my local lately.

    Anyway, every month around the 15th whatever elevator I take, the conversation between commuters seems to roll over the same topic: the rent is paid, electricity and heating bills are gone and various other charges dealt with and... well, so is the month's money. Gone, vanished, not a euro in front of them - not to mention any to be put on the side in prevision of worth days to come. It seems that the only power left to the working class in our liberal society, that is the purchase power, is melting away like wax under the sun. And the regulars of my elevator are usually civil servants, mind you. I guess you'd hear less pleasant stories from elevators with a very different attendance - steel workers from Mr. Mittal's group, for instance.

    Even from the most cynical point of view, this can't go on. The driving force behind our western economies is consumption. If the people don't have the money... » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, wages, workers

  • Martina Preuss: Equal Pay Day - women have less in their pockets

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    Rating: 4.3/5 with 4 votes

    Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 16:35
    by martina Join PES activists (1262 views and 6 comments)

    GleichstellungAccording to Eurostat a woman in Europe earns, in average, 15 percent less than her male colleague. With 22 percent difference Germany takes a sad lead when it comes to pay inequality – on the management level it is even worse (33 percent). Only a few countries have taken action against this inequity.

    The purpose of the international action day for equal opportunities and equal pay, which has already taken place in the US and Belgium, is to create awareness of this problem – and soon there will also be actions in Germany. The German Network of Business and Professional Women has taken the initiative for the Equal Pay Day on 15 April 2008 where the network, together with many other women’s organizations, will organize numerous actions.

    One of the activities of the German Equal Pay Day will be ‘Red Bag’ – which was already put into practice last summer in connection with the European year of equal opportunities. At that time the initiative went rather unnoticed by the general public - I don’t remember having heard about it before now.
    » read more ...

    Tags: blogger of the week, equality, women, workers

    File: Equal Pay Day_DE.pdf

  • NGO interview: Social and sustainable development as a strategy for Europe

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    Rating: 3.5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 15:31
    by Editor (829 views and 0 comments)

    Social Platform brings together more than forty European non-governmental organisations, federations and networks which are working to build an inclusive society. Fintan Farrell, President of Social Platform, gives the highlights of Social Platform's ideas for the PES manifesto:



    Read Social Platform's contribution to the PES manifesto in the documents section of Yourspace.

    Tags: citizens, democracy, diversity, equality, gay, immigration, LGBT, NGO

  • Labour Movement for Europe: How can we reform of the European social model as part of reforming globalisation?

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    Rating: 3.5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 10:31
    by noelhatch Join PES activists (744 views and 0 comments)

    Henning Meyer, Head of European Programme for the Global Policy Institute, kicked off the debate on New Social Europe in London on 11 March 2008 by warning that if certain issues aren’t currently reflected within the debate, such as economic globalisation, they become accepted as givens. He then put to the floor what we mean when we talk about social Europe. There are different applications of the social model, but there seems to be a consensus on some key elements:
    • a responsive political economy
    • free and compulsory education
    • active protection of environment
    • robust welfare state
    • limitation of inequality

    However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases within and between countries.

    How can we develop a politics of international redistribution?

    Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and international redistribution - we need to explore a global social politics. This includes:... » read more ...

    Tags: activists, activists, environment, equality, globalization, tax, welfare

  • Labour Movement for Europe: How can we rebalance the great swing towards internal market reforms with better social policy reforms?

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    Rating: 3.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 16:46
    by noelhatch Join PES activists (753 views and 0 comments)

    Ben Richards, International Officer from UNITE debate in London, set the scene at the New Social Europe in London on 11 March 2008. He explained how Social Europe had benefited people so far. We wouldn’t have had parental leave or working time limits without the European social model. He advised that all the two million members of Unite are international in their outlook and pro-European. It is the benefits of the social model that galvanise members to vote in the next European elections. However, there is an increasing unhappiness towards the European Union, which has stagnated in its social policy in the last few years. We are concerned about the reform of the services directive and the panacea of flexicurity. Many people forget that in Denmark this includes high trade union rights and unemployment benefits. We are also concerned about the Viking and Laval court cases which call into question the social model. He proposed that we need to:
    • rebalance the great swing towards internal market reforms with better social policy reforms
    • stop the UK’s “opt outs” of social Europe
    • greater protection of temporary and agency workers
    • sign up to the Charter of Fundamental Rights

    See more of his... » read more ...

    Tags: childcare, globalization, social dialogue, wages, welfare, women

  • PES Group in CoR debate: Is the Lisbon strategy still valid?

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    Rating: 3.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 12:42
    by Editor (842 views and 0 comments)

    Yes, but… a revision needs to be done. The social dimension of the Lisbon Agenda and perspectives for post 2010 EU strategy were key issues on the agenda of the seminar on the New Social Europe of the PES Group in the Committee of Regions on 7 April 2008. The seminar is part of the group’s contribution to the PES manifesto consultation.

    The Lisbon strategy aims to make the EU "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social justice, and respect for the environment by 2010." Sounds good, but did it deliver?

    Additional jobs have been created and there has been a considerable increase in growth and jobs as well as in general productivity during the last years. On the other hand, the EU clearly failed the target of devoting 3% of GDP to research and education (with Sweden and Denmark being pleasant exceptions) and – with a clear focus on economic growth – the dimension of social issues has taken a... » read more ...

    Tags: decent work, employment, equality, poverty

  • Labour Movement for Europe: How can we make social Europe a concern for everyone?

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    Rating: 5/5 with 1 votes

    Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 10:44
    by noelhatch Join PES activists (801 views and 3 comments)

    Deborah Littman, Chair of London Citizens Living Wage Network & UNISON National Officer for Bargaining, at the New Social Europe debate in London, admitted she wholly agreed with many of the proposals made in the New Social Europe discussion paper. But she was concerned on how we get there, how we make social Europe a concern for everyone.

    Work has been made insecure, the social wage has been reduced and there has been a steep decline in bargaining power from workers. Communities have been dismantled, workers distanced from their employers or contractors. There has been a very deliberate policy to push back the gains of the workers, often by stealth. Expectations have been constantly lowered to the extent that our goal becomes not how we can make it better, but how can we prevent it being that bad. How can you organise when you don’t know who you’re actually working for? The trade unions struggle with bargaining, sometimes too... » read more ...

    Tags: activists, employment, social dialogue, wages, welfare, workers

  • Labour Movement for Europe: How can we go in confidently and boldly about intervening and imposing a degree of accountability?

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    Rating: 4.7/5 with 3 votes

    Published Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 14:11
    by noelhatch Join PES activists (782 views and 0 comments)

    Another speaker at the debate on New Social Europe in London was Michael Walsh, Research Director for the trade union Community. He introduced his organization as the only union in the UK that has spoken up for the European Union, but often the message doesn’t get across, such as when we talk about "social dialogue". The EU record doesn’t compare favourably with the British record. Free markets don’t work. We need to disentangle the European dimension from national politics; otherwise people will bash Europe in order to bash the government. Great social victories have been attributable to the European Union, especially on equality. Michael proposed that we need to:
    • disentangle the European dimension from national politics, otherwise people will bash Europe in order to bash their national government
    • shouldn't lose faith in our basic beliefts - we should prepared to intervene in favour of a more social Europe
    • go in confidently and boldly about intervening and imposing a degree of accountability
    • build coalitions across society and intensify European co-operation

    See more of his proposals and his debate here:

    » read more ...

    Tags: activists, EU, social dialogue

  • Labour Movement for Europe: Proposals from the floor on the New Social Europe debate

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    Rating: 5/5 with 2 votes

    Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 12:40
    by noelhatch Join PES activists (779 views and 0 comments)

    On 11 March Labour Movement for Europe welcomed PES activists for a debate on New Social Europe. The headline was "Globalization in the community - how can we shape a social Europe?" and the debate took place in London, UK.

    The proposals from the floor included:
    • Including business in living wage coalitions across Europe
    • Committment to temporary and agency workers EU directive
    • Harmonise corporate tax across the European Union
    • Translating social values into business language
    • Redistribute nationally and internationally
    • Regain the notion of accountability
    • EU trade power to expore social values

    To see more proposals and the debate please see the video below:


    To read more:

    Tags: activists, social dialogue, tax, trade, wages, workers