Without any official My Europe Week campaign to inspire eurobloggers, all the latest 100 entries tagged 'myeurope' on Bloggingportal.eu are now new ones, published during the last days.
The blog posts deal with Europe Day 2011 events or thoughts about the past, present and future of the European Union. Some of the articles are remarkable, well worth your tweets etc.
The other Bloggingportal.eu theme I find necessary to highlight is the 'eurozone', where the innate lack of transparency and credibility of official efforts offers juicy gifts to those who want to undermine the common currency.
Ralf Grahn
Showing posts with label Europe Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe Day. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Monday, 9 May 2011
Europe Day blogging 2011
Even if there is no real My Europe Week blog festival this year, you can still share your blog entries about Europe Day (9 May) events and your thoughts about the future of the European Union. By now there are about 35 new posts tagged 'myeurope' on Bloggingportal.eu.
On Twitter you can participate under the hashtags #EuropeDay and now also the shorter #euday, as well as the more reflective #MyEurope.
Own blogging
At this stage, my own experiment has been to compare feelings a year ago and now:
Share your Europe Day 2011
Europe Day essence: The future
Europe Day thrives on languages
Europe Day thoughts
***
Are there clear enough signs that the European Union has increasingly become a part of the solution? What should and could be done?
Ralf Grahn
On Twitter you can participate under the hashtags #EuropeDay and now also the shorter #euday, as well as the more reflective #MyEurope.
Own blogging
At this stage, my own experiment has been to compare feelings a year ago and now:
Share your Europe Day 2011
Europe Day essence: The future
Europe Day thrives on languages
Europe Day thoughts
***
Are there clear enough signs that the European Union has increasingly become a part of the solution? What should and could be done?
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Share your Europe Day 2011
Soon there are seven billion of us sharing this fragile planet. The idea of European integration is very much about the future: making life more safe and prosperous for Europeans, as well as for all other humans.
Europe Day 9 May offers us a good reason to think about what we can learn from the past in order to build a better future. Reading the Schuman declaration of 9 May 1950 is a good way to start (available in twenty-two official EU languages).
'De facto solidarity' was on my mind a year ago, and the need has gone nowhere, despite regression trips among European electorates.
Last year, the call by Bloggingportal.eu editors for eurobloggers to share their views during My Europe Week led to 84 blog entries archived.
Nothing prevents the willing from using the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay on Twitter, or to think aloud about our common future AD MMXI.
Ralf Grahn
Europe Day 9 May offers us a good reason to think about what we can learn from the past in order to build a better future. Reading the Schuman declaration of 9 May 1950 is a good way to start (available in twenty-two official EU languages).
'De facto solidarity' was on my mind a year ago, and the need has gone nowhere, despite regression trips among European electorates.
Last year, the call by Bloggingportal.eu editors for eurobloggers to share their views during My Europe Week led to 84 blog entries archived.
Nothing prevents the willing from using the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay on Twitter, or to think aloud about our common future AD MMXI.
Ralf Grahn
Sunday, 9 May 2010
My Europe Tweets for even better Europe Days
In #MyEurope we don’t have to be dragged closer to the #EU – we are the union
In #MyEurope the right issues are solved at the right level - #EU or national
In #MyEurope #EU citizens have full political rights
In #MyEurope #EuropeDay is an #EU wide public holiday
#MyEurope acts as one #EU internationally
In #MyEurope we defend our currency and territory together
In #MyEurope we have the most modern Bill of Rights (Charter) plus empowerment of #EU citizens
In #MyEurope the internal market becomes a reality
In #MyEurope netizens’ rights are respected
In #MyEurope net censorship proposals are thrown on the scrap heap
In #MyEurope language rights are protected, multilingualism is promoted and everyone learns #English
Ralf Grahn
In #MyEurope the right issues are solved at the right level - #EU or national
In #MyEurope #EU citizens have full political rights
In #MyEurope #EuropeDay is an #EU wide public holiday
#MyEurope acts as one #EU internationally
In #MyEurope we defend our currency and territory together
In #MyEurope we have the most modern Bill of Rights (Charter) plus empowerment of #EU citizens
In #MyEurope the internal market becomes a reality
In #MyEurope netizens’ rights are respected
In #MyEurope net censorship proposals are thrown on the scrap heap
In #MyEurope language rights are protected, multilingualism is promoted and everyone learns #English
Ralf Grahn
My Europe Week: Mother’s Day and Europe Day 9 May 2010
According to Wikipedia, if I counted correctly, it is Mother’s Day in a majority (14) of the member states of the European Union, globally in 77 countries this second Sunday of May 2010.
Being 9 May, this year Mother’s Day and Europe Day coincide in these 14 EU countries.
In my own country, Finland, Mother’s Day is an official flag day. Europe Day is a flag day recommended by the Ministry of the Interior. If possible, you should fly the EU flag alongside the national flag.
I appreciate the symbolism of the national and the EU flag side by side.
The nurture and care of a mother ultimately aim at adulthood and independence of her child. From our mother, we learn our mother tongue, but wisely she does not prevent us from learning other languages.
For most of us, our fatherland (patria) is where we study, work and live, but a wise father does not imprison us, if our destiny takes us into the wider world.
Being an EU citizen is having a bonus citizenship, with freedom to move and reside, as well as some political rights. It does not deprive us of national citizenship, but amplifies it.
However, at some point in time, mothers and fathers have to accept their children as adults. This goes for our national leaders as well.
Empowerment
After the intergovernmental trivium and the supposedly apolitical and technocratic supranationalism of the quadrivium, our political leaders should allow, even encourage, our progress to become fully empowered members of the universitas of higher learning.
The primary and secondary levels were necessary, but why keep us back?
My message to the political leaders this Europe Day is: Understand to stand back and start preparing us a complete system of representative democracy at EU level.
Full citizenship, please.
Share your Europe
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is a good occasion to share your Europe.
On Europe Day 9 May 2010, the editors of Bloggingportal.eu invite you, bloggers and non-bloggers, to share your visions for the future of Europe on the My Europe Week blog. You can read the roundups on My Europe Week, or you can access the posts tagged #myeurope on the special Bloggingportal.eu page.
Twitter away under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Ralf Grahn
Being 9 May, this year Mother’s Day and Europe Day coincide in these 14 EU countries.
In my own country, Finland, Mother’s Day is an official flag day. Europe Day is a flag day recommended by the Ministry of the Interior. If possible, you should fly the EU flag alongside the national flag.
I appreciate the symbolism of the national and the EU flag side by side.
The nurture and care of a mother ultimately aim at adulthood and independence of her child. From our mother, we learn our mother tongue, but wisely she does not prevent us from learning other languages.
For most of us, our fatherland (patria) is where we study, work and live, but a wise father does not imprison us, if our destiny takes us into the wider world.
Being an EU citizen is having a bonus citizenship, with freedom to move and reside, as well as some political rights. It does not deprive us of national citizenship, but amplifies it.
However, at some point in time, mothers and fathers have to accept their children as adults. This goes for our national leaders as well.
Empowerment
After the intergovernmental trivium and the supposedly apolitical and technocratic supranationalism of the quadrivium, our political leaders should allow, even encourage, our progress to become fully empowered members of the universitas of higher learning.
The primary and secondary levels were necessary, but why keep us back?
My message to the political leaders this Europe Day is: Understand to stand back and start preparing us a complete system of representative democracy at EU level.
Full citizenship, please.
Share your Europe
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is a good occasion to share your Europe.
On Europe Day 9 May 2010, the editors of Bloggingportal.eu invite you, bloggers and non-bloggers, to share your visions for the future of Europe on the My Europe Week blog. You can read the roundups on My Europe Week, or you can access the posts tagged #myeurope on the special Bloggingportal.eu page.
Twitter away under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 8 May 2010
My Europe Week: War and Peace
Today, 8 May 2010 the Western Allies remember Victory in Europe Day 65 years ago, whereas Russia is commemorating (Soviet) Victory Day with a parade in Red Square and other festivities on 9 May.
The war dead and the end of WW2 devastation are worth remembering, but it is just as important to recall how the opportunities offered by peace were utilised and should contribute to a better future.
In Western Europe the phoenix rose from the ashes to mark a new beginning in the form of European integration.
The Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 marks a new vision and the start of a new era.
During these 60 years we have made some headway. 27 member states, with a total population of 500 million, have been able to join the European Union.
Although the EU is far from perfect at its current stage of development, its founding values are admirable (Article 2 TEU):
Two major steps are still needed:
We must surpass the present hybrid state of technocratic supranationalism and intergovernmentalism, by giving the new European Union a fully fledged system of representative democracy.
As EU citizens, we must start making room in our hearts for the true solidarity of ever closer union.
Share your Europe
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is a good occasion to start sharing your Europe.
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu invite you, bloggers and non-bloggers, to share your visions for the future of Europe on the My Europe Week blog during this week until tomorrow, Europe Day 9 May 2010. You can read the roundups on My Europe Week, or you can access the posts tagged #myeurope on the special Bloggingportal.eu page.
Twitter away under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Ralf Grahn
The war dead and the end of WW2 devastation are worth remembering, but it is just as important to recall how the opportunities offered by peace were utilised and should contribute to a better future.
In Western Europe the phoenix rose from the ashes to mark a new beginning in the form of European integration.
The Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 marks a new vision and the start of a new era.
During these 60 years we have made some headway. 27 member states, with a total population of 500 million, have been able to join the European Union.
Although the EU is far from perfect at its current stage of development, its founding values are admirable (Article 2 TEU):
The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.
Two major steps are still needed:
We must surpass the present hybrid state of technocratic supranationalism and intergovernmentalism, by giving the new European Union a fully fledged system of representative democracy.
As EU citizens, we must start making room in our hearts for the true solidarity of ever closer union.
Share your Europe
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is a good occasion to start sharing your Europe.
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu invite you, bloggers and non-bloggers, to share your visions for the future of Europe on the My Europe Week blog during this week until tomorrow, Europe Day 9 May 2010. You can read the roundups on My Europe Week, or you can access the posts tagged #myeurope on the special Bloggingportal.eu page.
Twitter away under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Ralf Grahn
My Europe Week: Transatlantic learning for better lawmaking
Share your Europe, say the editors of Bloggingportal.eu. They have invited bloggers and non-bloggers to offer their visions for the future of Europe on the My Europe Week blog during this week until Europe Day 9 May 2010. A short while ago, there were 48 posts tagged #myeurope on the special Bloggingportal.eu page.
After a number of posts from an internal perspective, the time has come to widen our horizon. My question is:
Are we humble enough to learn?
Altiero Spinelli, Jean Monnet and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing are among those Europeans who have evoked the birth and the establishment of the United States of America as an inspiration for Europe, sometimes at a highly symbolic level.
However, the part vision I am going to offer here is more mundane.
When I read a Finnish Government Bill, there is routinely a discussion about the legislation and recent reforms in other countries. As in Sweden, the proposed changes are presented in detail.
When I turn to a Communication (proposal) from the European Commission, the contents generally feel more formalistic and less illuminating. There are seldom, if ever, arguments about how things are done elsewhere.
Is the European Union really so ‘sui generis’ that we have nothing to learn from the outside world?
Is it somehow politically incorrect to refer to the USA, which has a federal Constitution?
Is it more comfortable to entertain the illusion that we have invented the wheel, instead of openly admitting that we could learn from others and improve on what they have done?
One of the few exceptions I can readily remember were Mario Monti’s speeches about the need for convergence in competition matters, especially cartels (antitrust) where authorities on both shores of the Atlantic grappled with the practices of the same business Behemoths.
Despite the structural differences ─ the USA a federation, the EU a treaty based organisation ─ both are faced with similar challenges.
The USA and the EU are multi-level systems of governance, trying to facilitate life and commerce on a continental scale.
The terms in use are often different, but the underlying problems and challenges are more or less closely related, even if this is an extremely rough guide: Commerce Clause (internal market, external trade), Necessary and Proper (subsidiarity and proportionality), Full Faith and Credit (area of freedom, security and justice) etc.
However, we should routinely go beyond that to practical levels of application.
Do we have the humility to learn? Do we have the candour to admit it? Are we mature enough to move from furtive peeks to open discussion?
Better lawmaking is profiting from the experiences of others.
Is the European Union self-confident enough for a new level of transatlantic (mutual) learning?
Ralf Grahn
After a number of posts from an internal perspective, the time has come to widen our horizon. My question is:
Are we humble enough to learn?
Altiero Spinelli, Jean Monnet and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing are among those Europeans who have evoked the birth and the establishment of the United States of America as an inspiration for Europe, sometimes at a highly symbolic level.
However, the part vision I am going to offer here is more mundane.
When I read a Finnish Government Bill, there is routinely a discussion about the legislation and recent reforms in other countries. As in Sweden, the proposed changes are presented in detail.
When I turn to a Communication (proposal) from the European Commission, the contents generally feel more formalistic and less illuminating. There are seldom, if ever, arguments about how things are done elsewhere.
Is the European Union really so ‘sui generis’ that we have nothing to learn from the outside world?
Is it somehow politically incorrect to refer to the USA, which has a federal Constitution?
Is it more comfortable to entertain the illusion that we have invented the wheel, instead of openly admitting that we could learn from others and improve on what they have done?
One of the few exceptions I can readily remember were Mario Monti’s speeches about the need for convergence in competition matters, especially cartels (antitrust) where authorities on both shores of the Atlantic grappled with the practices of the same business Behemoths.
Despite the structural differences ─ the USA a federation, the EU a treaty based organisation ─ both are faced with similar challenges.
The USA and the EU are multi-level systems of governance, trying to facilitate life and commerce on a continental scale.
The terms in use are often different, but the underlying problems and challenges are more or less closely related, even if this is an extremely rough guide: Commerce Clause (internal market, external trade), Necessary and Proper (subsidiarity and proportionality), Full Faith and Credit (area of freedom, security and justice) etc.
However, we should routinely go beyond that to practical levels of application.
Do we have the humility to learn? Do we have the candour to admit it? Are we mature enough to move from furtive peeks to open discussion?
Better lawmaking is profiting from the experiences of others.
Is the European Union self-confident enough for a new level of transatlantic (mutual) learning?
Ralf Grahn
Friday, 7 May 2010
My Europe Week: EU lingua franca?
If we applied the first past the post system, German would be the sole language of the European Union, being the mother tongue of the greatest proportion of the EU population (18 per cent), although far from an absolute majority (source: Wikipedia).
However, the European Union has wisely opted for both language rights for citizens and supporting actions to promote language learning (multilingualism). These questions, as well as the missed opportunities through dumbing down TV and film soundtracks by dubbing, have been discussed in three previous Grahnlaw My Europe Week blog posts.
Now is the time to look at linguistic matters from a different angle: Is there and should there be a lingua franca in the European Union?
Lingua franca
The Wikipedia article Lingua franca offers us a starting point for discussing a bridge language or a working language for speakers or readers with different mother tongues.
Here is my rough summary based on European political and cultural history:
Having been the language of the Roman Empire, Latin became the language of the Catholic Church, of learning, Courts and diplomacy. It survived as the first language of Western European diplomacy until the 17th century, and beyond that as part of a classical education well as the language of science.
With France at the height of its power, French became the first language of diplomacy, the preferred language of European Courts and of the nobility. (French was probably understood as well at the Court in Saint Petersburg as in France outside the Parisian region.)
Through the British Empire and the later rise of the USA, English has risen to prominence far beyond the confines of Europe. For the first time there is something approaching a world (second) language, if we take all speakers and readers into account.
Wikipedia describes English as the required international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio and diplomacy – crucial areas for global interaction and human progress.
Even if we embrace the EU’s aim to learn at least two foreign languages, should we universally opt for English as one of them?
Two additional questions:
Why do we start teaching children foreign languages so late, long after they have lost most of their ability to learn multiple languages almost effortlessly?
Why do our schools not generally use native speakers as teachers of foreign languages?
My Europe Week
Bloggingportal.eu and My Europe Week are but two small examples of an emerging European public sphere you can join.
Ahead of Europe Day 9 May 2010: Share your Europe.
Ralf Grahn
However, the European Union has wisely opted for both language rights for citizens and supporting actions to promote language learning (multilingualism). These questions, as well as the missed opportunities through dumbing down TV and film soundtracks by dubbing, have been discussed in three previous Grahnlaw My Europe Week blog posts.
Now is the time to look at linguistic matters from a different angle: Is there and should there be a lingua franca in the European Union?
Lingua franca
The Wikipedia article Lingua franca offers us a starting point for discussing a bridge language or a working language for speakers or readers with different mother tongues.
Here is my rough summary based on European political and cultural history:
Having been the language of the Roman Empire, Latin became the language of the Catholic Church, of learning, Courts and diplomacy. It survived as the first language of Western European diplomacy until the 17th century, and beyond that as part of a classical education well as the language of science.
With France at the height of its power, French became the first language of diplomacy, the preferred language of European Courts and of the nobility. (French was probably understood as well at the Court in Saint Petersburg as in France outside the Parisian region.)
Through the British Empire and the later rise of the USA, English has risen to prominence far beyond the confines of Europe. For the first time there is something approaching a world (second) language, if we take all speakers and readers into account.
Wikipedia describes English as the required international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio and diplomacy – crucial areas for global interaction and human progress.
Even if we embrace the EU’s aim to learn at least two foreign languages, should we universally opt for English as one of them?
Two additional questions:
Why do we start teaching children foreign languages so late, long after they have lost most of their ability to learn multiple languages almost effortlessly?
Why do our schools not generally use native speakers as teachers of foreign languages?
My Europe Week
Bloggingportal.eu and My Europe Week are but two small examples of an emerging European public sphere you can join.
Ahead of Europe Day 9 May 2010: Share your Europe.
Ralf Grahn
My Europe Week: Dumbing down films by dubbing
In the previous Grahnlaw blog post My Europe Week: Why language rights and multilingualism?, we found good reasons for both linguistic rights for EU citizens and for learning foreign languages (multilingualism).
The EU’s language policy has commendable aims: It promotes multilingualism and aims for a situation in which every EU citizen can speak at least two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue.
The policy documents and resolutions on language learning are heavily weighted towards curricula and mobility programmes for students and teachers.
Excellent, but life is larger than school. Informal language learning is mentioned almost in passing.
The spectre of dubbing is haunting Europe
“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away”. Should we bless our temporal lords?
It is all very well to adopt resolutions on language learning. But to miss out on the zillions of hours spent in front of television sets or watching films?
Within the European Union, in the French, German, Spanish and Italian speaking markets films and television soundtracks are generally dubbed. Instead of the original soundtrack watchers hear local actors.
Dubbing makes for effortless viewing, but for an unaccustomed outsider the experience is often hilarious, even surreal. More seriously, dumbing down film and TV soundtracks is a wasted opportunity of enormous proportions.
See the Wikipedia article Dubbing (filmmaking) for a sad map of (Continental) Europe.
What is the use of European quotas, if the viewers are left in their comfort zone, instead of being offered pleasurable challenges and wider views?
How can we build European public spheres, if a majority of EU citizens escape daily contact with other European languages?
In general, the Dutch and the Nordics are perceived to have better language skills than other Europeans. How much is this explained by original soundtracks and subtitles, even for those who lack higher formal education?
In principle, the United Kingdom seems to offer original soundtracks. However, the Brits are not generally famed for speaking foreign languages. We have seen reports about the further decline of formal language learning. How much does the absence of dubbing depend on programmes being almost exclusively in English, anyway (UK & US)?
Is Europe a continent of missed opportunities for mutual understanding?
My Europe Week
The emerging European public sphere offers us contemporary opportunities for cross-border communication about our common future and our shared concerns. Bloggingportal.eu and My Europe Week are but two small examples of a growing trend towards common understanding.
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is worth a Mass for a better future.
Ralf Grahn
The EU’s language policy has commendable aims: It promotes multilingualism and aims for a situation in which every EU citizen can speak at least two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue.
The policy documents and resolutions on language learning are heavily weighted towards curricula and mobility programmes for students and teachers.
Excellent, but life is larger than school. Informal language learning is mentioned almost in passing.
The spectre of dubbing is haunting Europe
“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away”. Should we bless our temporal lords?
It is all very well to adopt resolutions on language learning. But to miss out on the zillions of hours spent in front of television sets or watching films?
Within the European Union, in the French, German, Spanish and Italian speaking markets films and television soundtracks are generally dubbed. Instead of the original soundtrack watchers hear local actors.
Dubbing makes for effortless viewing, but for an unaccustomed outsider the experience is often hilarious, even surreal. More seriously, dumbing down film and TV soundtracks is a wasted opportunity of enormous proportions.
See the Wikipedia article Dubbing (filmmaking) for a sad map of (Continental) Europe.
What is the use of European quotas, if the viewers are left in their comfort zone, instead of being offered pleasurable challenges and wider views?
How can we build European public spheres, if a majority of EU citizens escape daily contact with other European languages?
In general, the Dutch and the Nordics are perceived to have better language skills than other Europeans. How much is this explained by original soundtracks and subtitles, even for those who lack higher formal education?
In principle, the United Kingdom seems to offer original soundtracks. However, the Brits are not generally famed for speaking foreign languages. We have seen reports about the further decline of formal language learning. How much does the absence of dubbing depend on programmes being almost exclusively in English, anyway (UK & US)?
Is Europe a continent of missed opportunities for mutual understanding?
My Europe Week
The emerging European public sphere offers us contemporary opportunities for cross-border communication about our common future and our shared concerns. Bloggingportal.eu and My Europe Week are but two small examples of a growing trend towards common understanding.
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is worth a Mass for a better future.
Ralf Grahn
Thursday, 6 May 2010
My Europe Week: Why language rights and multilingualism?
If you are an English nationalist, you might want the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union, but the EU to cut administrative waste by adopting English as its sole language.
If your first wish came true, after UK secession English would be formally supported by the membership of Ireland, where Irish is officially the first language (although English dominates in practice), and Malta, where Maltese is the national language, but English is one of the two official languages.
Even today, English is not the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union; German is, by a clear margin. As a percentage of the EU population, English and Italian share second position, followed by French just a percentage point behind.
Spanish and Polish share the next step downwards, with Dutch a level below.
For an overview, I recommend that you read the Wikipedia article Languages of the European Union.
What makes English special among the 23 official EU languages is the ability of 51 per cent of the population to speak it (to a degree).
Linguistic diversity
According to the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union has an obligation to respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity (Article 3 TEU).
There is an EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou (despite Wikipedia’s failure to update).
The EU’s language policy promotes multilingualism and aims for a situation in which every EU citizen can speak at least two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue.
Comments
In my view, the European Union exists in order to serve its citizens, not the other way around.
Legal acts, legislative proposals, policy proposals and important media communications have to be translated into the official languages of the union.
We must have the right to know the law of the union, which binds us directly or indirectly, and we have to have possibilities to participate in the democratic life of the EU.
As EU citizens, we have the right to address the institutions in any of the treaty languages and to obtain a reply in the same language (Article 20 TFEU).
Despite the manpower and cost, interpretation and translation are necessities, not targets for cost-cutting.
The positive multilingualism agenda goes further. If we learn foreign languages, we can exercise our freedom to move and to reside more freely, or just land a better job without leaving our home turf.
In a Europe where national identities have been constructed, monuments erected, (school) history books written and political careers established on the basis of “glorious” slaughter of the maximal number of neighbours, there is a categorical imperative for a deeper understanding of their experiences and cultures, beyond the practical benefits of language learning.
The emerging European public sphere offers us contemporary opportunities for cross-border communication about our common future and our shared concerns. Bloggingportal.eu and My Europe Week are but two small examples of a growing trend towards common understanding.
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is worth a Mass for a better future.
Ralf Grahn
Update 6 May about 13:30 EET: There are now 41 posts on Bloggingportal.eu's web page dedicated to #MyEurope Week.
If your first wish came true, after UK secession English would be formally supported by the membership of Ireland, where Irish is officially the first language (although English dominates in practice), and Malta, where Maltese is the national language, but English is one of the two official languages.
Even today, English is not the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union; German is, by a clear margin. As a percentage of the EU population, English and Italian share second position, followed by French just a percentage point behind.
Spanish and Polish share the next step downwards, with Dutch a level below.
For an overview, I recommend that you read the Wikipedia article Languages of the European Union.
What makes English special among the 23 official EU languages is the ability of 51 per cent of the population to speak it (to a degree).
Linguistic diversity
According to the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union has an obligation to respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity (Article 3 TEU).
There is an EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou (despite Wikipedia’s failure to update).
The EU’s language policy promotes multilingualism and aims for a situation in which every EU citizen can speak at least two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue.
Comments
In my view, the European Union exists in order to serve its citizens, not the other way around.
Legal acts, legislative proposals, policy proposals and important media communications have to be translated into the official languages of the union.
We must have the right to know the law of the union, which binds us directly or indirectly, and we have to have possibilities to participate in the democratic life of the EU.
As EU citizens, we have the right to address the institutions in any of the treaty languages and to obtain a reply in the same language (Article 20 TFEU).
Despite the manpower and cost, interpretation and translation are necessities, not targets for cost-cutting.
The positive multilingualism agenda goes further. If we learn foreign languages, we can exercise our freedom to move and to reside more freely, or just land a better job without leaving our home turf.
In a Europe where national identities have been constructed, monuments erected, (school) history books written and political careers established on the basis of “glorious” slaughter of the maximal number of neighbours, there is a categorical imperative for a deeper understanding of their experiences and cultures, beyond the practical benefits of language learning.
The emerging European public sphere offers us contemporary opportunities for cross-border communication about our common future and our shared concerns. Bloggingportal.eu and My Europe Week are but two small examples of a growing trend towards common understanding.
Europe Day 9 May 2010 is worth a Mass for a better future.
Ralf Grahn
Update 6 May about 13:30 EET: There are now 41 posts on Bloggingportal.eu's web page dedicated to #MyEurope Week.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
My Europe Week: Quadrivium of European integration: European Union
In the 5th century the seven liberal arts were set as the basis for the new school curriculum, with first Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric (later known as the Trivium), then Music, Geometry, Arithmetic and Philosophy (or Astronomy) (the later Quadrivium). (Source: Keith Sidwell: Reading Medieval Latin; Cambridge University Press)
Quadrivium: Deeper integration
Perpetuating the ineffective models of intergovernmental diplomacy, which had failed to prevent previous warfare and two World Wars, the Council of Europe ─ which turns 61 on 5 May 2010 ─ was given only limited opportunities for deeper integration.
The integrationist countries had to embark on a new road, slowly winding towards the European Union, while the intergovernmentalist governments tried to counter by establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Of these parallel further projects, the European Communities proved the more successful, which lead to the erosion of EFTA. As a consequence, the European Communities received members who were ready to sign on the dotted line for “ever closer union”, but without a real change of heart.
The Council of Europe continues to fulfil the Trivium function for European integration in the sense that no country has become a member of the European Union without being a CoE member.
In medieval educational terms, this would make the (revised) Copenhagen criteria for EU accession the equivalent of the Quadrivium for higher learning (Music, Geometry, Arithmetic and Philosophy/Astronomy).
Shortcomings
Even if the European Union is a unique experience internationally, its structures and powers seem only partly adapted to its primary tasks: enhancing the security and prosperity of EU citizens in a rapidly changing world.
Here are just two examples of critical views on EU failures:
Your Democracy in Europe sees intergovernmental diplomacy as a betrayal. Only democratic and supranational principles will do.
In an open letter to Michel Barnier, Nick Panayotopoulos shows how the internal market fails the basic needs of mobile Europeans.
Beyond the Quadrivium: Primary tasks
Instead of evaluating if the European Union is up to its primary tasks, our leaders have left us with the Lisbon Treaty (a treaty based organisation) and a Group of Wise Persons expressly forbidden to ponder institutional (constitutional) change.
The contrast could hardly be greater than to the main purposes of the United States of America and the US Constitution, clearly put by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist, number XXIII:
Instead of punching below its weight, the European Union should self-evidently act as one in an increasingly unpredictable world. For value added, we need to pool all foreign policy instruments at EU level, including defence, in alliance with the USA and Canada through NATO.
Since the days of Hamilton, the importance of budgetary issues, economic policy, the common currency, international trade, financial markets and administrative matters has grown enormously. A real federal budget is a necessity.
Naturally, important EU level powers require fully developed union level democracy: a federal Constitution based on the citizens of the union.
The citizens of the EU must be able to vote their heroes in and the bastards out of the government through federal elections to the European Parliament.
Given the cultural diversity of Europe, proportional representation and coalition governments have to be the norm. A second chamber would complicate legislation and scrutiny, but perhaps it is inevitable.
In short, the new European Union would fulfil the Copenhagen criteria for membership.
Replacing the old union of member states with a new union based on the citizens is one of the rare cases where a referendum is in order. The new Federal Republic of Europe would be founded by the citizens of the states where a majority of the voters approve the qualitative leap.
Ahead of Europe Day 9 May 2010, My Europe Week invites you to present your vision for the future of Europe.
If you find the vision of a federal Europe too audacious, I challenge you to explain how your preferences would enhance the security and the prosperity of EU citizens more effectively.
Ralf Grahn
Quadrivium: Deeper integration
Perpetuating the ineffective models of intergovernmental diplomacy, which had failed to prevent previous warfare and two World Wars, the Council of Europe ─ which turns 61 on 5 May 2010 ─ was given only limited opportunities for deeper integration.
The integrationist countries had to embark on a new road, slowly winding towards the European Union, while the intergovernmentalist governments tried to counter by establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Of these parallel further projects, the European Communities proved the more successful, which lead to the erosion of EFTA. As a consequence, the European Communities received members who were ready to sign on the dotted line for “ever closer union”, but without a real change of heart.
The Council of Europe continues to fulfil the Trivium function for European integration in the sense that no country has become a member of the European Union without being a CoE member.
In medieval educational terms, this would make the (revised) Copenhagen criteria for EU accession the equivalent of the Quadrivium for higher learning (Music, Geometry, Arithmetic and Philosophy/Astronomy).
Shortcomings
Even if the European Union is a unique experience internationally, its structures and powers seem only partly adapted to its primary tasks: enhancing the security and prosperity of EU citizens in a rapidly changing world.
Here are just two examples of critical views on EU failures:
Your Democracy in Europe sees intergovernmental diplomacy as a betrayal. Only democratic and supranational principles will do.
In an open letter to Michel Barnier, Nick Panayotopoulos shows how the internal market fails the basic needs of mobile Europeans.
Beyond the Quadrivium: Primary tasks
Instead of evaluating if the European Union is up to its primary tasks, our leaders have left us with the Lisbon Treaty (a treaty based organisation) and a Group of Wise Persons expressly forbidden to ponder institutional (constitutional) change.
The contrast could hardly be greater than to the main purposes of the United States of America and the US Constitution, clearly put by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist, number XXIII:
“The necessity of a Constitution, at least equally energetic with the one proposed, to the preservation of the Union is the point at the examination of which we are now arrived.
The principal purposes to be answered by the union are these – the common defense of the members; the preservation of the public peace, as well against internal convulsions as external attacks; the regulation of commerce with other nations and between the States; the superintendence of our intercourse, political and commercial, with foreign countries.”
Instead of punching below its weight, the European Union should self-evidently act as one in an increasingly unpredictable world. For value added, we need to pool all foreign policy instruments at EU level, including defence, in alliance with the USA and Canada through NATO.
Since the days of Hamilton, the importance of budgetary issues, economic policy, the common currency, international trade, financial markets and administrative matters has grown enormously. A real federal budget is a necessity.
Naturally, important EU level powers require fully developed union level democracy: a federal Constitution based on the citizens of the union.
The citizens of the EU must be able to vote their heroes in and the bastards out of the government through federal elections to the European Parliament.
Given the cultural diversity of Europe, proportional representation and coalition governments have to be the norm. A second chamber would complicate legislation and scrutiny, but perhaps it is inevitable.
In short, the new European Union would fulfil the Copenhagen criteria for membership.
Replacing the old union of member states with a new union based on the citizens is one of the rare cases where a referendum is in order. The new Federal Republic of Europe would be founded by the citizens of the states where a majority of the voters approve the qualitative leap.
Ahead of Europe Day 9 May 2010, My Europe Week invites you to present your vision for the future of Europe.
If you find the vision of a federal Europe too audacious, I challenge you to explain how your preferences would enhance the security and the prosperity of EU citizens more effectively.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 3 May 2010
My Europe Week: de facto solidarity
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu have invited bloggers and non-bloggers to offer their visions for the future of Europe on the My Europe Week blog, from today 3 May until Europe Day 9 May 2010.
At the beginning of My Europe Week, there can hardly be a better first step than a thoughtful reading of the Schuman Declaration sixty years ago, on 9 May 1950.
We do not have to be great experts on European history to understand the devastation caused by centuries of internecine wars and the fundamental importance of peaceful relations for life, liberty and our relative prosperity.
Robert Schuman was aware of the need for concrete steps to create a de facto solidarity, leading to the federation of Europe.
Already the first Community was entrusted with making enforceable decisions, subject to judicial appeal.
Schuman's invitation sixty years ago was open, but only six countries were willing and able to join at the time.
Deepening has taken us from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) via the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) to the European Union, now under the Lisbon Treaty.
The enlargement process reflects the gradual restoration of full sovereignty, human rights and representative democracy in many European countries, most notably the “big bang” following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
During these sixty years, Europe has changed profoundly, but has it kept pace with the world around us?
Europe is very much a work in progress.
Sixty years since the Schuman Declaration, we are still far from the federation – the United States of Europe – envisioned by Jean Monnet.
My Europe Week invites us to think about our security and prosperity in a rapidly changing world.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Write on My Europe Week, or link a post on your own blog, in the language of your choice. Twitter away under #MyEurope and #EuropeDay. Share your Europe.
At the beginning of My Europe Week, there can hardly be a better first step than a thoughtful reading of the Schuman Declaration sixty years ago, on 9 May 1950.
We do not have to be great experts on European history to understand the devastation caused by centuries of internecine wars and the fundamental importance of peaceful relations for life, liberty and our relative prosperity.
Robert Schuman was aware of the need for concrete steps to create a de facto solidarity, leading to the federation of Europe.
Already the first Community was entrusted with making enforceable decisions, subject to judicial appeal.
Schuman's invitation sixty years ago was open, but only six countries were willing and able to join at the time.
Deepening has taken us from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) via the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) to the European Union, now under the Lisbon Treaty.
The enlargement process reflects the gradual restoration of full sovereignty, human rights and representative democracy in many European countries, most notably the “big bang” following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
During these sixty years, Europe has changed profoundly, but has it kept pace with the world around us?
Europe is very much a work in progress.
Sixty years since the Schuman Declaration, we are still far from the federation – the United States of Europe – envisioned by Jean Monnet.
My Europe Week invites us to think about our security and prosperity in a rapidly changing world.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Write on My Europe Week, or link a post on your own blog, in the language of your choice. Twitter away under #MyEurope and #EuropeDay. Share your Europe.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
EU criminal justice: European evidence warrant and beyond
One of the main aims of the European Union is to offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice (FSJ) without internal frontiers.
With the Lisbon Treaty in force since 1 December 2009, the provisions on judicial cooperation in criminal matters are found in Part Three, Title V, Chapter 4 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Articles 82 to 86 TFEU; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83 for the latest consolidated version of the EU Treaties).
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the European Union is based on the principle of mutual recognition of judgments and judicial decisions. The ordinary legislative procedure is now used to lay down rules and procedures for ensuring recognition throughout the EU of all forms of judgments and judicial decisions (Article 82 TFEU; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83/79).
Before the entry into force of the amending Lisbon Treaty, the Council Framework Decision 2008/978/JHA was adopted, although the EU member states have until 19 January 2011 to take the necessary measures to comply with the provisions:
COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 2008/978/JHA of 18 December 2008 on the European evidence warrant for the purpose of obtaining objects, documents and data for use in proceedings in criminal matters; published OJEU 30.12.2008 L 350/72
EEW introductory presentations
For an overview, see European evidence warrant (EEW) among the summaries of EU legislation on the Europa webpages (last update 11 May 2009).
A more detailed and academic presentation is by Mihaela Laura Pamfil: Judicial Cooperation Based On a European Evidence Warrant (15 May 2009; 5 pages; downloadable at SSRN).
Stockholm Programme
In the 2010─2014 Stockholm Programme - An open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens (new version in Council document 5731/10, dated 3 March 2010), the European Council stated that in the face of cross-border crime, more efforts should be made to make judicial cooperation more efficient (page 38).
The European Council made the following observations (page 39):
The European Council then invited the Commission to (page 39):
Stockholm Programme Action Plan
The European Commission has published its Communication (proposal) for the implementation of the Stockholm Programme:
Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens
Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme; Brussels, 20.4.2010; COM(2010) 171 final
The following paragraph presents the general aims of the Commission in the area of criminal matters (page 5):
Promoting mutual recognition in the field of criminal law, the Commission foresees two proposals in 2011 (page 18):
UK House of Commons
The UK House of Commons Justice Committee has published an assessment of developments in the European Union:
UK House of Commons Justice Committee: Justice issues in Europe (HC 162-I; published 6 April 2010; 60 pages)
On pages 26 and 27 the Committee discusses the European evidence warrant and related questions:
Criticism against the disproportionate use of EU instruments has been heard, because the Justice Committee concludes:
Ralf Grahn
P.S.1: If you have information about general or national publications assessing the EU’s justice and home affairs (JHA), the Stockholm Programme or the proposal for the implementing Action Plan, please feel free to share it with the readers of Grahnlaw, by posting a comment or by sending me an e-mail.
PS 2: Still growing, the posts of 570 Euroblogs are now conveniently aggregated by Bloggingportal.eu. Gain insight by following and visibility by joining the ranks.
Journalists, media and bloggers covering European affairs are encouraged to spread the word about My Europe Week, the blog dedicated to posts with personal visions on Europe’s future.
From tomorrow, 3 April, to Europe Day 9 April 2010, you can write a blog post on My Europe Week or link a story on your own blog, in the language of your choice. These can include Europe Day events in the member states.
You can join the conversation on Twitter under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
With the Lisbon Treaty in force since 1 December 2009, the provisions on judicial cooperation in criminal matters are found in Part Three, Title V, Chapter 4 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Articles 82 to 86 TFEU; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83 for the latest consolidated version of the EU Treaties).
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the European Union is based on the principle of mutual recognition of judgments and judicial decisions. The ordinary legislative procedure is now used to lay down rules and procedures for ensuring recognition throughout the EU of all forms of judgments and judicial decisions (Article 82 TFEU; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83/79).
Before the entry into force of the amending Lisbon Treaty, the Council Framework Decision 2008/978/JHA was adopted, although the EU member states have until 19 January 2011 to take the necessary measures to comply with the provisions:
COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 2008/978/JHA of 18 December 2008 on the European evidence warrant for the purpose of obtaining objects, documents and data for use in proceedings in criminal matters; published OJEU 30.12.2008 L 350/72
EEW introductory presentations
For an overview, see European evidence warrant (EEW) among the summaries of EU legislation on the Europa webpages (last update 11 May 2009).
A more detailed and academic presentation is by Mihaela Laura Pamfil: Judicial Cooperation Based On a European Evidence Warrant (15 May 2009; 5 pages; downloadable at SSRN).
Stockholm Programme
In the 2010─2014 Stockholm Programme - An open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens (new version in Council document 5731/10, dated 3 March 2010), the European Council stated that in the face of cross-border crime, more efforts should be made to make judicial cooperation more efficient (page 38).
The European Council made the following observations (page 39):
The European Council considers that the setting up of a comprehensive system for obtaining evidence in cases with a cross-border dimension, based on the principle of mutual recognition, should be further pursued. The existing instruments in this area constitute a fragmentary regime. A new approach is needed, based on the principle of mutual recognition but also taking into account the flexibility of the traditional system of mutual legal assistance. This new model could have a broader scope and should cover as many types of evidence as possible, taking account of the measures concerned.
The European Council then invited the Commission to (page 39):
• propose a comprehensive system, after an impact assessment, to replace all the existing instruments in this area, including Council Framework Decision 2008/978/JHA of 18 December 2008 on the European Evidence Warrant for the purpose of obtaining objects, documents and data for use in proceedings in criminal matters, covering as far as possible all types of evidence and containing deadlines for enforcement and limiting as far as possible the grounds for refusal;
• explore whether there are other means to facilitate admissibility of evidence in this area;
Stockholm Programme Action Plan
The European Commission has published its Communication (proposal) for the implementation of the Stockholm Programme:
Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens
Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme; Brussels, 20.4.2010; COM(2010) 171 final
The following paragraph presents the general aims of the Commission in the area of criminal matters (page 5):
Criminal law is a relatively novel area of EU action for which the Treaty of Lisbon sets a clear legal framework. A criminal justice strategy, fully respecting subsidiarity and coherence, should guide the EU's policy for the approximation of substantive and procedural criminal law. It should be pursued in close cooperation with European Parliament, national parliaments and the Council and acknowledge that focus will remain primarily on mutual recognition and the harmonisation of offences and sanctions will be pursued for selected cases.
Promoting mutual recognition in the field of criminal law, the Commission foresees two proposals in 2011 (page 18):
• Legislative proposal on a comprehensive regime on obtaining evidence in criminal matters based on the principle of mutual recognition and covering all types of evidence
• Legislative proposal to introduce common standards for gathering evidence in criminal matters in order to ensure its admissibility
UK House of Commons
The UK House of Commons Justice Committee has published an assessment of developments in the European Union:
UK House of Commons Justice Committee: Justice issues in Europe (HC 162-I; published 6 April 2010; 60 pages)
On pages 26 and 27 the Committee discusses the European evidence warrant and related questions:
59. Nevertheless, there are currently two parallel initiatives which may provide the basis for a new measure. The first, a green paper on the gathering and admission of evidence, was issued by the European Commission in 2009 to enable consultation and detailed investigation before new legislation is proposed. In addition, it is anticipated that a member state initiative, led by Belgium, will propose the introduction of a “European investigation order”.
Criticism against the disproportionate use of EU instruments has been heard, because the Justice Committee concludes:
60. While the Government may wish the EU to adopt a “look before you legislate” approach, the ability of member states to present their own initiatives may pre-empt more considered approaches by the European Commission. We agree with the Government that, if the European evidence warrant is revised or replaced, lessons should be learned from the operation of the European arrest warrant by incorporating safeguards into the legislation to minimise the potential for disproportionate use.
Ralf Grahn
P.S.1: If you have information about general or national publications assessing the EU’s justice and home affairs (JHA), the Stockholm Programme or the proposal for the implementing Action Plan, please feel free to share it with the readers of Grahnlaw, by posting a comment or by sending me an e-mail.
PS 2: Still growing, the posts of 570 Euroblogs are now conveniently aggregated by Bloggingportal.eu. Gain insight by following and visibility by joining the ranks.
Journalists, media and bloggers covering European affairs are encouraged to spread the word about My Europe Week, the blog dedicated to posts with personal visions on Europe’s future.
From tomorrow, 3 April, to Europe Day 9 April 2010, you can write a blog post on My Europe Week or link a story on your own blog, in the language of your choice. These can include Europe Day events in the member states.
You can join the conversation on Twitter under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Calling European bloggers: Spread the word about My Europe Week
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu invite bloggers to participate in a blog carnival, by presenting their visions for the future of Europe between 3 May and Europe Day 9 May 2010, in the language of their choice.
You can submit a text or link to a post on your own blog.
But first the word has to be spread. We have a small beginning, but we need your help: more posts in more languages to make people aware of My Europe Week.
Here are the posts and languages I have noticed this far.
English
Stephen Spillane: My Europe Week – Celebrating Europe Day Online (19 April 2010)
Grahnlaw (in English): My Europe Week is about your vision for Europe (22 April 2010)
Mathew Lowry’s Tagsmanian Devil: What Europe do you want? The My Europe Week Blog Carnival is coming (23 april 2010)
Deutsch
Martin på Europaeum: Wer Visionen hat, sollte bloggen (20 april 2010)
Svenska
(bloggen.fi) Grahnlaw: Din vision för Europa: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Grahnblawg: Inför Europadagen: Din vision för Europa på My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Suomi
Grahnlaw (blogs.fi): Sinun Eurooppa-visiosi: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Eurooppaoikeus: Kutsu blogikarnevaaliin: My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. You can participate under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay on Twitter.
You can submit a text or link to a post on your own blog.
But first the word has to be spread. We have a small beginning, but we need your help: more posts in more languages to make people aware of My Europe Week.
Here are the posts and languages I have noticed this far.
English
Stephen Spillane: My Europe Week – Celebrating Europe Day Online (19 April 2010)
Grahnlaw (in English): My Europe Week is about your vision for Europe (22 April 2010)
Mathew Lowry’s Tagsmanian Devil: What Europe do you want? The My Europe Week Blog Carnival is coming (23 april 2010)
Deutsch
Martin på Europaeum: Wer Visionen hat, sollte bloggen (20 april 2010)
Svenska
(bloggen.fi) Grahnlaw: Din vision för Europa: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Grahnblawg: Inför Europadagen: Din vision för Europa på My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Suomi
Grahnlaw (blogs.fi): Sinun Eurooppa-visiosi: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Eurooppaoikeus: Kutsu blogikarnevaaliin: My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. You can participate under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay on Twitter.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
My Europe Week is about your vision for the EU
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu have decided to call for personal visions of the future of Europe in the 21st century, under the theme My Europe Week.
From 3 May to Europe Day 9 May 2010 you can write a blog post on the new My Europe Week blog, set up by Stephen Spillane and with a logo designed by Martin of Europaeum.
Alternatively, you can link a post on your own blog to My Europe Week.
On Twitter you can follow the discussion under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Bloggers of Europe, unite … in diversity(?) Or was it adversity?
Ralf Grahn
From 3 May to Europe Day 9 May 2010 you can write a blog post on the new My Europe Week blog, set up by Stephen Spillane and with a logo designed by Martin of Europaeum.
Alternatively, you can link a post on your own blog to My Europe Week.
On Twitter you can follow the discussion under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Bloggers of Europe, unite … in diversity(?) Or was it adversity?
Ralf Grahn
Sunday, 10 May 2009
European Union 2.0
Each issue of The Economist reminds the readers that the paper was first published in September 1843 to take part in ”a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.”
In the Charlemagne column An unloved parliament and in Charlemagne’s notebook The wrong way to make voters care about Europe, The Economist’s European affairs editor opts for the obstructionists.
What is going to happen if the once distinguished paper keeps on choosing the smaller Matryoshka doll, every time it broaches European subjects?
***
Europe Day
Kosmopolito doubted if the handing out of free umbrellas, pens and bottle openers was the right way to go to get closer to the citizen.
The European Citizen wondered why the Party of European Socialists (PES) was the only one to mention Europe Day on its website. In a comment to Europe Day 2009 stocktaking Eurocentric said:
“The EU needs a new story, really. It can no longer be about member states; it has to be about citizens, and it has to speak to citizens (or, preferably, encourage citizens to speak to it).
It may have been (and be) a project to save the nation state, but Europe needs to be a way of citizens ensuring effective government when the nation state simply isn't up to the task. Europe needs to be about citizen empowerment; about citizens being able to influence and set standards in society. The idea of Europe needs to speak to people in these terms.
Which is why it's disappointing that the EP parties haven't been as assertive or organised as they should be.”
Eurocentric is right.
The Schuman declaration saw the pooling of coal and steel production as the first step in the federation of Europe.
Franco-German reconciliation was a historical milestone and war between the members of the European Union is almost unthinkable.
But the old paradigms of technocracy and diplomacy have outlived their usefulness.
More Europe is needed in world affairs and to erase barriers within the European Union.
Legitimacy can only spring from EU citizens, not from member states or their leaders who have other things on their plate.
The time has come for the European Union 2.0 ─ the legitimate union where the citizens set the course for the government.
EU 2.0 = democracy and federation.
Ralf Grahn
In the Charlemagne column An unloved parliament and in Charlemagne’s notebook The wrong way to make voters care about Europe, The Economist’s European affairs editor opts for the obstructionists.
What is going to happen if the once distinguished paper keeps on choosing the smaller Matryoshka doll, every time it broaches European subjects?
***
Europe Day
Kosmopolito doubted if the handing out of free umbrellas, pens and bottle openers was the right way to go to get closer to the citizen.
The European Citizen wondered why the Party of European Socialists (PES) was the only one to mention Europe Day on its website. In a comment to Europe Day 2009 stocktaking Eurocentric said:
“The EU needs a new story, really. It can no longer be about member states; it has to be about citizens, and it has to speak to citizens (or, preferably, encourage citizens to speak to it).
It may have been (and be) a project to save the nation state, but Europe needs to be a way of citizens ensuring effective government when the nation state simply isn't up to the task. Europe needs to be about citizen empowerment; about citizens being able to influence and set standards in society. The idea of Europe needs to speak to people in these terms.
Which is why it's disappointing that the EP parties haven't been as assertive or organised as they should be.”
Eurocentric is right.
The Schuman declaration saw the pooling of coal and steel production as the first step in the federation of Europe.
Franco-German reconciliation was a historical milestone and war between the members of the European Union is almost unthinkable.
But the old paradigms of technocracy and diplomacy have outlived their usefulness.
More Europe is needed in world affairs and to erase barriers within the European Union.
Legitimacy can only spring from EU citizens, not from member states or their leaders who have other things on their plate.
The time has come for the European Union 2.0 ─ the legitimate union where the citizens set the course for the government.
EU 2.0 = democracy and federation.
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Europe Day 2009 stocktaking
Europe’s history is full of mass slaughter and devastation, but Europe has also been the home of the universities, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, leading to representative democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law.
Schuman declaration
We read the visionary, yet realistic words of the Schuman declaration of 9 May 1950: Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.
Enlargement and some progress
Since then, the European Union has come into being, encompassing 27 member states. It was a major achievement when Central European countries were able to reunite with the democracies of Western Europe. But this larger EU is far from ready to master the challenges of the 21st century.
Despite remarkable achievements, the nation states of Europe have remained more wedded to the past than committed to the future.
Just as their rejection of the Briand plan opened the door to the Second World War, shortsighted political elites sunk the European Defence Community and the European (Political) Community, cold-shouldered the Spinelli draft Constitution and ushered in an era of endless institutional tinkering, instead of opting for a strong and democratic union.
Behind the curve
We Europeans are behind the curve, and the misdirected anti-EU campaigners are even more oblivious of the world’s challenges than our leaders and we citizens in general.
The state of the union is sobering: The Treaty of Lisbon is like a revised issue of a maintenance manual for the European Union. Minor faults in the Treaty of Nice have been corrected, but the main failings are preserved, even if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force.
In the United States, more than 200 years ago, the main purposes of that Union were succinctly put by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist, number XXIII:
“The necessity of a Constitution, at least equally energetic with the one proposed, to the preservation of the Union is the point at the examination of which we are now arrived.
The principal purposes to be answered by the union are these – the common defense of the members; the preservation of the public peace, as well against internal convulsions as external attacks; the regulation of commerce with other nations and between the States; the superintendence of our intercourse, political and commercial, with foreign countries.”
***
Vision: Real powers and real democracy
Cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as national, regional and local politics can continue to thrive, but two main areas require more Europe:
1) If we want the European Union to enhance our security on the global scene, and if we want it to do good in the world, the EUt needs to be effective.
2) For our prosperity, the European Union needs to become a borderless area for people, services and justice.
In order to be effective, the EU needs real powers, where they count.
Real powers must be based on democratic legitimacy: the directly elected European Parliament and a politically accountable government, based on the citizens’ vote.
When EU citizens have understood this much, future Europe Days will remember the coming of age of Europeans and of Europe.
Even with the limited political rights that we have, between 4 and 7 June 2009 you can vote for a forward-looking version of Europe, instead of a continent rooted in past prejudices.
Ralf Grahn
Schuman declaration
We read the visionary, yet realistic words of the Schuman declaration of 9 May 1950: Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.
Enlargement and some progress
Since then, the European Union has come into being, encompassing 27 member states. It was a major achievement when Central European countries were able to reunite with the democracies of Western Europe. But this larger EU is far from ready to master the challenges of the 21st century.
Despite remarkable achievements, the nation states of Europe have remained more wedded to the past than committed to the future.
Just as their rejection of the Briand plan opened the door to the Second World War, shortsighted political elites sunk the European Defence Community and the European (Political) Community, cold-shouldered the Spinelli draft Constitution and ushered in an era of endless institutional tinkering, instead of opting for a strong and democratic union.
Behind the curve
We Europeans are behind the curve, and the misdirected anti-EU campaigners are even more oblivious of the world’s challenges than our leaders and we citizens in general.
The state of the union is sobering: The Treaty of Lisbon is like a revised issue of a maintenance manual for the European Union. Minor faults in the Treaty of Nice have been corrected, but the main failings are preserved, even if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force.
In the United States, more than 200 years ago, the main purposes of that Union were succinctly put by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist, number XXIII:
“The necessity of a Constitution, at least equally energetic with the one proposed, to the preservation of the Union is the point at the examination of which we are now arrived.
The principal purposes to be answered by the union are these – the common defense of the members; the preservation of the public peace, as well against internal convulsions as external attacks; the regulation of commerce with other nations and between the States; the superintendence of our intercourse, political and commercial, with foreign countries.”
***
Vision: Real powers and real democracy
Cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as national, regional and local politics can continue to thrive, but two main areas require more Europe:
1) If we want the European Union to enhance our security on the global scene, and if we want it to do good in the world, the EUt needs to be effective.
2) For our prosperity, the European Union needs to become a borderless area for people, services and justice.
In order to be effective, the EU needs real powers, where they count.
Real powers must be based on democratic legitimacy: the directly elected European Parliament and a politically accountable government, based on the citizens’ vote.
When EU citizens have understood this much, future Europe Days will remember the coming of age of Europeans and of Europe.
Even with the limited political rights that we have, between 4 and 7 June 2009 you can vote for a forward-looking version of Europe, instead of a continent rooted in past prejudices.
Ralf Grahn
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Europe day: Flying the flag(s) in Finland
In Finland the Ministry of the Interior requests government institutions to fly the national flag on Europe Day 9 May, and the Ministry recommends that private properties do the same. If possible, the European flag should be flown alongside the national flag.
A small symbolic gesture from the Government, but positive all the same, although the practice is not wide-spread outside public bodies.
Finland joined the European Union with Austria and Sweden on 1 January 1995, bringing the number of EU member states to 15.
Ralf Grahn
A small symbolic gesture from the Government, but positive all the same, although the practice is not wide-spread outside public bodies.
Finland joined the European Union with Austria and Sweden on 1 January 1995, bringing the number of EU member states to 15.
Ralf Grahn
Friday, 9 May 2008
Europe Day: Schuman declaration
The French foreign minister Robert Schuman made a proposal 9 May 1950, which led to the establishment of the first of the European communities, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). Almost six decades later we have within view, through the Treaty of Lisbon, a unified European Union (EU) into which the European Community (EC) would melt.
The European Union is an ongoing effort, but despite its shortcomings it offers 500 million citizens and 27 member states the best hope for strengthened security and enhanced prosperity in an unpredictably globalising world.
On Europe Day, 9 May 2008, there is cause for each of us to think about the origins and the future of the peaceful and voluntary integration of our continent. Here is the text of the Schuman declaration:
“World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.
The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. In taking upon herself for more than 20 years the role of champion of a united Europe, France has always had as her essential aim the service of peace. A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.
Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.
With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point.
It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.
The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part and bound ultimately to provide all the member countries with the basic elements of industrial production on the same terms, will lay a true foundation for their economic unification.
This production will be offered to the world as a whole without distinction or exception, with the aim of contributing to raising living standards and to promoting peaceful achievements. With increased resources Europe will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent. In this way, there will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system; it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.
By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.To promote the realization of the objectives defined, the French Government is ready to open negotiations on the following bases.
The task with which this common High Authority will be charged will be that of securing in the shortest possible time the modernization of production and the improvement of its quality; the supply of coal and steel on identical terms to the French and German markets, as well as to the markets of other member countries; the development in common of exports to other countries; the equalization and improvement of the living conditions of workers in these industries.
To achieve these objectives, starting from the very different conditions in which the production of member countries is at present situated, it is proposed that certain transitional measures should be instituted, such as the application of a production and investment plan, the establishment of compensating machinery for equating prices, and the creation of a restructuring fund to facilitate the rationalization of production. The movement of coal and steel between member countries will immediately be freed from all customs duty, and will not be affected by differential transport rates. Conditions will gradually be created which will spontaneously provide for the more rational distribution of production at the highest level of productivity.
In contrast to international cartels, which tend to impose restrictive practices on distribution and the exploitation of national markets, and to maintain high profits, the organization will ensure the fusion of markets and the expansion of production.
The essential principles and undertakings defined above will be the subject of a treaty signed between the States and submitted for the ratification of their parliaments. The negotiations required to settle details of applications will be undertaken with the help of an arbitrator appointed by common agreement. He will be entrusted with the task of seeing that the agreements reached conform with the principles laid down, and, in the event of a deadlock, he will decide what solution is to be adopted.
The common High Authority entrusted with the management of the scheme will be composed of independent persons appointed by the governments, giving equal representation. A chairman will be chosen by common agreement between the governments. The Authority's decisions will be enforceable in France, Germany and other member countries. Appropriate measures will be provided for means of appeal against the decisions of the Authority.
A representative of the United Nations will be accredited to the Authority, and will be instructed to make a public report to the United Nations twice yearly, giving an account of the working of the new organization, particularly as concerns the safeguarding of its objectives.
The institution of the High Authority will in no way prejudge the methods of ownership of enterprises. In the exercise of its functions, the common High Authority will take into account the powers conferred upon the International Ruhr Authority and the obligations of all kinds imposed upon Germany, so long as these remain in force.”
Source:
European Commission web page ‘Declaration of 9 May’
http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/decl_en.htm
***
The Treaty of Lisbon is nowhere near a final answer to the challenges facing Europe, but a milestone on the road towards more fully developed European level democracy, security and prosperity.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Although my main writing dissecting the Treaty of Lisbon will continue on this blog, I decided to establish a new one in Finnish, called Eurooppaoikeus (European law), for occasional postings
http://eurooppaoikeus.blogspot.com
The European Union is an ongoing effort, but despite its shortcomings it offers 500 million citizens and 27 member states the best hope for strengthened security and enhanced prosperity in an unpredictably globalising world.
On Europe Day, 9 May 2008, there is cause for each of us to think about the origins and the future of the peaceful and voluntary integration of our continent. Here is the text of the Schuman declaration:
“World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.
The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. In taking upon herself for more than 20 years the role of champion of a united Europe, France has always had as her essential aim the service of peace. A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.
Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.
With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point.
It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.
The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part and bound ultimately to provide all the member countries with the basic elements of industrial production on the same terms, will lay a true foundation for their economic unification.
This production will be offered to the world as a whole without distinction or exception, with the aim of contributing to raising living standards and to promoting peaceful achievements. With increased resources Europe will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent. In this way, there will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system; it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.
By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.To promote the realization of the objectives defined, the French Government is ready to open negotiations on the following bases.
The task with which this common High Authority will be charged will be that of securing in the shortest possible time the modernization of production and the improvement of its quality; the supply of coal and steel on identical terms to the French and German markets, as well as to the markets of other member countries; the development in common of exports to other countries; the equalization and improvement of the living conditions of workers in these industries.
To achieve these objectives, starting from the very different conditions in which the production of member countries is at present situated, it is proposed that certain transitional measures should be instituted, such as the application of a production and investment plan, the establishment of compensating machinery for equating prices, and the creation of a restructuring fund to facilitate the rationalization of production. The movement of coal and steel between member countries will immediately be freed from all customs duty, and will not be affected by differential transport rates. Conditions will gradually be created which will spontaneously provide for the more rational distribution of production at the highest level of productivity.
In contrast to international cartels, which tend to impose restrictive practices on distribution and the exploitation of national markets, and to maintain high profits, the organization will ensure the fusion of markets and the expansion of production.
The essential principles and undertakings defined above will be the subject of a treaty signed between the States and submitted for the ratification of their parliaments. The negotiations required to settle details of applications will be undertaken with the help of an arbitrator appointed by common agreement. He will be entrusted with the task of seeing that the agreements reached conform with the principles laid down, and, in the event of a deadlock, he will decide what solution is to be adopted.
The common High Authority entrusted with the management of the scheme will be composed of independent persons appointed by the governments, giving equal representation. A chairman will be chosen by common agreement between the governments. The Authority's decisions will be enforceable in France, Germany and other member countries. Appropriate measures will be provided for means of appeal against the decisions of the Authority.
A representative of the United Nations will be accredited to the Authority, and will be instructed to make a public report to the United Nations twice yearly, giving an account of the working of the new organization, particularly as concerns the safeguarding of its objectives.
The institution of the High Authority will in no way prejudge the methods of ownership of enterprises. In the exercise of its functions, the common High Authority will take into account the powers conferred upon the International Ruhr Authority and the obligations of all kinds imposed upon Germany, so long as these remain in force.”
Source:
European Commission web page ‘Declaration of 9 May’
http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/decl_en.htm
***
The Treaty of Lisbon is nowhere near a final answer to the challenges facing Europe, but a milestone on the road towards more fully developed European level democracy, security and prosperity.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Although my main writing dissecting the Treaty of Lisbon will continue on this blog, I decided to establish a new one in Finnish, called Eurooppaoikeus (European law), for occasional postings
http://eurooppaoikeus.blogspot.com
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
EU Charter Preamble
The Preamble of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000) presents the main reasons behind the Charter and the general principles on which it is founded.
Today, on Europe Day, the Preamble reminds us of the basic values of the European Union, values which need to be upheld every single day of the year.
Preamble
“The peoples of Europe, in creating an ever closer union among them, are resolved to share a peaceful future based on common values.
Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.
The Union contributes to the preservation and to the development of these common values while respecting the diversity of the cultures and traditions of the peoples of Europe as well as the national identities of the Member States and the organisation of their public authorities at national, regional and local levels; it seeks to promote balanced and sustainable development and ensures free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, and the freedom of establishment.
To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights in the light of changes in society, social progress and scientific and technological developments by making those rights more visible in a Charter.
This Charter reaffirms, with due regard for the powers and tasks of the Community and the Union and the principle of subsidiarity, the rights as they result, in particular, from the constitutional traditions and international obligations common to the Member States, the Treaty on European Union, the Community Treaties, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Social Charters adopted by the Community and by the Council of Europe and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities and of the European Court of Human Rights.
Enjoyment of these rights entails responsibilities and duties with regard to other persons, to the human community and to future generations.
The Union therefore recognises the rights, freedoms and principles set out hereafter.”
Democracy, human rights and the rule of law have to be at the centre of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.
Ralf Grahn
Today, on Europe Day, the Preamble reminds us of the basic values of the European Union, values which need to be upheld every single day of the year.
Preamble
“The peoples of Europe, in creating an ever closer union among them, are resolved to share a peaceful future based on common values.
Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.
The Union contributes to the preservation and to the development of these common values while respecting the diversity of the cultures and traditions of the peoples of Europe as well as the national identities of the Member States and the organisation of their public authorities at national, regional and local levels; it seeks to promote balanced and sustainable development and ensures free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, and the freedom of establishment.
To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights in the light of changes in society, social progress and scientific and technological developments by making those rights more visible in a Charter.
This Charter reaffirms, with due regard for the powers and tasks of the Community and the Union and the principle of subsidiarity, the rights as they result, in particular, from the constitutional traditions and international obligations common to the Member States, the Treaty on European Union, the Community Treaties, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Social Charters adopted by the Community and by the Council of Europe and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities and of the European Court of Human Rights.
Enjoyment of these rights entails responsibilities and duties with regard to other persons, to the human community and to future generations.
The Union therefore recognises the rights, freedoms and principles set out hereafter.”
Democracy, human rights and the rule of law have to be at the centre of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.
Ralf Grahn
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