Value for money? Europarties prepare for European Parliament elections

With only a year and some days to go, the Europarties have started their warm-up exercises ahead of the campaigns for elections to the European Parliament in May 2014. Some of these Europarties, officially political parties at European level, were busy laying their campaign plans during the weekend. - How did these Europarties inform and interact with the public? Read Value for money? Europarties prepare for European Parliament elections.

France's republican values at European level

Alexis de Tocqueville, the author of De la démocratie en Amérique (Democracy in America), inspired the headline for these recurring if random observations about European democracy. Earlier columns can be found here, here, here and here. As an afterthought to the discussion about the declaration of unity and the campaign for a United States of Europe, initiated by Bernard Barthalay, I would like to add: France's republican values at European level.

European Federalist Paper number five: United States, federal or republic?

In this entry we pick up the thread of the European Federalist Papers I have presented and tried to discuss in a constructive but critical spirit. Read European Federalist Paper number five: United States, federal or republic?

#MyEurope blogging on #EuropeDay – Part one

In the spirit of the blog post Speak your mind on Europe Day, 9 May 2013 numerous of EU citizens seized the opportunity to tweet their expectations for the European Union using the traditional Bloggingportal.eu hashtag #MyEurope, in the spirit condensed by the OneEurope network: democracy, unity, diversity. Read #MyEurope blogging on #EuropeDay – Part one.

Europe Day for democracy, unity and diversity

If the 9 May 1950 Schuman declaration was the first concrete step in the federation of Europe, this Europe Day should sound the death knell of intergovernmental and undemocratic European integration and the awakening call for a quantum leap to democratic and accountable government in the European Union, or at least the eurozone. Read Europe Day for democracy, unity and diversity.

”Anything goes” for Daniel Hannan MEP

'Scepticism' conveys the meaning of doubt or questioning of accepted opinions, but not for the anti-EU campaigner @DanHannanMEP, who denounces @matsJpersson and Open Europe for not being ”eurosceptic” anymore. Read ”Anything goes” for Daniel Hannan MEP.

One notch closer to Brexit: Queen's Speech

Forty years into British EEC/EU membership and twenty years since the ”completion” of the single market, the United Kingdom seems to be following an erratic course towards the EU periphery or withdrawal (Brexit). Read One notch closer to Brexit: Queen's Speech.

François Villon on Europe Day

Ahead of Europe Day (9 May), when Europe needs a real discussion about how to get the citizens in charge and on board, we hear lullabies to send Europeans and their leaders to sleep at the end of the political cul-de-sac of intergovernmental Europe. Read François Villon on Europe Day.

Speak your mind on Europe Day, 9 May 2013

Thursday 9 May 2013, Europe Day is an excellent opportunity to commemorate the aim of the Schuman declaration and to take stock of how far the elite project of European integration has advanced towards a union of citizens, with power vested in the people, in the eurozone and the wider European Union. Read Speak your mind on Europe Day, 9 May 2013.

Democracy in Europe (5 May 2013): a Citizen of Europe

Yesterday I noted down a few thoughts from reading the fourth of the European Federalist Papers. Today I want to pay my respects to the Federal Constitution of Europe blog, written by a Citizen of Europe since 2009. Read Democracy in Europe (5 May 2013): a Citizen of Europe.

European Federalist Paper number four: USA

Look at the texts, which introduce the Articles of Confederation, in force before the US Constitution. Is there anything we Europeans could learn from the American experience? Read European Federalist Paper number four: USA.

Van Rompuy's clarion call?

The current system ensures the growing success of a motley crew of protest parties, often with nasty attitudes and mostly with few constructive policies on offer. Even if active resistance is still a minority option, growing numbers of Europeans have entered a stage of alienation, passive resistance and clenched fists. Read Van Rompuy's clarion call?

Letta goes Europe, but no democratic EU in sight

Based on his eurozone and EU priorities, Italy's new prime minister Enrico Letta started by meeting members of the European Council: the German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, the French president François Hollande in Paris and the European Council (EUCO) president Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels, followed by a meeting with the president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso today. Read Letta goes Europe, but no democratic EU in sight.

Italy's Letta challenges European Council

The economic and political challenges of Europe must be solved together, according to the new Italian government, led by Enrico Letta, who demands effective action from the members of the European Council (EUCO). Read Italy's Letta challenges European Council.

Habermas preparing Europe Day

In order to enrich my experience, today I wanted to go outside the Brussels bubble to shed light on the relations between the European institutions and the citizens they are supposed to serve. It felt natural to turn to the lecture delivered on 26 April 2013 in Leuven by professor Jürgen Habermas, ”Democracy, Solidarity and the European crisis”. I follow the written text, but you can also can also watch the YouTube video. Read and reflect on Habermas preparing Europe Day.