[fse-esf] Charter discussion

[Judith Dellheim]

NEWS UPDATE
<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P>FROM THE GUE/NGL GROUP</O:P>

<O:P>Brussels 26-06-2007</O:P><O:P>

A Charter for an alternative Europe

<O:P> </O:P>

Launching the Charter of Principles for another Europe today in the European Parliament, Francis Wurtz, President of the GUE/NGL group, gave the full support of the group for this "list of alternative principles for another Europe" and announced his group's intention to host a discussion on September 20th in Brussels on the issue.<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

Participating in today's press conference, Franco Russo, the Italian representative of the Charter of Principles for Another Europe, spoke about the important role of the European Social Forum and its related movements in developing the debate on possible alternatives to the neoliberal vision of Europe. "The 'European demos' is emerging and the European social forums are the first expressions of this, arguing for individual, social and democratic rights to be extended to all spheres of life across the continent" he said.<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

Annick Coupé, national spokeswoman of the 'Union syndical solidaires' in France attacked the neoliberal politics of European leaders who seek to "pit workers against each other". "If we do not show that it is possible to build another Europe, instilled with the interests of citizens, the European project will fail entirely".<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

The necessity for social movements to mobilise effectively to "change political facts" and spur change on a European level was also stressed by participants.<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

Following the recent European Council summit in Brussels, a European working group of activists involved in the European Social Forum process finished working on a proposal for a “Charter of Principles for Another Europe”. This proposal is the result of two years of discussions, drafts and amendments by a joint body of different networks, platforms and initiatives. The aim is to instigate a broad public discussion about a "Europe for all" and promote the preparations for the 5th European Social Forum to be held in early autumn 2008.<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

These principles of the charter are based on:<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

- equality and dignity between people and the inviolability of each person;<O:P></O:P>

- peace, freedom, justice and security as individual and collective assets;<O:P></O:P>

- equality between all women and men, initially parity between men and women, and the protection of the diversity of individuals;<O:P></O:P>

- democracy and participation by citizens;<O:P></O:P>

- European citizenship granted according to peoples' place of residence;<O:P></O:P>

- secularity of public institutions;<O:P></O:P>

- the defence of social rights, in particular labour law;<O:P></O:P>

- solidarity to eliminate poverty, exclusion, deprivation;<O:P></O:P>

- a socially equitable, ecologically sustainable, democratically managed economy. <O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

See www.europe4all.org [https://freemailng6501.web.de/jump.htm?goto=www%2Eeurope4all%2Eorg] for more details.<O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>GUE/NGL PressGianfranco Battistini +32 475 64 66 28<O:P></O:P>David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12www.guengl.eu The GUE/NGL (European United Left/Nordic Green Left) Group is made up of forty-one MEPs from sixteen parties in thirteen European countries. Le Groupe GUE/NGL (Gauche unitaire européenne/Gauche verte nordique) est composé de 41 députés issus de 16 partis politiques de 13 pays européens. </O:P>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.fse-esf.org/pipermail/fse-esf/attachments/20070627/ce730965/attachment.htm