I am Europe by MAGNIFIK

T H E O N LY M O R E O R L E S S I N D E P E N D E N T E U R O P E A N N E W S PA P E R I J U N E 2013

ANTI EUROPE EUROPEANS

Trust in EU has collapsed

THE ERASMUS EXPERIENCE

Still a long way to go

HOT SPOTS FOR HOT CITIZENS

Our Top Eight selection

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

EUROPEAN CITIZENS GET ORGANISED

Many barriers must be removed

THE SPANISH MORTGAGE CRISIS

Thousands suffer as Popular Party keeps banks happy

Powerful new tool for empowerment

EDITORIAL

You too are Europe The European Year of Citizens – 2013. How timely! Citizens throughout Europe are not exactly in love with the EU these days.

he EU is divided, riven with conflict; as the Irish poet WB Yeats put it, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold … the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity”. People lash out at their chosen scapegoat: from political parties and national governments to immigrants and ethnic groups, from Germans to ‘lazy southerners’, from ‘Brussels’ to the EU as a whole to international finance. If one believes in simplistic, irrational solutions (‘Brussels’ is the source of all evil, get rid of all immigrants, etc) it is easy to be single-focused and passionate. However, the citizens in the I AM EUROPE project believe that lashing around in blind or blinkered anger will take us precisely nowhere; that hard, critical but constructive work is needed to come up with wise and workable solutions to improve European democracy.

We are Europe; therefore it is we who must change.

A return to economic growth is unlikely to remove the division and distrust. The EU needs to profoundly change the ways it deals with its citizens. But we are Europe; therefore it is we who must change. Living democracy is a way of life, a civic culture in which citizens participate creatively in public life, achieving solutions that combine insights from diverse perspectives and experience. Democracy is not what we have, but what we do. And I AM EUROPE is all about doing democracy. Over the past three months, the citizens involved in this project have met in the four corners of Europe, exploring how citizens may truly participate in the processes of EU decision-making. This newspaper – produced by citizen journalists from eight countries across the EU, from Belgium to Bulgaria and from Poland to Spain – is intended to give you a taste of our many hours of discussion and debate, the numerous questions we’ve asked ourselves. You, too, are Europe. Without you, we cannot build a better Europe …

LET’S TALK ABOUT Citizen participation; Moves to simplify ECI requirements; Why 1.5m Europeans demand water {PAGE 3} How to leap the gap between citizens and decision-makers; Looming extremism as trust in EU plunges {PAGE 4} The Spanish mortgage crisis; Evictions and citizen responses across Europe; How Belgium’s G1000 reveals the crucial missing link {PAGE 5} Non-formal groups; Why gender balance is good – especially in times of crisis; How the online/offline combination can maximise people power {PAGE 6} The threat of ‘secret’ lobbying; Hopes for transparency {PAGE 7} How Koen eventually got his tête-à-tête with Herman {PAGE 8} The expansion of people power as EU democracy ails {PAGE 10} Information overload, conflicting messages and ‘free’ news {PAGE 11} Top European festivals {PAGE 12} Erasmus: Is it any use? {PAGE 13} European films and Hotspots for hot citizens {PAGE 14} The I Am Europe Conference {PAGE 15} and ... Reports from the future! {PAGE 16} EDITOR IN CHIEF: Antje Sachs I CHIEF COPY EDITOR: David Quin (SwiftWrite) I CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jo Adriaens (Magnifik.be) I MANAGING EDITORS: Jan Dabkowski (Polis), Bram Souffreau (Apache.be), Johan WeiszMyara (StreetPress.com) I REPORTERS: Kita Boncheva, Agata de Latour, Benjamin Fauquet, Alfons López Carrete, Belin Mollov, Ania Pelc, Antje Sachs, Liliana Serediuc, Galina Spassova, Günter Thauer, Koen Wynants I PUBLISHER Tim Verbist – Stoopstraat 1 / 5, 2000 Antwerp (Evens Foundation) This newspaper was produced within the framework of I AM EUROPE, an initiative of the Evens Foundation, with the support of the Europe for Citizens Program of the European Union.

I AM EUROPE newspaper by Evens Foundation is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported Licence. DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and the participants in the project. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Evens Foundation.

THE MAKING OF ‘I AM EUROPE’: Pictures by Ania Pelc and Mikael Norberg.

3 Citizens need inspiration to participate more for a better future. Anders Dahlgren, Örebro, Sweden

Citizen participation: ‘Get rid of the barriers’

The world’s first transnational, digital right of initiative – the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) – has been running now for over a year. But there are many problems. It costs at least €1m to organise an ECI. The regulations for collecting signatures are complex, and differ from country to country. And an ECI is not even binding.

KITA BONCHEVA, GERMANY/BULGARIA

he European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) process is so complicated, time-consuming and expensive that, just one year after its launch, one of the ECIs actually challenges the ECI itself. So far, 25 ECIs have been proposed, of which 16 have been registered and 14 are ongoing. Bruno Kaufmann, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe, says: “A key area for development is the removal of barriers to access ECIs. The tool’s power should be strengthened by promoting Europe-wide awareness of the ECI. One option is to send a letter to every household in Europe, informing them about the ECI, along with the info about the forthcoming European parliament elections.” A further move, he suggested, would be to ensure that ECIs could result in EU treaty changes. Another issue is the language barrier. Mr Kaufmann said the ECI should be translated into all 23 European languages. An ECI must gather 1m signatures. But that does not suffice.

There are different regulations and quotas for each EU member state. It’s complicated to initiate an ECI. An organisation can’t do it. A ‘citizens committee’, consisting of seven EU citizens resident in at least seven different member states, must be set up. They then register the ECI with the European Commission – and registration takes at least three months.

EXPENSIVE AND SLOW

The online signature registration process also needs to be improved, say ECI campaigners. Member states have different rules for signature collection. Most countries apply complicated data-protection rules and citizens are asked for detailed personal information, such as ID number and address. In some countries, certain EU citizens are not even allowed to participate.

An ECI is not even binding. Once the 12-month collection of signatures is over, ECI organisers submit the ECI. Validation takes about three months. Every signature is checked. There is a public hearing at the European Parliament and the Commission responds – but it is not obliged to take action or to propose any legislation. The ECI tool was put forward as “a new right for EU citizens … You can set the agenda!” But campaigners say it lacks power.

ECI organisers also say the online systems for collecting 1m signatures are expensive and time-consuming. The Commission did set up an online system, but there are problems with its design and speed.

The ECI, as a move towards real participatory democracy, is in its infancy. There are many criticisms, but there are also moves to make it work better: for example, proposals to establish a single data-protection authority, and regulation to remove the ID requirements for signature collection, while some member states suggest creating an ecard for voting.

What is more, the costs for small organisations are overwhelming, while much time and civic engagement is needed.

It’s clear that even 1m citizens can not yet put real pressure on the Commission – and set the agenda.

1.5m Europeans demand water – as a human right KITA BONCHEVA, GERMANY / BULGARIA

The first-ever European Citizens’ Initiative – Water is a Human Right – is about to land on the laps of the European Commission.

The initiative collected over 1.5m signatures across Europe. The seven-country threshold was passed. Austria, Belgium, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Slovenia all gathered the minimum number of signatures required.

The core issue of this initiative is that water is a public good and not a commodity. The campaign will continue until November 2013 in order to raise awareness in other EU countries. The body leading the campaign, the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), is cooperating with organisations such as the European Anti-Poverty Network, European Environmental Bureau and the European Public Health Association.

The core issue of this initiative is that water is a public good and not a commodity.

2M PEOPLE DEPRIVED

The ECI initiative wants EU institutions and member states to be obliged to ensure that citizens have proper water and sanitation – which around 2m people in Europe do not enjoy. A second demand is that water supply/management of water resources not be subject to market rules and that water services be excluded from liberalisation. Also, many people are threatened with disconnection as they cannot pay their bills; the argument is that government has a responsibility to provide services to everyone. The third demand is that the EU increase its efforts to achieve universal access to water and sanitation. Worldwide, 800m people lack access to water and over 2bn lack sanitation.

MOVES TO SIMPLIFY ECI REQUIREMENTS KITA BONCHEVA, GERMANY / BULGARIA

The call for simplification of European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) procedures and rules has provoked a response at last. Five member states – Luxembourg, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland – have announced that they will ease the cumbersome data requirements. ECI campaigners in recent years have strongly demanded that the ECI signature form be simplified and the ID requirements be eliminated. The ECI has been plagued by technical problems. Campaigners have complained that EU citizens living outside the EU cannot sign initiatives, while people are generally reluctant to sign ECIs in countries that require IDs. Eighteen member states require that citizens provide personal identification numbers when signing an ECI. Such intrusive personal data requirements are often not necessary, raise privacy concerns, deter support, and demotivate potential supporters of ECIs.

WELCOMED

ECI organisers have strongly welcomed the latest developments, in particular those in Luxembourg, and urged all member states to follow suit. Luxembourg has dropped the ID-number requirement for all running ECIs (once the new annexes are adopted). France is reducing the list of ID requirements, but adding ‘place of residence’ and ‘date of birth’. Spain is going to remove the address requirement and add the NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros, or ID card for ‘foreigners’). The Netherlands will allow Dutch people living abroad to sign, while Ireland is reviewing its criteria. The changes in these countries indicate that politicians at national level recognise the ECI as a powerful tool for citizens to influence EU politics. But most member states still need to change their requirements and remove the blocks to fuller citizen participation.

Active leaders working on the local level are the key to global changes in the EU. Joanna Krawczyk, Warsaw, Poland

British MEPs demand that Irish ‘no’ vote in first Lisbon Treaty referendum be respected.

How to leap the gap between citizens and decision-makers

Extremism looms as trust in EU plunges

AGATA DE LATOUR, POLAND/BELGIUM

Interview with Dirk Jacobs, professor of sociology and political sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles

In times of crisis (whether financial or political), populist, racist and fascist movements come to the fore. Right now, we have Golden Dawn in Greece, the Identitiere Movement in Germany and Jobbik in Hungary. When existentially threatened, people look for a scapegoat; they want someone to blame for all their troubles, and that’s usually an ethnic group, immigrants, foreigners – some easy target at which to aim all grievances, resentments and hatreds. ANTJE SACHS, GERMANY

uroscepticism was once seen as a particularly British ‘disease’, but it’s spread across the continent at an astonishing rate. Trust in the whole European project has dropped even more rapidly than growth rates. The four biggest eurozone countries now have even lower levels of trust in EU institutions than Britain did back in 2007. Since the start of the crisis, trust in the EU has plunged from +20 to -29 points in Germany, +10 to -22 in France, +30 to -22 in Italy, +42 to -52 in Spain, -13 to -49 in the UK, and +50 to +6 in Poland. Euroscepticism in the past was mainly a perception that decisions were being taken by unaccountable institutions rather than elected governments. But the current antiEU surge also involves sharp divisions between northern and southern Europe. To many citi-

zens in southern Europe, the EU is seen rather as the IMF was once seen in Latin America – as an anti-democratic body imposing rigid policies. In northern Europe, the EU is seen more as having failed to control effectively the policies of the southern countries. Whatever the reasons for the negativity towards the EU, euroscepticism can be a healthy thing. Questioning leads to necessary improvement. But the anti-EU campaigning of those who camouflage their true ideologies with vague, simplistic solutions and promises of prosperity needs to be avoided. Enthusiasm for the EU will not be restored unless the EU profoundly changes the way it deals with member states and its citizens. The challenge for European citizens is to beware of populist propaganda, to embrace diversity, to be constructive in their criticisms and proposals, and to further improve the largest-ever European project – the European Union.

Percentage of nationals who said they tended not to trust the EU, as an institution MAY 2007 NOV 2012 42%

59%

56%

53%

49% 41%

36%

28%

23%

18%

POLAND

ITALY

SOURCE: EU, EUROBAROMETER

72%

69%

FRANCE

GERMANY

SPAIN

Agata de Latour: What is citizen participation all about? Dirk Jacobs: In political science and in sociology, we distinguish electoral participation from other forms of political participation, like demonstrating, writing letters, signing petitions, and even wearing buttons, putting up stickers or not buying products – all kinds of actions that go beyond your personal life. What is the situation as regards participation in the EU? One of the challenges is what is often called ‘the democratic deficit’ – the gap between decision-makers and ordinary citizens. There will always be some gap between those who specialise in a task of representation and those who are represented. But in the case of the European policy area, an additional difficulty is that the political system is very complicated. It’s difficult for ordinary citizens to understand things. Furthermore, national politicians, if they have to take unpopular measures, tend to say that everything is decided by the EU. They omit to point out that member states can use their veto. So national politicians and the media have a big responsibility to make clear to citizens that Europe is not something ‘unreachable’. What can we citizens do to fill this gap? It would be unfair to ask citizens to make all the effort. The main responsibility lies with elected representatives and the media to give more attention to the relevance of European decision-making processes. They should play the role of translators and go-betweens. The second step is to make the institutions simpler and more understandable for citizens. Further, participation in European elections can be increased. And what about voting for the European commissioners or for European president, in an open election? This would at least be strongly symbolic.

So you think it would be good to increase electoral participation? Yes, because what people need is a sense of what is called political efficacy – the belief that one’s personal act makes a difference, that voting has an impact. Many people don’t actually see why it matters to vote in the European Parliament elections, for instance. They don’t see a direct link between electoral participation and European policy. Voting for European Parliament members is of course very important for its composition, but it is only one part of EU policy-making. In the end, the important decisions are made by the Council of Ministers, the representatives of all our member states. There is also the role played by the Commission. It’s difficult for citizens to understand and feel connected. Participation is not easy! Well, remember that a lot of people participate without knowing they do, for example by having conversations with others, signing petitions, participating in demonstrations. They tend to disconnect this activism from electoral politics, but actually it’s a continuum, all part of one entity. A lot of people feel that the level of citizens and the level of politicians are disconnected, and this feeling seems to be increasing. We’ve many more options now to express ourselves interactively on Facebook, Twitter, all kinds of social media, newspapers, blogs. We can easily comment and voice opinions, and often in a very hostile way. But we lack the capacity for effective dialogue, debating together for the common good. But the social media can be a good tool for gathering people … Such participation is certainly increasing, and the social media play an important role in this. But if you look at the content on Facebook or Twitter, a lot of it is very negative. That was one of the motivations when a group of people in Belgium two years ago started a large-scale ‘deliberative democracy’ project (I was one of the initiators), called G1000 (more on page 5). For example, we looked at the problem of many politicians being trapped at a purely electoral level, so what is important for them is to be reelected – and that blocks them

We can easily comment and voice opinions, and often in a very hostile way. But we lack the capacity for effective dialogue, debating together for the common good.

from ‘doing policy’ with a longterm perspective. Can the G1000 methods be applied in a wider context? Yes, with G1000 we showed politicians that, if given the tools and sufficient information by experts, citizens can listen to each other, discuss, debate and argue in a rational way, and come up with recommendations for longterm solutions. Deliberative democracy has also been used on a small scale, for example in the Citizens’ Dialogues. It would be interesting to see it organised in various member states, so citizens can use the model to debate what kind of future they want for Europe. Of course, deliberative democracy should not replace representative democracy. It’s a complementary way of engaging citizens. In our experience with G1000, everybody agreed that listening, dialogue and interaction are crucial. It’s not about saying ‘I am right, you are wrong’, and exchanging insults! People must really listen to others and try to find a common goal at the level of society. The challenge is to do this not only at the local but also at the European level.

5 With networking and cooperation, we can build the identity of Europe. Thomas Burgard, Dörsdorf, Germany

Evictions and citizen actions across Europe ALFONS LOPEZ CARRETE, SPAIN (CATALUNYA)

BULGARIA

Spanish Popular Party refuses to budge as people fight for their lives ALFONS LOPEZ CARRETE, SPAIN (CATALUNYA)

The seizure by banks of thousands of homes in Spain has led to massive anger and distress. Many people whose homes had been repossessed have committed suicide. What can citizens and citizen groups do in such a crisis? May 17, morning: Members of the Spanish Mortgage Victims Platform (PAH) stand a few meters from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as he opens the Barcelona International Motor Show. They want to talk to him face to face. Rajoy, however, keeps away from them. Such actions, known as escraches (Argentine slang for ‘denunciation’), were inspired by Latin American human rights campaigns in the 1990s. People meet in front of politicians’ homes or in public places to approach them and shout slogans. The activists try to impress the reality of the housing crisis on the politicians, and make them aware of people’s anger about the apparent lack of sensitivity and political failure to tackle such a serious crisis. Citizens believe that the Spanish government has treated housing as a financial product rather than as a right that should be guaranteed, that it has sought to rescue the banks without taking measures to tackle the huge problem of indebtedness and to ease the social consequences, such as homelessness.

NEARLY 1.5M SIGNATURES IGNORED

The PAH, born from neighbourhood associations in Barcelona, includes numerous activists who had suffered indebtedness or eviction. In 2010 PAH began its ‘Stop Evictions’ campaign, which halted more than 600 evictions. While judges sent riot police, citizens set up human barriers to prevent their neighbours from being evicted.

The movement has three demands: a new law to allow those who have had their homes foreclosed to write off their debts by handing the property over to the bank, a backdated halt to evictions, and the turning of houses owned by banks into social housing. With these objectives, PAH together with some partners launched a Popular Legislative Initiative for Decent Housing and gathered nearly 1.5 million signatures. The Spanish parliament needs only 500,000 signatures to accept a people’s initiative. However, in response the government immediately approved a law that perpetuates the current model and protects the interests of the banks. No amendments from other parties were accepted. The demands of the activists were completely ignored.

HOUSING: BASIC RIGHT OR OBJECT OF SPECULATION?

Housing is at the centre of the social and economic crisis in Spain. In 1998 a dramatic increase in construction began, strongly financed by banks and a wide range of new financial products. Between 1998 and 2007, more than 600,000 homes

BELGIUM’S G1000 PROJECT REVEALS THE CRUCIAL MISSING LINK

If the politicians can’t find a solution, let the citizens. That was the call of a group of independent thinkers and doers in Brussels back in 2012. KOEN WYNANTS, BELGIUM

Thousands of people were forced to live in the underground economy were built per year, as prices rose at a much faster rate than salaries. Housing became an object of much speculation. Low interest rates, foreign investment and mortgage conditions fed the bubble, while public policies kept on discouraging rental as an option. As the economic crisis broke out and unemployment soared, foreclosures and evictions began. The bad banking practices that proliferated for years were revealed. However, the political response was dismal and the social emergency was ignored. According to the Spanish General Council of the Judiciary, nearly 300,000 foreclosure proceedings were initiated between 2007 and 2011. Thousands of people were forced to live in the underground economy. When banks take

hey called themselves the G1000 and they gave 1,000 randomly selected citizens the opportunity to discuss, in all freedom, how to revive democracy in Belgium. The question is: can the G1000 process be applied in order to help revive European democracy?

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The G1000 initiated a process of public consultation and deliberations, with three distinct phases: public consultation to set the agenda; mass meeting for discussions, and transformation of ideas into concrete policy proposals.

LOTS OF OBJECTIONS

The G1000 project succeeded in one important thing. Its ideas, methods and energy stirred public opinion and set in motion a debate

homes at 50% of their original value, they ask families to pay the balance plus interest and legal costs. The PAH escraches provoked a furious response from the government. The campaigners were accused of harassing members of the ruling People’s Party (PP). Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said: “We all have a right to defend our ideas, but intimidation can never be a form of participating in public issues.” On the other side, it’s pointed out that a huge number of large and peaceful protests – often by tens of thousands of people – that have taken place since the crisis began have had limited impact on the government. And the collection of nearly 1.5 million signatures prompted a new law under which only a tiny proportion of those facing eviction will be covered, and that does not apply to existing eviction orders. The PAH, however, insisted it would not give up “because there are lives at stake”, adding: “We will continue to fight to prevent social exclusion for life for thousands of families. Yes we can!”

about the quality and organisation of democracy. It instigated public discussions on what it means to be a citizen in modern society, and on how politics should be shaped in order to meet citizens’ demands. It offered a new way of thinking about politics, and a new way of doing and living politics. However, many objections were raised: the G1000 was anti-political; it wanted to replace representative democracy; it was against referenda; it cost too much, and so on. More seriously, it was argued that the G1000 failed to get the support of elected representatives, so that real-world power could promote its proposals and give them potency.

In Bulgaria, winter 2013 was marked by civil protests countrywide. The protests were provoked by the extent of poverty and corruption, and the inadequate response of institutions. In one month no fewer than seven people committed self-immolation and three of them died. The self-immolations symbolise public anger and despair as unemployment soars and a high proportion of population live in poverty, with retired people especially suffering.

GERMANY

In April a woman died in a homeless shelter in Berlin after eviction from her home, despite neighbours’ attempts to prevent it and medical reports arguing that the woman would not survive the stress. She had not been able to pay monthly rent of €350 and had lived for her last few months without heat or electricity. This case sparked demonstrations and civil-disobedience actions against forced evictions. Several social movements are trying to set up networks to prevent evictions.

IRELAND

“Evict the troika not the people,” reads a sign outside a home in the west of Ireland belonging to a family threatened with eviction. Seamus Sherlock, who fell into arrears on his €300,000 home loan when his business closed, says: “I would die defending my home.” Mass evictions would provoke a massive response from Irish citizens – and there have been very few, but the mortgage crisis is jeopardising Ireland’s economic recovery following its property crash in 2010. The government, in response, has introduced legislation whereby banks must seek to cut deals with customers in arrears rather than evict them.

To ensure that the results of such a project are seriously considered, stronger links are essential at the political level, with civil society (NGOs, not-for-profit organisations), all levels of government, the business world, etc. A mixed board of influential members representing all layers of democracy must be formed in order to make sure that such a process bears fruit in the real world. The G1000 project suggests that the future of democracy lies in new forms of collaboration between citizens, NGOs, government, politicians, etc. In the European context, that means a multi-level, multi-actor summit, an ‘EU1000’ that – if the essential SO WHAT’S THE LESSON? links are made – might have the G1000 revealed the missing power to write a new page in the link between citizens and power. history of European democracy.

We need to exchange experiences and collaborate. Atanas Dinkov, Sofia, Bulgaria

Informal groups – the pros and the cons ANIA PELC, POLAND

The Blok collective, based in Warsaw, Poland, aims to build a local platform for engagement between artists and citizens. It runs exhibitions, breakfast meetings and art workshops for local people. Blok member Anna Pelc reveals the early experiences of this informal group.

INFORMALLY DYNAMIC

We are freelance, flexible, constantly evolving, grassroots, responsive. We have a will to act, participate and share. And we are totally informal. In recent months, during our first activities, we have experienced many of the pros and cons of working as an informal group. As an artistic collective, our aim is to establish a space for dialogue between artists and citizens, as well as to deliver arts to those who are excluded (not always legally; e.g. lately we have shown guerrilla video from the Museum of Modern Art in New York).

NEED FOR SPACE

Our neighbourhood lacks studios for artists, and our space cannot be donated because we are informal, so we rented a 65 sqm basement. This is the Blok studio, our space for activities

and meetings. However, we pay much more than city-centre organisations that are supported by the city government. We pay a similar amount of money as our neighbour – a commercial company selling gas guns and weapons.

Strong motivation based on strong emotions is needed. Our activities often take place in the open air: in parks and public spaces. For example, we look after an old orchard nearby and use it for the performance arts (we also collect apples along with our neighbours in the autumn!). Parks and open spaces can be considered as a kind of livingroom, while the studio serves primarily as our kitchen – for cooking and preparing our meals during activities and meetings.

TIME, MONEY AND TRUST

If you want to take action, what do you need, apart from the will and the idea? The time required. This is why young people, students and older people are generally more able to engage in informal activities. Raising funds also takes time. Sometimes informal bodies can cooperate with formal ones. Blok

is occasionally supported by a local government and the Polish Association of Creative Initiatives ‘ ’. There is also the option of crowd funding, a way of supporting cultural projects that is increasingly popular. The idea is based on trust and shared enthusiasm; small amounts of money can be donated and combined to produce quite large amounts. Ironically, the problem with crowd funding is its very popularity; it gets more and more difficult to collect money. Last but not least, projects need to be low-cost.

MOTIVATION BASED ON SHARED EMOTIONS

Strong motivation based on strong emotions is needed. Our group is organised in a very natural way, based on friendships and common interests. If we need to rest, we rest together watching movies we like or speaking about topics we share an interest in. We promote our meetings on the Internet and invite people to join us. The social networks are crucial. To inform people in general about our activities, we use traditional forms of promotion like A4 posters printed low-cost in our studio. No doubt we will encounter problems, but we are confident that they will be small compared to the benefits of our activities both to ourselves and to local society.

Why gender balance is good – especially in times of crisis AGATA DE LATOUR, POLAND/BELGIUM

The German parliament, after much debate, has decided not to impose gender quotas in business. What is the situation of women in the EU labour market? What obstacles do they face? Are quotas in business a solution? Interview with Isabella Lenarduzzi, Founder and Director of Jump, a company dedicated to empowering women in the workplace. What are the obstacles to empowering women in the workplace and especially in business? Women at work face the ‘glass ceiling’, but also the ‘sticky floor’. We now make up almost 60% of new graduates. But at the top level, only 2% of women are chief executive officers (CEOs). At the same time, these role models didn’t exist at all 20 years ago – so this is a great step forward. Do you think quotas are a good method to empower women? At present quotas in business deal only with boards, which are not at the executive level and

don’t have much influence on day-to-day management. But of course quotas are symbolically important. Women can thus be inspired to rise higher. Why did the German parliament, which includes some women, refuse quotas? Many women in decision-making positions have adapted to male culture, and are not aware of the daily difficulties that most women face.

Online/offline combination can maximise people power GÜNTHER THAUER, GERMANY

he Web offers lots of tools and instruments for citizen participation – from traditional email to the social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc). For local, national and international An early example of effective campaigns, citizens are using online/offline campaigning was platforms such as: that by the Professional Contractors Group in the UK. In AVAAZ (‘THE WORLD IN ACTION’): 1999, the British government www.avaaz.org introduced a new employment DEMOKRATIE IN AKTION: tax called IR35. An online www.campact.de trade association was set up AVANTI EUROPE!: to campaign against it. Within www.avantieurope.eu weeks, it had raised £100,000 through the Internet from peoInitiatives such as right2wa- ple who had never even met. ter (‘Water is a human right’), Within two years, they became which hopes to have collected a fully formed trade association 2m signatures by September, with 14,000 members. They and the Avaaz Save the Bees presented the first ever e-peticampaign, on the way towards tion to parliament and organ3m signatures, have been high- ised one of the first flash mobs: ly successful, even on a Euro- a thousand people responded to pean level. their Internet call to join a protest to lobby Parliament. Later Besides these big platforms on they raised £500,000 via the there is a boom in local e-partic- Internet to fund a High Court ipation, such as Fix My Street, challenge against the tax. This Frag den Staat (Ask the Govern- failed, but they secured a numment) and Parliament Watch. ber of concessions.

What are the benefits of gender diversity? Lots of research shows that diversity means better management and performance. Having equal male/female participation in the economy raises GDP by more than 20%. In times of economic crisis, we should consider equality more – it can really enhance growth.

Obvious recent examples of successful (at least in the short term) cyber-activism are the 2011 Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, where the Internet was used as an effective tool for successful critique, opposition and even revolution. However, the act of merely ‘saying something’ can be a force for change in repressive regimes; it’s not so easy in a democracy. As US activist Ralph Nader said, “the Internet doesn’t do a very good job of motivating action”, and he also noted that the US Congress, corporations and the Pentagon did not necessarily “fear the civic use of the Internet”.

MORE INFO: www.jump.eu.com and www.catalyst.org

We must, therefore, be realistic about e-participation

Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding proposed last year 40% female representation on boards in big European companies. What other methods can be used to achieve gender balance? All the discussions around quotas really help to raise awareness. Having binding regulations on quotas, on equal salaries, on ensuring women at the top of administration in public companies is very important as it serves as an example to the private sector.

tools. Digital participation has its limits, especially on its own. Facebook ‘likes’, ‘clicktivism’ (digital activism without real engagement or action) and even millions of signatures will achieve little without strong, ‘real world’ action.

The lesson is that e-participation tools can be very useful, but they must be combined with good old activism ‘on the streets’, at the gates of power, in the court, and so on.

WEB LINKS FOR CAMPAIGNS:

RIGHT2WATER: www.right2water.eu SAVE THE BEES: www.avaaz.org/en/ hours_to_save_the_bees FIX MY STREET: www.fixmystreet.com FRAG DEN STAAT: https://fragdenstaat.de PARLIAMENT WATCH: www.abgeordnetenwatch.de

Europe is far from its citizens! It is important to reinforce the role of European citizens. David Dueñas I Cid, Tarragona, Catalunya

Secret lobbying is ‘threat to EU democracy’

The EU Lobby The European Commission and the European Parliament are reviewing the results of public consultations on the Transparency Register, aimed at ‘removing the veil’ from lobbying activities in Brussels.

Lobbying is finding ways to ensure that decision-makers hear the same message every day.

AGATA DE LATOUR, POLAND/BELGIUM

livier Hoedeman, campaign coordinator at the Corporate Europe Observatory, an NGO monitoring the role of lobbying in EU decision-making, has great expectations about the review. However, the register has weaknesses, such as being voluntary. Mr Hoedeman says the first step would be to make registering obligatory. This would provide “a basic level of visibility” and is a “precondition to avoid corruption”. The register, set up two years ago, consists of a list of organisations representing interest groups trying to influence European decision-making. It describes organisations, resources and the issues involved.

IN DANGER

“We really have to cherish tools like the Transparency Register. It can really make a difference in Europe.” However, without clear rules on lobbying, European democratic principles are in danger, argues Mr Hoedeman. Strong interest groups with lots of resources can largely dominate and influence those who were elected to represent the interests of all European citizens. “Lobbying at European level includes all kinds of activities and sectors whereby those without a formal role and who were not elected to any European institutions can influence EU decision-making,” he says. “When we talk about lobbying, we generally refer to the work done by professional lobbyists who do this as a job.” There is a big difference of scale between the industry lobby and NGOs. “Being here in Brussels with a permanent presence is an expensive affair. Not every organisation can afford it,” says Mr Hoedeman. “To set up an office here, to employ people and to stay involved in an issue from the beginning to the end – those are major investments.” It’s estimated that about two-thirds of lobbyists in Brussels represent industry while only 10% represent civil society. The tobacco industry, for instance, has at least 100 full-time lobbyists in Brussels.

INVISIBLE

There is a wide range of lobbying methods, but some engagements between lobbyists and decisionmakers are ‘hidden from view’ and are not controlled. Mr Hoedeman says the methods range from the daily slog of trying to set up meetings with decision-makers, sending them position papers and emailing them with proposals about legislation, to conferences, seminars, cocktail parties and lunch meetings. ”In short, lobbying is finding different ways to ensure that decision-makers hear the same message every day. And it involves establishing a relationship of trust.” The documentary ‘The Brussels Business’, by Friedrich Moser and Matthieu Lietaert, reveals much about the lack of transparency and influence of lobbyists. Mr Hoedeman says the main problem is that those with strong financial resources and organised in networks of powerful interests are able to gain access to decision-makers easily, out of sight of the public.

5 4 3

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TRANSPARENCY REGISTER

1. Consultants & law firms: 637 2. Professional associations: 2747 3. NGOs: 1566 4. Think tanks: 400 5. Religious organisations: 39 6. Authorities & public entities: 272 TOTAL: 5661 (Source: Joint Transparency Register Secretariat, May 2013)

ONE platform for local citizens´ best practices! Gita Hulmanova, Berlin, Germany

“How I eventually achieved a tête-à-tête with Herman” For all those who are anxious to plan a similar trip themselves, I can guarantee that my road-trip diary will be invaluable. It includes travel information, very precise details of the distance travelled in the various phases, and a great selection of podcasts (or appropriate mood music). For added enjoyment, I have provided some wonderful photos taken on my (crappy) digital camera. KOEN WYNANTS, BELGIUM

AN ‘ON THE ROAD’ DIARY OF KOEN WYNANTS’ QUEST TO GET AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, IN APRIL/MAY 2013 STOP 1: MY TARGET: THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF

STOP 2: PLANNING MY JOURNEY

STOP 4: TWITTERING & FACEBOOKING

DISTANCE: unknown. PODCAST: ‘Road to Nowhere’, Talking Heads

DISTANCE: how far is the moon? PODCAST: ‘I Did It My Way’, Frank Sinatra

DISTANCE: easy. PODCAST: ‘Bird on the Wire’, Leonard Cohen

During 2013, European Year of Citizens (dedicated to the rights that come with EU citizenship), the EU will encourage dialogue between all levels of government, civil society and the business world. How deep is the ocean? How far is the moon? The President of the European Council, Mr Herman Van Rompuy, is clearly the ideal destination for my spring quest. So, it’s time to get on the road.

As a mere European citizen, my travelling budget is somewhat tight. Careful choice of modes of transportation and travelling destinations is essential. I could initiate a European Citizens’ Initiative as a way of getting closer to the President. I’d only have to collect 1m signatures from at least seven member states. A cinch! On the other hand, maybe I’ll use the methodologies I’m familiar with: blogging, Twitter, Facebook and direct political lobbying – combined with the ingenious method of reducing the space between myself and Mr Van Rompuy to a matter of a couple of inches.

So, my blog post having failed, it was time for option two. I twittered my ‘personal chat’ invitation to Herman and also put the invitation on his personal Facebook page. To add irresistible pressure, I also tweeted the invitation to the European Movement, an international network of organisations mobilising citizens and lobbying for a democratic, federal, enlarged union. Result? Silence?

STOP 3: WRITING MY MANIFESTO (BLOG)

STOP 5: POLITICAL LOBBYING

DISTANCE: moderate. PODCAST: ‘Message in a Bottle’, The Police

DISTANCE: far. PODCAST: ‘Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)’, Janis Joplin

In my hometown, the city of Antwerp (Belgium), I’m experimenting with online activism. Blogging is an easy way to share ideas and spread messages. So I did. I wrote a letter, titled ‘We the people should become the engine of a new participatory European democracy’, to the President, accompanied by an invitation to have a personal chat. It was in manifesto style; an impressive statement of my feelings about European democracy and the meaning of citizen participation. I got a few comments (two? three? four? – can’t recall) and even messages, but not from the President. Nor did he accept my invitation.

Although I’d already put huge efforts into my campaign, I decided to raise the challenge even further. I headed for the mountains. And started to climb political hills. So to speak. As a local activist, I’ve good contacts with local representatives of the political party of the President (CD&V, member of the European People’s Party). I asked if they could arrange a meeting. I also contacted a friend who works for a Brussels minister for the same party. They immediately made it clear that it was inappropriate, indeed impossible for the President to meet me – to have a little chat with a fellow citizen.

9 Build a bridge between best practices on the local and European level. Ellen Van Doren, Antwerp, Belgium

I dreamt of standing up in the middle of the conference and screaming: ‘Hey everybody, I’m a European citizen, let’s close the gap - right now!’

STOP 6: STALKING

STOP 7: THE MOMENTOUS MEETING

DISTANCE: moderate. PODCAST: ‘Off the Road’, Neil Young

DISTANCE: hard. PODCAST: ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, Rolling Stones

Frustrated at the failure so far of my powerful tactics, I decided to head off-road. I searched for events where the President would be present. Then I would just have to walk up to him and start our little chat. On Saturday, 11th May 2013, Herman’s political party was holding a conference in Brussels, on the topic ‘More or less Europe’ (me, I’m thinking of another kind of Europe, but anyway …). One of the questions posed was ‘How democratic is Europe?’ I decided that my presence at the conference, as an ordinary citizen, would not be inappropriate.

It was utterly fascinating to hear the politicians talk about the Importance of ‘a Democratic Europe’, how the European Parliament can Bridge the Gap between Politicians and Citizens, and the Vital Importance of … as I almost fell asleep, I dreamt of standing up in the middle of the conference and screaming: ‘Hey everybody, I’m a European citizen, let’s close the gap – right now!’ Thanks to superb logistical planning (some say coincidence), I was sitting right behind Herman. But the prospect of closing those last crucial centimetres

CITIZEN TRAVEL IN EUROPE: THE DANGERS AND IRRITATIONS made me nervous. However, as the conference ended, I bravely strode straight up to Herman and asked: “Euh, Mister President, is it possible to take a picture of both of us? I’m involved in one of those European citizen participation projects. And I’m writing some kind of article for a newspaper.” Given my magnificent gambit, Herman had no option but to respond: “Eh, yes, that’s fine!” And that, folks, was the remarkable chat I enjoyed with the President of the European Council.

STOP 8: RETREATING HOME DISTANCE: very easy. PODCAST: ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ ’, Bob Dylan Back home, I immediately put on one of my Bob Dylan favourites: ‘The Times They Are a-Changin”. Finally, I understood Dylan’s interpretation of the song: “It’s not a statement ... it’s a feeling.” Quite so. Citizen participation isn’t about the destination, it’s about travelling. It isn’t about changin’ things, it’s about being the change. If politicians want to travel with me, good for them!

RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER READING: ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’: An Inquiry into Values’ by Robert M Pirsig.

Europe is a remarkably safe continent, considering the big disparities in wealth, but citizen activism is not unknown, so take care – especially when discussing financial crises, social affairs and democracy. When travelling via blog, Twitter or Facebook, for protection choose a carriage containing other people. It’s also best to avoid politicians at night; ordinary citizens are usually safer. As well as licensed European forums like Citizens Initiative, unlicensed ones (like Avaaz) operate in several countries. These are worth visiting unless you know what you’re doing. Irritations concerning the formal initiatives include lack of response, un- and distransparency, driving around in circles, then charging an enormous fare. Dangers include having to understand EU legislation, discrimination against minorities, obese cucumbers. So use a blog or phone a reputable lobby (http:// www.activecitizenship.net/) and get an up-front quote for the ride. Europe has websites and phone lines to help you find licensed travelling modes of transportation like http://navigatingtheeu.wordpress.com/. In the capital, Brussels, citizens are rare, money and important documents are best kept out of sight. Pickpockets operate in some areas, like The City (London), so make sure your stuff is secure there too.

I see the need for open, common places to meet, create and share. Anna Pelc, Warsaw, Poland

225 European citizens work out ways to boost citizen participation in shaping EU policies

The dream of a Europe of Citizens has been replaced by a Europe divided between north and south, between lenders/gamblers and debtors, and into member states in which people focus on their national grievances. The gap between citizens and the institutions/elite leaders/technocrats of the EU has widened into an abyss. Some people think it is laughably ironic that 2013 is the European Year of Citizens. But the Evens Foundation believes that it is entirely timely.

THE E-YOU MAP – A POWERFUL TOOL FOR CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT KITA BONCHEVA, BULGARIA /GERMANY

On this map of Europe, we list the nine partner organisations that made I AM EUROPE a success. They all work with citizens on the local level and decided to give their work a European boost through participating in the project. Over the past six months, they’ve shared their knowledge, experience and methods with peers from all over Europe. The participating citizens found the sharing and discussions so enjoyable and fruitful that they want more of it – but they also want other citizens to benefit. They thus proposed creating a website with a networking tool: a map of Europe listing good practices in the field of civic participation. We plan to turn this E-YOU Map into an open, free platform for European NGOs working in the field of citizenship participation. Users will be able to explore target groups, methods, notable activities, share ideas, find inspiration, etc. A powerful tool for citizen empowerment!

BELGIUM: SAMENLEVINGSOPBOUW ANTWERPEN STAD (SAS)

The Belgian-based foundation thus seized this opportunity to organise a European project, I AM EUROPE, that builds on one of its main activities, promoting good citizenship. Between January and June 2013, 225 citizens from eight EU states have met around Europe to work out ways to expand citizen influence on EU policies. These two pages provide an indication of the citizens’ brainstorming, discussions, concerns, thoughts and initial recommendations.

SWEDEN: CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND MOBILIZATION

www.cesam.se www.iucorebro.se www.eksam.se

www.buurtschatten.be www.beingcitizen.eu

GERMANY: MITOST ASSOCIATION

www.mitost.org www.theodor-heuss-kolleg.de

POLAND: ASSOCIATION OF CREATIVE INITIATIVES ‘Ę’.

BELGIUM: POUR LA SOLIDARITÉ (PLS)

www.e.org.pl www.mmk.e.org.pl www.seniorzywakcji.pl

www.pourlasolidarite.eu www.beingcitizen.eu

FRANCE: ANIMAFAC

www.animafac.net www.fabrique-citoyenne.fr

ROMANIA: RESOURCE CENTRE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (CERE)

www.ce-re.ro

SPAIN: CONFEDERACIÓ D’ASSOCIACIONS VEÏNALS DE CATALUNYA (CONFAVC)

www.confavc.cat www.fundacioconfavc.cat

BULGARIA: BALKAN ASSIST ASSOCIATION

www.balkanassist.bg www.bgactivecitizen.eu

We need networking, exchange of ideas and good practices.

Belin Mollov, Sofia, Bulgaria

BELIN MOLLOV, BULGARIA

Since regional authorities are spending EU money to improve public infrastructure, they should have to consult the public … The EU redistributes billions of euros to its regions. Regional authorities can spend a huge proportion of such amounts on investment in public infrastructure, with almost no rules attached. I AM EUROPE proposes that the EU impose a civic participation charter on the regions when they apply for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or European Social Fund (ESF) money in the upcoming programming period 2014–2020. Public spaces include streets, squares, parks, sports and recreation areas, underground spaces such as subways, etc. When designing such spaces, it’s important to carry out a study of the environment, including social, historical, cultural and emotional factors. Public space is the “gateway to the soul of the city” (Sharon Zukin), because the city is a living organism, connecting people with their everyday needs and dreams. This is why it is of utmost importance to include citizens in this process, who are experts on their living environment.

Public spaces: civic participation charter would be a win-win PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD MEAN PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The two funds enable inner-city revitalisation projects, urban renewal, small industrial areas in cities, rural development projects, and so on – without any rule or recommendation on civic participation. However, since regional decision-makers are using public funds for developing and implementing projects, these should meet the real needs and desires of citizens. Citizens should be engaged in the process from the beginning, at an early stage of the

Park SpoorNoord – an example of good practice, where EU money was invested and citizens were strongly involved in the project – is now a favourite hotspot for Antwerp citizens

planning process. Providing clear accountability and efficiency in the use of public funds is proven to have a positive impact on the performances of civil activity. I AM EUROPE proposes that the EU insist that regional authorities ensure, both legally and organisationally, citizen participation in early decisionmaking on designing, financing, constructing and rehabilitating public spaces. The EU regulations for implementing the Cohesion Policy should also ensure

close monitoring of the targeted and efficient use of public funds in the interest of citizens. Imposing a civic participation charter on the regions would create a win-win situation for the EU and its citizens: the EU would be assured that citizens were aware of its impact on their lives; it would be a concrete instrument for bridging the gap with citizens, and citizens in their turn would feel empowered by Europe because they could join the debate, share their ideas and get heard. Park Spoor Noord, Antwerp, Belgium

The EU invests a lot of money in public spaces all over Europe. One of the largest funds in the EU budget is the Structural Fund, intended to narrow the development disparities among regions and member states, with a budget of €308.041 billion in the period 2007–2013. There are two main sub-funds: the ERDF and the ESF.

Information overload, conflicting messages and ‘free’ news

Back in the year 1255 the Dominican Vincent of Beauvais complained about “the multitude of books, the shortness of time and the slipperiness of memory”. If he suffered from information overload, what about the poor EU citizen in 2013 – faced with the vast volumes of information generated by the EU? BRAM SOUFFREAU, BELGIUM

uropa.eu, the website of the European institutions, is one of the biggest collections of information on the Internet. Great, in principle. But abundance of information can be just as problematic as lack of information. “The EU website struggles with information overload,” says Marco Incerti of the CEPS think-tank. “But all that information is necessary. Europe has many policy areas, languages and countries, and some visitors to the website, like journalists or researchers, want very detailed information.”

Mina Andreeva, spokesperson for Commissioner Viviane Reding, insists that Europa.eu has recently been redesigned to be more usable and that the amount of information has been cut down. “We design every subsite with a targeted approach. We try to keep in mind who the visitor will be and what they want.” Marco Incerti points to the important responsibility of intermediaries, such as the media, trade unions and citizen organisations. “The website has indeed room for improvement, but journalists, activists and other public repre-

sentatives should also dig into the site and channel the information to the general public.” A further problem is that, while European institutions try to communicate with one voice, the messages are not always that coherent. “Every institution has a different role,” says Incerti. “The Parliament is a place for debate and its members are thus more critical. The Commission, on the other hand, has to brief people on the decisions. That’s more technical, drier stuff.”

BLAME GAME

Parliament and Commission have their frictions. But the most capricious are the Council and the member states. Mina Andreeva regrets that government representatives sometimes use ‘Brussels’ in a blame game, and that they change

their position once they are back in their home country. To cope with the perceived communications deficit, since 2011 the European Commission has been ‘talking to citizens’ during the Citizens’ Dialogues in different cities. Europeans with questions can ask their question at one of the 500 local Europe Direct Contact Centres or via the Europe Direct Hotline. Besides the website, the institutions are open to enquiries from the media. They provide lots of video footage. Overall, the Union provides the media with an enormous amount of hassle-free news. Meanwhile, investigative journalism is provided with limited resources. The risk, therefore, is that the media fail to fulfill their critical role of investigating and assessing what is really going on.

12 If regular citizens and policy-makers work together, we may hope for a better future. Delia Mihalache, Bucharest, Romania

BENJAMIN FAUQUET, FRANCE

Get out and party with your Euro-fellows this summer …

European Festivals Round-Up

POLAND

WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL POLAND Cross-genre music 1-3 August 2013

Creating a European identity is a matter of culture but also of people interacting. Every summer people from all over Europe party together without bothering about nationality or social background. Here is our very short list of some great festivals. Get to at least one of them this summer – and party!

MAREK: “First of all I was reluctant about the festival. But when I came during the summer, I was involved in a workshop. I met a girl from Łódz who studied in Warsaw, then I spend time together with some of my friends while I was working.” KOSTRZYN, POLAND WWW.KOSTRZYN.PL

GERMANY

TFF Rudolstadt Festival

Roots, folk and world music 4-7 July 2013 ANTJE: “Can you imagine traditional yodelling from Switzerland mixed with punk music? This festival bridges young and old music lovers, broadens the horizon for new music styles, music instruments you have never heard of or seen. It gives the floor to famous musicians as well as to newcomers, fills the streets of this small town, almost no backyard, no public space that is not used for music.” RUDOLSTADT, GERMANY TFF-RUDOLSTADT.DE

HUNGARY

PORTUGAL

BÁNKITÓ FESZTIVÁL

BOOM FESTIVAL Trance music 4-11 august 2014 (worth waiting for!)

VICTOR: “At some point, my friends and I decided to sit together in a circle with people we didn’t know. Some of them came from Portugal, Spain, South Africa, even Korea. At this moment a girl named Linda (German?) came to sit with us and we all decided to meditate, singing together ‘OHM’, the equality mantra.” IDANHA-A-NOVA, PORTUGAL WWW.BOOMFESTIVAL.ORG

UNITED KINDOM

GLASTONBURY Cross-genre music 26-30 June 2013

PIERRE: “It was my first big festival. I went with three of my friends. Unfortunately it was raining, it was so muddy in the fields that I even lost my shoes. At least I saw Amy Winehouse before she died and I met one of my friends I hadn’t seen for 4 or 5 years!” PILTON, ENGLAND WWW.GLASTONBURYFESTIVALS.CO.UK

FRANCE

FESTIVAL D’AVIGNON Arts 5-26 July 2013

ABIGAIL: “I hitchhiked with one of my friends from my city to the Avignon Festival. I went to meet people I don’t know like this Swedish violinist. I went to enjoy life, to meet humanity’s warmness.” AVIGNON, FRANCE WWW.FESTIVAL-AVIGNON.COM

SLOVENIA

POETRY AND WINE FESTIVAL Cultural 2-24 August 2013

KITA: “Poets come from Bulgaria, Sweden, France or even Syria. They read their poetry in their own language in front of people tasting wine. It’s incredible!” LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA WWW.STIHOTEKA.COM

Jewish, Roma music, arts & culture / Civil society 19-21 July 2013 JUJU: “Imagine a festival around a lake, with concerts all around. You spend the whole night dancing and listening to Roma music. And when the sun rises, you fall on a group of Jewish and not Jewish people doing yoga while praying, a young rabbi holding a Torah scroll at the water’s edge…” LAKE BÀNK, HUNGARY WWW.TEKERJATORA.HU

I would like to check the concept of European identity! Magdalena Latuch, Warsaw, Poland

Discovering a foreign country, learning its language and making international friends.

Erasmus : Is it any use ? BENJAMIN FAUQUET, FRANCE

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012, ERASMUS (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students), is – by some measurements – the most successful student exchange programme in the world. But what kind of student actually benefits, what are the main barriers to participation, and how useful is Erasmus to those who do participate?

ERASMUS FUNDING UNDER THREAT

In late 2012, questions about the sustainability of the Erasmus programme, which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), were raised in the European Parliament. Alain Lamassoure, chair of the European Parliament’s Budgets Committee, said: “The ESF is bankrupt and can’t refund member states.” Within a week, he added, there would be no more funding for Erasmus. Lamassoure blamed the shortfall on governments fighting for a €4bn cut in the EU budget, in line with austerity policies across the 27-nation bloc. In other words, at a time of crisis, programmes such as Erasmus are under threat. The European project is meant to be largely about establishing sustainable peace and brother/sisterhood among European countries. However, it’s worth comparing the overall EU budget for 2011, about €200bn, with the average yearly budget of the European Social Fund budget from 2007 to 2013 – a grand total of little more than €10bn.

Europe is only outdone by Asia in terms of the mobility of students during their studies. Since it was launched in 1987, over 2m European students have studied abroad thanks to Erasmus. So the total number is impressive – but, in fact, only a small proportion of students actually get on the programme. In 2012 just 4%, or 190,000, of all students in Europe participated.

1. PHOTOFIT OF THE AVERAGE ERASMUS STUDENT

Upper-middle class: According to many European studies, the typical Erasmus student is female (more than 60%), from an upper-middle-class family and in the third year of a law, social sciences or humanities degree, while at least one of her parents studied at third level. The overall statistics may suggest that Erasmus is ‘open to all’; in fact, it is closed not only to most young people but also to most third-level students. As well, it can be hard to find a suitable course; a high academic standard is demanded, and the financial costs involved are heavy.

2. THE LONG HARD ROAD TO ERASMUS

Obstacle one: lots of paperwork The Erasmus hopeful can face quite a rigmarole: the babylonian administration system of their faculty or university, and the need to fill out lots of application forms, etc.

L’Auberge Espagnole (Cédric Klapisch)

Obstacle two: the cost The average Erasmus scholarship provides the student with €120 per month – but the average price to rent accommodation is about €350 a month in Barcelona, €400 in Paris or €450 in Stockholm (free taxes). No wonder that students every year go all out to win accommodation on campus – but places are limited.

3. SO WHAT DO STUDENTS GET OUT OF ERASMUS?

The typical Erasmus student: “very adaptable in a time of crisis”.

“The Erasmus scholarship is about €100 a month. That is useful but, as you can imagine, it is not enough,” says Valeriane Brabant, currently an Erasmus student at Madrid. The number of students who get financial support is only 4.5%. But never mind – no matter what social background, every student has the option of getting a long-term loan, say over 10 years, and once graduated, working hard to pay it back … Obstacle three: the language barrier To add to the financial barrier, there’s the language barrier. The Erasmus Intensive Language Course (EILC) programme offers crash courses, but they’re not available in some of Europe’s main languages: English, Spanish, German and French. That’s rather odd, considering that the most chosen destinations are … England, Spain, Germany and France.

It’s quite a problem for another reason also: many students go to another country principally to learn a language or to improve their linguistic skills.

4. ‘LACK OF TRUST’ AND COURSE MISMATCHES

Another problem is that one in five students who participates in an Erasmus exchange has to retake courses and exams after failing to be given full credit for studies abroad. A survey of almost 9,000 Erasmus students in 2010-11 showed that around 25% reported receiving only partial credit for work done abroad, while 3% per cent gained no credit when returning home (Erasmus Student Network).

The movie L’Auberge Espagnole by Cédric Klapisch (funded in part by the European Commission) is influencing the current nomad student generation. It tells the story of a young man from a well-off family who decides to spend an Erasmus year in Barcelona. He enjoys a rich ‘human experience’ and develops a network of international friends. When he returns home, he decides to quit his job in the finance ministry to pursue his childhood dream: to be a writer. Beyond this ‘fantasy’, what do participants get out of Erasmus? When you ask them, they highlight above all the “human experience” – discovering a foreign country, learning its language and making international friends. Antoine Godbert, responsible for the French Erasmus budget, in 2012 described the typical Erasmus student as “very adaptable in a time of crisis”. He said they acquired both specialised skills in their area of expertise and nonformal skills, as well as greater proficiency in a foreign language. However, employers are generally not aware of how Erasmus benefits students and thus have not shown much interest in them. They are becoming more familiar with Erasmus now, but it’s just the start.

Empower citizens and bring them closer to the decision-makers! Benjamin Fauquet, Paris, France

A feast of films LILIANA SEREDIUC, ROMANIA

Reports and studies are essential, but films can throw rich light on all sorts of human issues, provide new insight and inspire new ideas. We list here five outstanding films about a range of themes – from the adventures of an immigrant to the national passions inspired by the same song.

1. EDEN IS WEST, 2008, FRANCE / GREECE / ITALY

A beautiful story about illegal immigrants in the EU. We witness the adventures of Elias, seeing through his eyes the desire to fit into society. Outstanding performance by Riccardo Scamarcio. Direction by Costa-Gavras who said that the film is “the story of those who, like us or our fathers and mothers before us, crisscrossed the earth, defying the oceans and uniformed bullies, in a search for a roof over their heads”. As one critic said: beautiful scenery and fearful faces. The film is ultimately hopeful, though, because Elias never gives up. He will survive.

2. COLD WAVES, 2007, ROMANIA

“The post-modern narrative form seems almost tailor-made for Communist Romania, a murky land of suspicion and conspiracy theories: truth and lie, then and now, facts and assumptions, all merge to form a ghostly web. Solomon has used this to make a masterpiece of a film about the history of the Romanian section of Radio Free Europe.” – Chris Keulemans, IDFA During the 1980s, Radio Free Europe was a lifeline for many Romanian listeners – and Ceaucescu’s main enemy; he even hired Carlos the Jackal to close it down.

8 1 THE SCULPTURAL ENSEMBLE OF CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI, ROMANIA LET’S MEDITATE TOGETHER

You don’t need to speak to interact with others, or so the sculptural ensemble of Targu Jiu suggests. Sculpted by Constantin Brancusi, it comprises three sculptures: the Table of Silence, the Gate of the Kiss and the Column of the Infinite. Despite its name, the Table of Silence, a big round table surrounded by stools, is a powerful invitation to engage in debate and exchange. But in a world where people never stop talking (radio, TV talk-shows, Twitter, etc), sitting around the table at Targu Jiu and engaging in silent interchanges might well be a healthy exercise (followed by a visit to the Gate of the Kiss).

3. THE BRUSSELS BUSINESS, 2012, GERMANY

A documentary by Friedrich Moser and Matthieu Lietaert that puts the spotlight on the power of the lobbying industry in Brussels. It tells the story of how industry lobby groups heavily influenced the EU’s development from the 1980s onwards. It shines a bright light on the estimated 15,000 lobbyists in the Belgian city, and their relationships with the European Commission and the European Parliament.

4. WHOSE IS THIS SONG? 2003, BULGARIA

Film director Adela Peeva looks for the true origins of a haunting melody, travelling to Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia and Bulgaria. Lots of humour, surprise, suspense and tragedy as each country’s citizens passionately claim the song to be their own. The song provokes strong emotions and stubborn nationalism. In one country it’s a love song; in another, a military march. Music is meant to bring people together, but this film shows how one beautiful song can stir both love and deep-rooted hatreds.

5. TEA HOUSE, 2013, POLAND

Bródno, long associated with nothing but housing blocks, in recent years has become associated with art. Paweł Althamer, an artist, who brought sculptures of worldfamous artists to Bródnowski Park, invites his neighbours to take part in his projects. One neighbour, Michał, took care of one of the sculptures, called ‘Tea House’, so Michał decides to arrange a real teahouse inside. Maybe it will draw attention to art? Or maybe it’s enough that people can sit in the shade of a tree, drink, talk and rest? A film by Jan Mencwel.

2 CATALUNYA SQUARE, BARCELONA, SPAIN OPEN-AIR POLITICS IN A TIME OF CRISIS

Catalunya Square in 2011 became a centre for anti-government protests and sit-ins. It was turned into a campsite where peaceful protesters invite people to reflect while demanding a change in Spanish society and politics. Citizens also make proposals to improve the future of the country. For some reason, they are convinced that the political parties are doing little to solve the current crisis. And, if you’re tired of talking to your fellows, there are dozens of friendly pigeons to have a chat with.

3 LA CANTINE, PARIS, FRANCE MEET THE HACKERS!

You’re crazy about Creative Commons? Passionate about net neutrality? Want to invent the future of the Internet, and exchange ideas with developers, creative designers, artists and hackers? Voici La Cantine, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. Visit la Cantine in the morning to have a coffee and work on your projects. In the afternoon, enlarge your network of developers, hackers or intellectuals. In the evening, debate with web experts, Internet geniuses, artists or journalists.

HOTSPOTS FOR HOT CITIZENS 4 RED HOUSE, SOFIA, BULGARIA A BIG RED MANSION FOR OPEN DEBATE

The Red House, a centre for culture and debate, is a big (red) mansion, built in the early 20th century. Here artists experiment and intellectuals debate. Openmindedness and tolerance are the rule. Feel free to step into the Red House, even if you are not a Bulgarian speaker, since discussions are held in many different languages.

7 MŰVELŐDÉSI SZINT, AKA MÜSZI, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY RISING HIGH ABOVE DIVISIVE POLITICS

As a right-wing conservative party holds all the power in Hungary, alternative people, NGOs, artists, journalists and social entrepreneurs meet at Müszi. Located at Blaha Luzja square, Muvelodési Szint (which means ‘cultural floor’) is up on the 4th floor of a shopping mall of the Soviet era.

5 INTERCULTURAL GARDENS, BERLIN, GERMANY TRY THIS RECIPE FOR SOCIAL HARMONY …

Even if you are not passionate about carrots and cucumbers, if you go to Berlin go straight to the Intercultural Gardens (Internationale Gärten). In this urban space, immigrants and Germans from various social milieus and with differing lifestyles meet. Obviously, people speak about horticulture, share cultural techniques and discuss creative preparation of seasonal food. But it’s more about interactions and creating new ties between citizens. It’s a great space for children, community events, meetings, and initiating further activities … a micro-climate for social harmony!

6 FREETOWN CHRISTIANIA, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK HIPPIE DEMOCRACY

The hippies of Christiania no longer represent the avantgarde, yet this 34-hectare, carless city inside Copenhagen, with 1,000 residents, is a great place to rest, or to ‘remake the world’. Some nasty people claim to have smelt the scent of drugs of a certain kind now and again in Christiania, but ignore the allegations and drop in to take part in the yoga and meditation sessions.

There’s a café in which to meet local activists, ateliers for artists, a co-working space for entrepreneurs, a theatre room, a library, meeting-rooms for nonformal organisations. And if you want some fresh air, there’s a shared garden on the rooftop.

8 THE UPSIDE-DOWN HOUSE, SZYMBARK, POLAND

This eye-catching traditional Polish house set on its roof was designed by Daniel Czapiewski, who said he wanted to symbolise the disorientation people feel in a rapidly changing world. Some citizens think the EU is standing on its head at present so as to satisfy the financial markets, while the lives of many have been turned upside-down. So, if you’re one of them, then the topsy-turvey house is the perfect place for you to discuss your plans to shape an EU that is more to your liking. But be warned: constructing the Upside-Down House took five times longer than expected, because workers suffered dizziness and confusion. While seeking to put the EU back on its feet, you risk having exactly the same experience. LILIANA SEREDIUC, ROMANIA

Europe must be smarter: it has to learn to communicate. Ismaël Fouchecourt, Rennes, France

HOW 225 CITIZENS FROM EIGHT EU COUNTRIES END UP IN ONE CONFERENCE ROOM IN THE CAPITAL OF EUROPE

I AM EUROPE THE FINAL CONFERENCE The Egg, Brussels Saturday 22nd June 2013 See the programme and practical details at www.iameurope.eu Entrance is free. Registration by emailing antwerp@evensfoundation.be

At the end of a long and winding road, I AM EUROPE blooms in Brussels

For the Evens Foundation, the European Year of Citizens offered an opportunity to imagine a concrete response to the call for Europeans to participate more in the development of the EU. In collaboration with its partners from eight EU countries, the Foundation initiated the I AM EUROPE project – an investigative quest to explore how to enhance citizens’ involvement in shaping the future of Europe. The project was built on the knowledge and experience of citizens and organisations engaged in local civic initiatives. From January to June 2013, 225 of these European citizens from the eight countries gathered in different locations to exchange, evaluate and (re)invent participation tools to enlarge citizen influence on EU policy-making. The results of this process will be presented at the final conference in The Egg, Brussels. The participating citizens will share their ideas, concerns and recommendations with a panel of citizens, experts and policy-makers.

WHO’S WHO? A FINE SELECTION OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS... MIEKE VAN HEESEWIJK THE NETHERLANDS

Mieke is director of Network Democracy. Previously, she was a policy advisor on e-participation at the Dutch Ministry of Internal Affairs, and was responsible for realising a large number of e-participation projects.

KLAUS BONDAM DENMARK

Before becoming director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, Klaus was involved in Danish politics, and was elected Alderman of Technics and Environment of Copenhagen.

JOANNA ERBEL POLAND

Joanna Erbel, sociologist and photographer, wrote her PhD. on the role of non-human actors in the transformation of urban space (Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw). At the conference, she will guide the working group on public spaces.

LAURENT D’HONDT BELGIUM

Laurent is a musician with a law degree and a strong passion for citizen participation. After the G1000 conference (see p. 5), he couldn’t resist sharing his harsh but constructive critique with the organisers. As a ‘punishment’, he was appointed as a G1000 spokesperson.

KATHLEEN VAN BREMPT BELGIUM

Kathleen is a member of the European Parliament (the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group). Previously she was a Secretary of State in the Belgian federal government and a minister in the Flemish regional government.

CAROLINE DE GRUYTER THE NETHERLANDS

Caroline will act as the conference moderator. She is the Brussels correspondent for the Dutch quality newspaper NRC Handelsblad. She was recently awarded the prestigious Anne Vondeling Prize for journalistic clarity in covering politics.

225 citizens, in total, meet in 9 EU cities to define the project

ANTWERP

BARCELONA

BERLIN

BRUSSELS

BUCHAREST

ÖREBRÖ

PARIS

SOFIA

WARSAW

Over 3 spring weekends, a group of 45 (5 from each city) exchange, learn, share and work on ideas for improving participation in EU policy-making

ANTWERP

Exchange of good practices and methodologies

PARIS

Insights into EU policy-making Transforming practices from local to EU level

WARSAW

Developing & communicating ideas and recommendations

All 225 participating citizens will gather in workgroups around defined themes of concern. Recommendations, concerns and ideas for improving citizen participation in relation to those themes will be presented to panels of citizens, experts and policy-makers.

BRUSSELS

CAROLINE ERSKINE IRELAND

Caroline began her career as a broadcasting journalist. She was Executive Director of the Irish ‘We the Citizens’ initiative, and since 2012 has been working in the EU Presidency Communications unit in the Irish prime minister’s department.

THEMES OF CONCERN: Awareness of EU functioning n Social inclusion n Youth unemployment n Public spaces n Civic engagement

Exclusive: Reports from the future – Nov 2013 to Dec 2020

“We are Europe … at last!” In late May, a member of the editorial team of this newspaper was sitting outside a café sipping water and perusing her iPad, when old-fashioned sheets of paper dropped from the sky on to her lap – the printout of a journal or blog. The odd thing was: the dates of all the entries were in the future, all the way to 2020. Despite the cynics, as newspaper producers we know that miracles of timing (and mistiming) happen now and again. We thus present you with extracts from these fascinating reports from the future.

Nov 2013: Thugs stab to death three young immigrants in Athens. Although the vast majority of Greeks despise them, support for Golden Dawn has soared. No surprise: we ‘saved’ Greece by pauperising its citizens.

12 Feb 2016: A huge gathering of representatives of citizens organisations from every member state, organised by the Evens Foundation, meets in Antwerp – the biggest such event ever organised. They seem to mean business.

11 Dec 2013: When times were good, the EU could play with high-sounding, ‘happy family’ ideals; when things came down to money, realpolitik came to the fore: elite power, national interest, individual interests and, trumping everything else, international finance. Instead of a Europe of Citizens we’ve a Europe divided between lenders/gamblers and debtors, north and south, natives and foreigners …

7 April 2016: Aviva Eskenazi, leader of the Greek Citizens Party, looks interesting. “We are not an economy. We are citizens. We are Europe,” she says, and: “A totally free market leads to slavery.” Her work behind the scenes shows these aren’t empty slogans. She’s meeting citizens organisations all over Europe.

1 Jan 2014: One in five young people in the EU are unemployed – the future citizens of Europe. Happy New Year!

21 July 2016: A report says up to 27,000 people in the EU have died as a result of the ‘austerity’ measures (health cutbacks, suicide, etc). How do they work out these figures? But being exact is not the point: austerity kills. The good news, though, is that EU growth overall is now at 0.45%, unemployment is down 1.2% – and sales of BMWs to Greece have risen by 2.1% in the first six months of the year. Hallelujah!

26 Feb 2014: Still no growth in the EU. These harsh economic remedies worked out by some of the best minds in Europe are superb. Just a minor problem – they’re not working. The weaker countries are spinning down an economic death spiral. Citizens have little or no say in the policies adopted, but have to take the pain. Not knowing what’s good for them, they don’t think that’s fair. The ‘good citizens’ feel alienated, the ‘crazies’ thrive. Attacks on immigrants from Finland to France and Hungary to Greece. Let’s blame strangers for all our troubles, in proportion to the darkness of their skin. Then everything will be wonderful, and we can all go to the beach to deepen our tans (and tattoos). 27 May 2014: Shock, yet predictable, results in the Parliament elections. Many eurosceptics elected. The far-right can now make up a formal political group (they’ll get funding for promotional activities!): 47 MEPs representing more than a quarter of member states: French Front National (17 seats), Jobbik in Hungary (4), Golden Dawn in Greece (3), Italian New Mussolini Party (4), Bulgarian Ataka (3), Greater Romania Party (4), Deutschland Allein (3), Austrian Freedom Party (4), Belgian Vlaams Belang (1), British National Party (3) and Swedish Democrats (1). Where the far-right hasn’t gained votes, it’s because mainstream parties have stolen some of their thunder. Parliament’s going to be a much noisier forum. But right-wingers like going on the attack; maybe they’ll start fighting each other before long. 1 Jan 2015: One in six young people in the EU are unemployed. Happy New Year! The withdrawal of the financial tide revealed the rocky wastes of European democracy. But the good thing is that citizens are now demanding to be taken seriously. They’re working out new ways to engage in public discourse and influence decision-making. Thousands of them, all across Europe. And the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) has been hugely improved. …. The far-right are screaming, but many more citizens are talking. Hopeful signs! 4 Oct 2015: Catalonia has declared independence. Madrid’s up in arms (though not literally, mercifully). That’ll weaken the Spanish economy.

promote “mass deliberation” – “How can we bring people into the political process in conditions where they can be engaged to think seriously about public issues?” Secondly: “How can we advance democracy by empowering citizens to make key policy decisions.” Thirdly: “What institutions and processes do we need that can aggregate and balance divergent citizen interests into a coherent policy programme?”

Even the American dollarocracy is looking to Europe for a new model of governance

3 Jan 2017: Millions of citizens demonstrate in all the capitals of Europe, demanding a voice at the highest levels of the EU … more than a million in Brussels, 600,000 in Paris, 350,000 in Warsaw, and so on. A key demand is the creation of a new position: an elected Citizens President of the EU. 28 June 2017: In the UK referendum on EU membership, voters narrowly support staying in – despite decades of daily rubbish in newspapers about Brussels dictators and funny foreigners. Mixed reactions in the EU. Relief for newly independent Scotland! 1 Jan 2018: One in seven young people in the EU are unemployed. Only 14.286 out of 100. Progress. Happy New Year! 16 Feb 2018: Golden Dawn thugs, shouting antisemitic slogans, threw rotten eggs at Eskenazi last night. More mildly, some say she’s ambitious, rising on a wave of populism, etc. Others say it’s ironic that the drive to increase citizen power is based so much on a single person. It’s not. She is simply the pinnacle of the citizens movement that took off in late 2013. She genuinely, precisely reflects the needs and wishes of Europe’s citizenry. And she’s been fighting tooth and nail, through hours and hours of discussions and debates, to turn her/our vision of Europe into reality. 27 April 2018: In Parliament, one of the Mussoliniite MEPs came up with a provocative ‘Balkan’ insult; Bulgarian and Romanian far-right MEPs walked out and are expected to quit the Free Europe far-right group. More insults, please! 12 Aug 2018: Eskenazi has been elected as the first Citizens President of the EU, winning overwhelming support from e-voters all round Europe. She says the big problem of democratic reform is, first, how to

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE I AM EUROPE PROJECT MAY BE FOUND AT WWW.IAMEUROPE.EU

15 Oct 2018: I AM EUROPE has proposed setting up a European Citizens Assembly. It cites the example of the British Columbia Citizens Assembly, the first time a citizen body was given the power to reform fundamental political institutions.

12 Jan 2019: European Citizens Assembly formally established! Experts will join with citizens in the deliberative process, to overcome the problems of technical complexity; citizen representatives will be randomly selected rather than self-selected, to avoid organised, well-resourced interests; measures to ensure the Assembly’s decisions will be taken seriously, and so on. Meanwhile, the far-right MEPs are fighting among themselves like cats and dogs, severely damaging their cause. Quel dommage! 22 June 2019: Already, the Citizens Assembly has provoked major changes in the running of the EU. Sensible regulation of the financial system, progressive taxation, citizen-centred decision-making, etc. Politicians are tripping over each other in a competition to emit the most references to ‘citizens’ in their speeches. Trust in the EU has soared. 3 Nov 2020: Eskenazi dismisses attempts to ‘beatify’ her: “Since the participatory structures for citizens were missing, someone was temporarily required to represent EU citizens and help to set up these structures. Without all the active citizens, I’d have been nothing. My job was to make the need for me disappear.” 16 Dec 2020: So, it wasn’t the bureaucrats, technocrats, austeritocrats, rating agencies, merkelists or marketists that transformed Europe into a more or less democratic project. How surprising! It was the citizens of Europe themselves, with the help of Aviva Eskenazi. How clear it’s become that ‘no man is an island’, that EU member states and their citizens can only thrive together, The ‘lazy’ southern European states, now they’ve recovered, are helping Germany, Finland and the Netherlands through their economic collapses. And sales of BMWs in Greece have soared! The principle that all decision-making, whether financial, economic or political, must be citizen-centred now permeates EU institutions. Even the American dollarocracy is looking to Europe for a new model of governance. ‘We are Europe … at last!’

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR THOUGHTS TO INFO@IAMEUROPE.EU OR JOIN THE DEBATE ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/IAMEUROPEPROJECT

(David Quin, Ireland)