The 60th Anniversary of the Congress of Europe

Pat Cox (Micha's phone)

Micha and I

What is it?

I participated in the Congress of Europe 23-24.5.2008 in the Hague. I represented the European Youth Parliament in Finland. The Congress served as the 60th anniversary of the Famous Congress of 1948, presided over by Winston Churchill himself. Now we had the grand daughter of Mr. Churchill present in her purple cabaret outfits, but the Congress was presided by Pat Cox, President of the European Movement (EM) and former President of the European Parliament. The idea was to vote for the 60 best ideas of those proposed by civil society before the congress and discuss those in working groups. The voting procedure was rather strange, though... Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands was present at the opening ceremony. The opening panel consisted of four former Young Europeans of the Year (selected by the Heinz-Schwarzkopf Stiftung by the way!) and Michael Zeeman (essayist and broadcaster) and a participant of the 1948 Congress, Jean-Pierre Gouzy. Mr. Gouzy was very worried about the role of French as an official language in the EU. The young Europeans were very interesting and inspiring to listen to.

EYPers Micha and Cecilia

Political Europe

My working group was on Political Europe. There were five main themes on the basis of voting: 1) Energy and climate change 2) Security and foreign policy 3) EU citizenship 4) Democracy 5) Human rights protection. I was rather disappointed with the topics as I had voted completely differently. I was way more interested in the institutional aspects and the Lisbon Treaty for example. Well, I guess "civil society" decided, as it was so extremely well represented by hundreds of old, grey, bald men. I felt extremely young and feminine in this place. Elmar Brok (German MEP, who arrived very late!) was the keynote speaker and we were moderated by Riivo Sinijärv (President of EM Estonia, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs) and our rapporteur was Michael Stabenow (correspondent for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). It was very cool to see him in person, as I had just compared the Frankfurter Allgemeine (right-wing) with the Süddeutsche Zeitung (left-wing) for an assignment of International Comparative Democracy.

I was rather shocked by the quality of the working group. All these smart, famous Europeans could only discuss about the ways of discussing, about the need to discuss something or the importance or sillyness of a topic. I really didn't learn anything, and I was shocked about the institutional nonsense that was going around. I mean, just the fact that the European Council is the body that represents the Members States and their governments, and that the Parliament is the body that represents the citizens was not really understood. Or at least so it seemed. I noted that the European Youth Parliament is way more capable of producing something as a result of a discussion of one hour than we did during an entire day. Maybe my product-orientation is very Finnish, too...

Elmar Brok

I liked Elmar Brok's opening speech, though. He stressed the fact that certain questions cannot be solved by the Member States alone. Like Jacques Delors once said: "We have to win the future together." He said that Medvedev is laughing at us in Moscow about the energy issues, as we started talking about them three years ago, but nothing has happened ever since. We have to work in a clearer manner, because otherwise we lose support. I didn't quite agree with the following he said: "Consolidation, less legislation, less enlargement (I think that the EU is ready for enlargement!), and more concentration on the issues we have on the table right now." He presented an interesting line of thought:

1) Churchill had a dream of the United States of Europe.
2) Monnet talked about the "solidarity of facts".
3) We should combine the dream and the facts.

Elmar Brok (Micha's mobile)

It is important to explain why Europe is good for the citizens. Right now we have a Union of states and citizens where the states are still more powerful through the Council. The first European elections (well, if Lisbon is gonna work out...) are taking place in 2009, and there the Council can only propose, which implies more power to the citizens (the Parliament). Another level of participation should be stressed, too: informal citizenship. According to Brok there are three main things the Union has the work on: transparency, democracy and efficiency. The Treaty of Lisbon (!) would be a progress. Brok also said that nothing is more convincing than success. We should show that the EU makes a difference. We should "force the national Parliaments to tell the truth. When it's raining it is the fault of Brussels. When the sun shines, Berlin can be praised." He said that the EU is cheaper to Germany than its army, which costs 27 billion € a year. He supports a two-chamber system and a federal Europe like I do. Very nice, I like!

Common Foreign and Security Policy

An interesting thing that came up in the discussions was the talk about the common foreign and security policy (CFSP). Some people actively talked about the need for a new kind of power in addition to hard power; soft power (civilian power), which would some sort of "philosophical power". Also, the EU should lead the transformation of the United Nations. The talk about enlargement was very heated and I disagreed to a great extend with what was said against further enlargement. I agreed, however, that the "open door policy" in the Lisbon Treaty is the right way to go, and that enlargement has been one of the most successful policies of the EU. Everything can change if you overdose it. Some said that 12 new members would destroy the Union. I don't know about that. But I think that the European Neighbourhood Policy is a good thing to have. It's just: do states want to be part of it if there is no membership carrot? This has a lot to do with what we discussed at the Think Tank under Ferrero-Waldner in December (see December).

Citizenship

Me in front of the Niewe Kerk where the Congress was held (Micha)

Then we talked about citizenship and the President of the Council, for example. Like Brok, I am also against his/her (btw. Check the campaign for nominating women for the candidacy http://www.femalesinfront.eu/default.asp?view=front&lang=gb) election by the people. The Council represents the Member States, the Parliament the people. The President shouldn't have any operational functions, because that is for the Commission. This has a lot to do with the committee I chaired together with Ingo at the German National Session of EYP in Frankfurt. The committee agreed that the President should be there for the citizens, not a mediator between the states, or a foreign representative. More about the German Nationals later, though! I also definitely think that the elections in 2009 should be as interesting for our citizens as the presidential elections in the United States. Another funny thing that was said was that "the EU is not interesting, because it produces only good news".

Balkenende (Micha's phone)

Overall, the working group was a disappointment, like I said. I did realise that there is a huge need for a generation shift in European affairs, and getting some women to the front wouldn' t be bad at all. It was funny when we went to the ladies' room with Anna-Maija, a lovely Finnish girl I met, and an old lady came up to us saying: "Why is it that the women interested in the EU are always very few, young, and beautiful, and the men always old and ugly." Thanks old lady!

The Finnish girls (Micha's phone)

Another thing that stroke me, was the incapability of actually formating some sort of result of the discussion. Well, when the EYPers are making decisions one day, we'll first play the coin game, and then produce some good results. I mean how can you talk about energy and climate change without mentioning renewable energy resources...? In the evening we still had a reception at the City Council of the Hague, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Balkenende, delivered a speech, cool! I also talked a lot with Dr. Alan Flowers (National Co-ordinator of EYP Belarus) about the situation in Belarus and some old and new friends from the Young European Federalists (JEF). We met at the European Parliament with EYP and JEF Finland in Brussels last weekend. More about that later...

Second day: Hardcore speakers

On the second day of the Congress we had these speakers in the panel:


Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament
Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia EU Slovenian Presidency
José Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the European Commission
Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union (HE DIDN'T SHOW UP!)
Lluís Maria de Puig, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (NEITHER DID HE!)
Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the EESC
Luc van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions

The Leaders (Micha's phone)

Prins Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was there as a guest

European People’s Party:

Wilfried Martens, President
Othmar Karas, Vice-Chairman EPP-ED
Group

Party of European Socialists:

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President
Martin Schulz, President Socialist
Group

European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party:

Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroek, President
Graham Watson, President ALDE Group

European Green Party:

Philippe Lamberts, co-President

I asked a question on TV, because the moderator, Quentil Peel, the International Affairs Editor of the Financial Times wanted a young woman on TV... I was really nervous! It was so stupid. I am never nervous for these kinds of things, but it came so suddenly. I wasn't allowed to speak at the time I was supposed to and I left out quite a bit of what I wanted to say. Anyway, I said that we are on the right track when it comes to exchange programmes and the Bologna Process (these were things that the oldies wanted to discuss in the Social and Economic working group!) provides us youngsters with sufficient opportunities. However, I expressed my concern about the difficulty of getting jobs for young (professional) people both in my case Finland and the EU institutions. It is not really rewarded that people study abroad, because the institutions in the native countries do not appreciate foreign degrees. The European labour market is very harsh for young professionals. I asked what the European leaders would do to increase the value of truly European young professionals on the European labour market. Only the President of the ALDE group, Graham Watson gave me some sort of clear answer.

To my joy some good things were said by these leaders. For example, Barroso said that the President of the Commission should not be elected by the people, because the Commission cannot be compared to a national government. The President of the Commission cannot select his own government (Commission). I must say, by the way, that Barroso is an extremely inspiring speaker! An interesting thought raised was that by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen of also getting Blue Cards to blue collar workers, in branches where these are needed. All the leaders stressed that the 2009 elections should get a lot of visibility and the political parties should campaign actively, and set their presidential candidates. I was aprticularlu happy when they mentioned the European Youth Parliament as a good project (Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroek), and the need for European history books that portray our common history.

Any other businesses

Well, Kokoomus (the National Coalition Party) had it's party gathering in Tampere last week, and I am very happy with the selected officials. The adorable Jyrki Katainen is continuing as the President. The UEFA 2008 is going strong right now, and I am supporting Germany to the final. I am fine with Sweden and the Netherlands, too. I am still sad about the Lisbon Treaty and I am going to Finland on Thursday. Over and out. Next time shorter.

Friday the 13th

Well, the scenario came true. This is a sad day for Europe. Below some propaganda that might have caused this result.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdWYopS3SMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRLs4_1KI0&feature=related

Now we are in a crisis.

Is Ireland voting NO?

I am starting to worry seriously. Reuters has reported on the likely consequences if the Irish vote against the Treaty of Lisbon.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL1336470820080613

Let's still hope for the better.

Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty

Finally, the Finns have ratified the Lisbon Treaty. Now, the main complaints concern the fact that the ratification happened supposedly behind closed doors and amongst the political elite. A good idea would have been to maybe distribute a booklet to all households, with the basic information that touches upon everyday life. However, such a compact work can be found at the information office of the European Parliament in Finland. In other countries this is surely the case as well.


A Guinnes World Record breaking stunt on the streets of Dublin (http://www.ireland.com/focus/thelisbontreaty/?via=rel)

Now we are waiting for Ireland. It would be a great loss for the Irish people if they said no to Europe. Looking at the past decades in Ireland, the EU has had a huge positive impact on the country. I keep my fingers crossed.

Here is a link to more info on the Reform Treaty (in Finnish): http://www.eurooppatiedotus.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=97339&nodeid=37760&culture=fi-FI

ALEXANDER STUBB - THE NEW MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS!

It is unbelievable, or maybe it is not... Only half a year ago I was working in the office of Alex Stubb, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland. I set up quite a party for myself here in Utrecht, hung some EU flags above my door (later destroyed by some stupid, Eurosceptic unitmate...) and was laughing, then crying, then doing both at the same time. I "started" politics in 2003 by being in Alex' campaign for the European Parliament, and now I see him become a Minister.

I have both positive and negative feelings. On the one hand I think this is a loss. Alex was definitely the most devoted MEP, and he truly chanelled some energy to the Parliament. I think Alex is the only MEP who really informed the "common people" back in Finland, and actually transparently (in a very crazy and personal way) took his Eurocrat life to our living rooms (or whatever rooms). Alex is really charismatic, charming, and he speaks the language of a modern, urban and European person. He is not afraid of saying what he thinks, or does in his "real" life, which makes him come across more trustworthy.

On the other hand, I honestly believe that there is no better Minister of Foreign Affairs for Finland than Alex. However, I truly hope that he will not become boring and grey like the majority of te homeland ministers. I also hope he will not stop writing his blog, as reading and exploring his website is one of the things I just HAVE to do daily. Alex is my biggest idol: I appreciate him for making me love the EU so much, and for making me realise that a crazy person can get far too. Alex always encourages personal challenges, like studying abroad, for example. Alex is my guru.

Alex, keep up the good work. We love you.

"Vuosi 2007 pähkinänkuoressa"

One of my tasks during this holiday, is to empty my room of all the papers and small things I never managed to sort. I found all the issues of 'Suomen Kuvalehti' (SK), my favourite magazine on political and cultural issues. I started reading headlines, and eventually articles. I found a very interesting issue, the first of 2007, that discussed what had happened in 2006. Do you remember the day when Saddam Hussein was excecuted? 2006 was the year when Tarja Halonen was re-elected President of Finland. What was 2007?

The first thing that comes on my mind about 2007, is the EU enlargement to Romania and Bulgaria. I started thinking, what 2007 really was for the world. I know more or less what it was for me. I googled "vuosi 2007 pähkinänkuoressa", "year 2007 in a nutshell". I found something rather sweet and personal: http://taivaalle.fi/vuosi-2007-pahkinankuoressa, it's about someone who is educating himself to become a pilot. And the title of his webpage can be literally translated to tothesky.fi.

When I further read the issue of SK, I saw a giant picture of of a Romanian couple, kissing each other wearing EU hats and holding the EU flag in the starry glow of New Year's Eve. I am glad those two people saw the beauty and opportunity of our Union. I am still trying to convince my Dutch friends and their families about the benefits of our unity. Maybe someday they'll join us, and Europe will live as one. Well that was one big thing for me in 2007. 27 Member States. 490 citizens. Slovenia new member of the Eurozone. That is quite something. It is funny how our pilot's webpage is called tothesky.fi, and mine ceciliaineurope.com.

The United Nations got a new Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon. Sarkozy became the President of France. Wait, now I have to check google. More Palestinian-Israeli stuff. Iraq. Sigh. The Virginia Tech Massacre. The statue conflict between Estonia and Russia. Tony Blair is now Gordon Brown. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Abdullah Gül is the new President of Turkey. The Jokela high school massacre. Finland turned 90. This is what I found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc_SmxRzAiA

Oh yes. The European Constitution, or now the Reform Treaty. Will it be a big thing after all? Are we going to start speaking with one voice? At least I hope the whole process of post-scepticism will lead to a more democratic Union. But what do years actually really mean to mankind? Today I was thinking what out period of time will be called. Now they call it post-modernism. What will it be called in 100 years. 200 years? What did year 2001 mean to me? What else happened than 9/11? What about 2003?

What was 2007 for me? It was discovering what Europe means to me. I have never travelled as much as I did this year. I started with a trip to the United States in January: Atlanta, Duluth, New York. I liked New York, because it resembled Europe in a way, but I was very claustrophobic elsewhere. I realised how much I love Europe. In February I went to visit Jonas in Warwick, Coventry and London. This was a trip of personal learning, spirituality, and deep discussions. I don't remember much of the scenes themselves. In the end of March I went to the International Session of the European Youth Parliament in Potsdam and Berlin, Germany. This was a Session of friendship. I realised I am part of this international community, and that I will belong to EYP for a long time after this session. In April I made the decision to make University College Utrecht my number one university of the ones I applied to, and I decided to go to Utrecht for the interview. I fell in love with the school.

In May I went to Germany. That was the end of my career as a teacher. I will miss my students. First to Berlin, from there I flew to Stuttgart (Bad Urach) to vice-preside the European Forum there. This was one of my best experiences ever. I had been to Bad Urach before, and that village brings me only good things. I know I will go back. Then I went to Berlin. That time I spent with Gloria, and I realised that Berlin is my favourite city in the world. At some point there the EUro-Mediterranean Youth Parliament started. This was a tough experience of personal learning and lots of confrontations. Beautiful. Then Brussels. I don't know what to say: I left my heart there. Chairs training in Berlin. Beautiful people, these people would be able to support me in Poland. Then back to Finland for a few days. Doing nothing in my pyjamas for two days, and back to Berlin for the EYP 20th anniversary. Nice party, but exhaustion. How long can I do this? Back to Finland. Countryside, practical matters for university life. Then off to Poland for Bialystok and Bialowieza. A tough session of amazing moments and everlasting bonds. After the session I went to Karolina's place for the reunion with her and Kathrin, whom I met in Bad Urach. These two girls changed my world. Poland is beautiful. It's ro raw, so genuine. We visited places I will never go back to, but I am gonna tell about them to my children. Finland, sick, sick, sick. Really sick. Holland, and the rest you know. Now I need to breath for a while. I took a rollercoaster ride for a year, without breathing at all. I think I was escaping what happened in the meanwhile in Finland.

I really wonder what 2008 brings. Will life be normal? What is the prophecy? What wars will there be? So devastating to think that war will not be over, again. I was talking about the Arab-Israeli conflict with my Algerian friend, Massi. He told me about their difficulties to found a Mediterranean Youth Parliament. The Syrians are not allowed to found NGOs. The Lebanese do not accept Israelis in their projects. If the Israelis don't participate, MYP is fine. But what's the point of it then? My Palestinian friend was not allowed to go to the founding of MYP in Beirut, because he has an Israeli stamp in his passport. Well, surprisingly, he happens to be a Palestinian under the rule of Israel. I have started to think that the decision-makers are acting like little children.

If you are interested in 2007 and what it really was, google or youtube the year. You'll find Queen Elisabeth's speech, something about Miss Universe 2007. And then think what you might say about the year. Maybe it was just another year, maybe you changed the world, or someone else changed yours. There's so much bad, but maybe, maybe next year is slightly better. Live in that hope, and it might be! Maybe Belgium will even have a government in 2008 ;).

It's over now

Job done.


Just to warn you: this will be a tired post.

A couple of hours ago I arrived in Helsinki from Berlin. It smells somehow really clean and fresh here, the sun shines and the flowers are blooming. I didn't know Finland could be this beautiful. Apparently it helps to be away for a while.

Last impressions


My dear EYP Finland exploring Brussels.

My last days in Brussels were really cool. On Thursday I completed my project and report on the revision of the '94 Timeshare Directive, went to the public hearing and met some lobbyists. I said goodbye to Alex and the people of the office and we went to Place Luxembourg to have lunch together with a British stagiaire, another Alex. That was all really cosy, but sad of course. In the afternoon I went to pick up EYP Finland and JEF Finland from the airport. We had a seminar in the Parliament, I gave them a roundtour, we had a board meeting, dinner and my farewell party in Wild Geese later on. I had a really good time, especially when I realised that the EMYPers Derya (Turkey) and Marijn (Belgium) came and see me there.


Farewell party: Marijn and Derya

The chairs' content training for BLISS in Berlin

At some point late at night I managed to force myself to go home, which resulted in two hours of sleep. At six I took a taxi to the airport where I met Lot, the Vice-President of BLISS - a wonderful girl! In Berlin we headed for the EYP Office where we met members of our brilliant chairs' team and Tapio and Fred, of course. That day was hilarious, really! The board had thought of a brilliant teambuilding excercise, where we had to do crazy stuff in small groups in Berlin. I'll put the brilliant photos here as soon as I've gotten them of Christa. In the evening we went for dinner together, which was really nice.

On the next day we had an expert hearing and we worked on the 'real' content training about our topics. And then it was disco bowling. I kicked the asses of my group! Back at the hostel one could really start seeing that this is a strong team that we have. We started playing truth or dare, spin the bottle etc. and everybody ended up kissing each other - not bad at all! I must say I am missing this group already a lot. Luckily I'll meet a couple of them at the 20th Birthday of EYP in Berlin next weekend. Go us!


Teambuilding. Lovely wet hair like always.

Yours,

Cecilia