"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

Last days to go...

More interesting topics needed?

This has definitely been a month that didn't feel like a month. Didn't I arrive just three days ago, or two...? I am so integrated in the office, my corridor, some international friends, the rhytm, the sandwich bar, AFCO... And now to please my best friends, who say that my blog is not interesting enough, and that they only read the "men-parts" and skip everything that refers to the letters e and u. My point... that I will miss some certain people especially...

Talking about AFCO. I was there again today. And so was Margot Wallström. And so were the freaking Englishmen (no offence). Always when I attend this committee I start believing that everybody hates the new Treaty and that it will be killed by at least the teadrinkers on the island. And really, I love UK citizens! Oh oh oh...

Go enlargement, it's ya birthday!

Well, let's talk about enlargement now! The word ‘enlargement’ awakes a lot of mixed opinions among EU citizens. Questions like: “Isn’t it too fast, too costly and too dangerous?” “What are the real benefits, and doesn’t it make the EU weaker?” are often asked. On the other hand the pro-enlargement people are saying that the EU has been the most successful peace project in human history having unified successfully 27 Member States (MS) and created a Pax Europa of 50 years.

At the moment, the EU is inspiring Turkey, Croatia and the other Western Balkans to extensive reforms, especially in the fields of economy, human and minority rights and democracy. If you give a child a lollypop, she normally acts in the wished way. Therefore, the tempting Union is a good way of seeding the principles of European welfare. All European countries benefit from having stable democracies and prosperous market economies as neighbours. The conclusion is that a carefully managed enlargement process extends peace, democracy, the rule of law and prosperity across Europe. And so it has happened that the so called new MS have integrated extremely well and contributed to further integration development – often even better than the old MS.

There is, however, still a voice questioning the grounds of enlargement, saying that it is time for a full-stop and that the Union does not longer have absorption capacity. Besides, where should the boarders of the EU be drawn? To solve the problem, the Copenhagen accession criteria were set in 1993 (reinforcement in Madrid 1995). Article 49 of the Treaty on EU (TEU), which forms the legal basis of accession, states that the EU is open to all European countries. In addition to the geographical fact, the applicant country must adhere to the principles which all the MS subscribe to, and on which the EU is based: freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

The Copenhagen summit also stated that the EU has to take good care of both its integration and enlargement capacity. An engine should be working constantly. Therefore, we have to ask: What do we want first, enlargement or integration? This question is also fundamentally linked to the constitutional issue. Are the existing treaties enough for further enlargement, or do we need a constitutional sheet in order to extend the Union? The absorption capacity cannot be defined scientifically: it is an issue of quantity and quality. The capacity is based on mainly three points: Can the decision making system bare enlargement? Is the budget ready for enlargement? And are the tasks of the EU up-to-date? Integration capacity is a dossier of the EU and its MS, whereas the candidate countries do not have that much of a say.

Alex Stubb says that integration cannot be the criterion of enlargement. The Western Balkan countries have been promised their membership and the EU should be fair enough to keep its promises. This, however, does include institutional, financial and political reform – and much more. Only in line with the Treaty of Nice, enlargement cannot go on, because it sets a limit to 28 MS, whereas the new Reform Treaty will not be put into action before 2009. Enlargement is probably one of the most controversial issues in EU politics. It is an easy target of populism and it splits opinions. The former President of the Commission, Jacques Delors, thought that Finland was a threat for Europe’s stability - but have a look at the queen of competitiveness now! The question is: Is there a right moment? And if so, do we stick to the old criteria? If not, what are the reforms needed?

Yep, that's my committee topic in BLISS. I'm intrigued to here what my delegates find of it!

Yours,

Cecilia

A constitutionally wild midsummer

Celebrating Midsummer on the roofs of Brussels with the boys of my office: Henrik and Tuomas

Like we all know, one of the most important summits in the history of the EU was held in Brussels from last Thursday till yesterday morning. Yesterday as I woke up and read the news, I was almost crying. I had been hoping so much for a solution, and the contract itself was also dear to me - as I happen to be a federalist for life.

What made me sad however, is living too much in the history of Europe. And now I am talking about Poland, indeed. We should not forget about the happenings of world war II, the cold war, or any other horrific period in our history, but we should look into the future, build on what we have, what we want it to be, and be part of the solution instead of the problem, like Margot Wallström always says. Angela Merkel did a great job in my opinion with not isolating Poland from the EU family, prolonging the problem (until 2014 or even 2017), however, is not always the best way to solve a problem... Well we'll see what the Ionnina compromise will bring.

But let's not blaim only Poland for the difficulties. The UK, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic caused also quite a bit of headache. Personally I was not quite for giving Britain an opt-out here. I mean, in what terms do these guys belong to the EU anymore? I hope sincerely that the EU will not be polarised into the ones fighting for a common goal and dream, and the ones that cannot look beyond their national interests. In Finland, for example, many people doubt that the new Reform Treaty (what a silly name, just to add...) will be of any good, but Finland itself is fighting for a common European interest, which is in the long run more sustainable in my opinion.

Well, the most important thing is that a political compromise was made and that we can now start coping with the sheets that we already have on the table. I hope the negotiations that will start in July are as succesful as the ones Angela Merkel coached. Go Angie!

Enough of the Reform Treaty. We also had Midsummer! We started on Friday celebrating with the Swedes at Anne's place. There was Finnish and Swedish food, which was incredible - and this horrible schlager-kind-of Finnish music, what actually made me really happy.

My last week will start tomorrow: committee work, report writing and EYP Finland coming to Brussels on Thursday. And then it is time to head for Berlin for the chairs' content training (CCT), what now reminds me of having to start my presentation about the enlargement and the boarders of the Union, wich will be the topic of my committee - cool! My time here has been amazing: amazing people, amazing work, amazing environment. I am going to miss my life here so much. But hey, I'll be back!

"The launching" of my blog

EMYP - All different - all equal.
(Picture: Simon McKeagney)

Off to Europe!

It's now already over a month ago that I left Finland. First I flew to Berlin, spent a night there at my friends place, then we flew to Stuttgart, headed for the European Forum of EYP in Bad Urach, flew back to Berlin, I stayed at another friend again, attended the first Euro-Mediterranean Youth Parliament in Berlin and then finally found my way to Brussels. This week I have been to Strasbourg, however.

But why all this, and why did I start writing a blog? Well first of all I couldn't resist the trend anymore - every sophisticated EU citizen has an own blog, don't they? Secondly I have to admit, that it is nice to write down the new experiences and thoughts I am experiencing here and save them as a memory. The third reason is very selfish: I need a friend to talk to. I mean, I am not really lonely here at the moment, but it feels good to write down and to share, in hope that someone of my friends or somebody completely random might read it. I also think it is interesting to analyse the current issues in EU politics and try to understand them better.

I could give a short briefing on what basically happened to me in the month that passed, and why I am at the stage I am at the moment.

Bad Urach babbles

My trip started in Berlin as I said already. I flew there and stayed at my friend Johannes, the Head Organiser of the 4th European Forum in Bad Urach, a tiny and very idyllic little Swabian village where I've been already three years ago as a delegate. Now I went back as a Vice-President. The session was simply amazing. First of all because of the officials' team: the Germans are incredible when it comes to EYP organising (well in everything, to be honest). The chairs' team of President Eric, Karolina, Kathrin and Bea was the best one I have ever had. We got so close and "Eric's Angels" is a well known phenomenon these days.

My committee was also amazing. I chaired AFET (Committee on Foreign Affairs) and our topic was Ukraine and EU's relations to it in the post-Orange-Revolution-era. I can tell you I learned a lot myself as well. EYP people are amazingly smart. Above all I enjoyed our team spirit. Not surprisingly we were named the kinky committee. Why does that always happen to me? The combination of the officials, chairs, committee, other people, the spirit, games, songs and the beautiful surroundings made the session nothing less than perfect. I don't have to think twice if I'm still invited to Bad Urach one day.


Mr. President and Mrs. Vice-President on the balcony of Tübingen's mayor

Berlin and the EMYP

After Bad Urach I had to go to Berlin to wait for the next session to come. Like Krista once very well stated ("EYP is having beds in every country of Europe."), I took advantage of my EYP connections and stayed at my friend Gloria. We had a hilarious time together, and I really got the chance to see the famous stuff, but also the underground quarters of Berlin. We also went to a very good classical concert together.

Then it was time for the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Parliament (EMYP). This session for something absolutely different from what I had experienced before. It gathered people together from all the Mediterranean countries (including both Israel and Palestine, which was highly interesting) and the EU Member States. I met many old friends and made friends with people from countries that I had never met people from (like Mauritania) and sang a duet in the Euro-Med concert with a Lebanese guy. This session was very demanding, because one had to adopt new ways of communication with new cultures, debate and draft a resolution together. But it all went perfectly fine. I was above all impressed by the effort and enthusiasm of the MEDA people, and how active they were and are now with their follow-up projects. This session had apparently gathered together all the young intellectuals of the MEDA region.

Brussels and life now

Right after the EMYP it was time for me to head off to Brussels for my internship at the European Parliament for MEP Alexander Stubb (EPP-ED, Kokoomus, FI). Now I have been here for an amazing two and half weeks and I really regret that there is not much time left. I am staying at a very friendly Finnish diplomate family and Alex proved to be the coolest guy on earth - intelligent, funny, hardworking and relaxed (not that I expected anything else). My colleagues are amazing as well, and the team spirit in the office is tremendous. I have also met many now people from all the Member States and all political groups, and seen a lot of political discussion in all kinds of meetings. I have definitely found my dream job, and there is no doubt of me heading for Brussels later on as well. I am probably the youngest creature this Parliament has ever seen, but everybody is kind of ok with it. Today I came back from Strasbourg, and tomorrow "normal" working days will start again (even though the Finns and Swedes might celebrate Midsummer together).



Alex and I at the office


Next Friday I will go to Berlin again for the I-don't-know-how-manieth time this year for a chair's content training for the International Session of EYP in Bialystok, Poland. Well, I'll explain later more about that one, because now I really need to travel to my bed. In the next days something more political follows, I promise. For now I've had enough of the so called Vodka War and issues alike.


Place Luxembourg. I am going to miss this rainy, but cosy place.