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NOT A WAKEUP CALL, BUT A CALL FOR MOBILISATION
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Editorial by Conny Reuter, SOLIDAR Secretary General
The result of the Dutch election is no longer a wakeup call, but there are some lessons to be drawn. The winner is the mobilisation of citizens for democracy, as participation in this – non-compulsory - election reached nearly 80%. Furthermore we are all happy that the leader of the ‘one member party’ did not become the strongest party, although it does now have too many parliamentarians in the new Tweede Kamer. Even if Wilders did not manage to get the most seats, he has managed to impose his agenda on the public debate and some have been tempted to toy with his topics hoping to attract voters. As usual it does not pay to echo populist talk, because the voters prefer the original to the copy. Furthermore, the usual effect is that right wing populist arguments are brought into the political mainstream, and this is by no means only a Dutch problem. In a way, tolerance has its limits. The provocation from Turkey also played a role, with the government giving a clear reply, but only the leading party benefitted from it. With new parties entering the Parliament and a possible coalition, even more political compromise will be needed and Wilders may again try to take advantage of this.
In the approach to the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty we can at least go to Rome, leave nostalgia behind and turn our attention instead to a programme of civic engagement in a Europe of values and solidarity. At different moments we will highlight the vision of the Europe we strive for. Some voices expressed concern that by being critical of some European developments we would add to Euro-scepticism. And some social arguments are even being used by the far right. This is a concern, although the fundamental problem lies in the undervaluing of the social dimension and the unilateral focus on markets, competition and competitiveness, the non-respect of the Treaty’s objective of social and territorial cohesion. This is what we will continue to criticise, as this feeds disappointment and disengagement, while we remain engaged with union, progressive civil society and parties to strive for change!
Civil society remains a “force de proposition” and in this sense we will continue to contribute to the European integration project, to challenge it and to defend it against the coalition of destroyers whether from inside or outside of the EU. Vi aspettiamo tutti a Roma: l’Europa siamo noi!
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BUILDING LEARNING SOCIETIES
The key competences of lifelong learning and which skills young people need to acquire for a secure future
The European Commission announced on 14 March the launch of a public consultation on the review of the key competences of lifelong learning (LLL). SOLIDAR Foundation and its members have been active in making lifelong learning a reality and in fostering the participation of people in education and learning, especially those who are far from formal education and have a weak income position, such as young adults who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs) and school dropouts, as well as highly educated unemployed people whose skills are at risk of deterioration (see background paper on lifelong learning). Read more
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TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL EUROPE
SOLIDARITY ON THE SPOT Our network ensuring dignity for all migrants
Italy: SOLIDAR members on the frontline, to end the exploitation of migrant workers in the agricultural sector
‘Caporalato’, is a widespread practise in Italy, particularly in southern regions. It is a system of labour exploitation in the agricultural sector managed by gang masters – very often connected to mafia clans – who employ farm workers without any contractual protection, in conditions raging from highly exploitative to slave-like, with indecent housing to boot. Because of their precarious status and desperate need to make an income, irregular migrants are among the favourite victims of these unscrupulous exploiters. Read more
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TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL EUROPE
MEPs highlighting the negative consequences of the EU-Turkey deal
On 15 March, during the European Parliament plenary session in Strasburg, MEPs Ska Keller (Greens/EFTA), Birgit Sippel (S&D), Cornelia Ernst (GUE) and Angelika Mlinar (ALDE) held a press conference to highlight the negative consequences in terms of human rights of the EU-Turkey deal and calling on the EU to respect its own international obligations towards people in need of protection instead of promoting a strategy of externalisation of responsibility to neighbourhood countries. Read more
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ORGANISING INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
The adoption of the Partnership Priorities is an opportunity for the EU to push for meaningful progress in the protection of human rights defenders in Algeria
On the occasion of the EU-Algeria Association Council that took place on 13 March, Front Line Defenders, EuroMed Rights, FIDH and OMCT, under the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and SOLIDAR call on the EU to address serious violations of human rights by the Algerian authorities, particularly against human rights defenders (HRDs) in this country. Read more
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MEMBERS' AND PARTNERS' NEWS
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Our Finnish member The International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) organizes on 29th March in the framework of the Millenium International Documentary Film Festival in Brussels the screening of the award-winning documentary film ‘Leaving Africa’ (see trailer). The documentary is about a story of a great friendship and a shared battle. After the film there’s a Q&A -session with the director Iiris Härmä, Director of UNFPA Brussels Office Sietske Steneker, Director of UN Women Brussels Office Dagmar Schumacher, Policy and Programme Specialist of UNDP Mintwab Zelelew and Member of European Parliament Sirpa Pietikäinen. Tickets and more information can be found here.
On 22 March we are organising in cooperation with the S&D Group and our member the Olof Palme International Centre a discussion on ‘Russia, the shrinking space for civil society with special focus on independent trade unions’ in the European Parliament in Brussels. The situation of NGO’s in Russia has deteriorated significantly since 2012. This has also had consequences for independent trade unions and union activists. The meeting is hosted by MEP Jytte Guteland (S&D) and will be joined by Rima Sharifullina, St Petersburg, and Petr Bizyukov, Moscow, who will report on the current situation for NGO’s in general and the independent trade unions in particular.
Pulse of Europe is gathering again this Sunday 19 March at 14:00 all over Europe. In Brussels at Place de la Monnaie.
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Our Dutch Member Humanitas has officially made the switch from having a hard copy magazine to online only. Their first online ‘Van Mens Tot Mens’ issue is now available and covers the story of Ali and how he fled to the Netherlands and how Humanitas has helped him find his way around his new environment. You can read their online magazine here.
Eurofound has published a new report on “Income inequalities and employment patterns in Europe before and after the Great Recession” which aims to provide a comparative analysis of inequality trends in Member States over the course of the Great Recession (updating the picture given by previous international studies) and to discuss relevant trends and developments in inequality in income distribution across the EU – including the implications of economic convergence and divergence before and after the crisis. You can read the full report here.
The toppling of the Mubarak regime in Egypt led to workers winning for the first time the right to free and independent trade unions. At the moment, however, the current Egyptian regime is trying to send trade union members at the IFFCO edible oils factory in Suez to prison. The International Union of Foodworkers (IUF) has launched a major online campaign to demand that the charges be dropped -- and an end to anti-union repression. To sign their message of protest, click here.
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Our Europe: Unity, Democracy, Solidarity
On March 25th the European Summit will take place in Rome marking the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. In the run up to this, Civil Society Organisations in Italy and Europe have united and will organise seminars, marches and festivals to discuss the #Europewewant and send a clear message to the summit. SOLIDAR will organise a conference on 23 March between 16:00 and 19:00 event on ‘60 years of Rome Treaties: What remains of the promise of Social Europe? Progressive civil society views on how to deepen the European integration’, in cooperation with our Italian member CGIL. You can find the programme here. The next day (24th March) we will be supporting the S&D Group’s ‘Together’ conference on the future of Europe, Shaping the Future together (more information). Please read the civil society mobilisation statement here and have a look at the La Nostra Europa Facebook page. We’re looking forward seeing you in Rome!
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