Conference III: The Future of Europe

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Maurice Are we starting again?! 10/07/2010 9:28
Good morning Maurice, yes, we're starting again very soon. The
panel this morning is (from left to right): Moderator: Anke
Boone; Katy Dillon, Labour Party UK; Dimitri Tsarouhas, Bilkent
University; Katharina Luger; Jakob Kappeller, Linz University;
Abby Judith Vorbach, AK OÖ. 10/07/2010 9:51
Good morning! We could all use international sign-language for
Michael communication 10/07/2010 10:16
Good morning all !!! It was a very good conference. I hope last
Sébastien Prodhomme sprodhomme133@hotmail.com session will be as attractive than others. 10/07/2010 10:17
To adopt English as an official lingua franca in the EU... Just one
minor question, how would we ever convince the french that this
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com is a good idea? 10/07/2010 10:18
Hello, I wished I could have followed the debate yesterday. But
Geoff now I am joining :) 10/07/2010 10:19
Does the EU have a future? If things are going like this I have
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com doubts... 10/07/2010 10:22
Geoff @Matyas - like what? 10/07/2010 10:23
@Martin > The french people don't need to be convincted : they
know this reality. Our problem is only an educational problem.
Our formation is too much theorical and not so practical. For me,
Sébastien Prodhomme sprodhomme133@hotmail.com Education and people exchange is the solution. 10/07/2010 10:23
@FEPS and SOLIDAR people > Is it possible to have tweets for the
Sébastien Prodhomme sprodhomme133@hotmail.com discussion, please? 10/07/2010 10:27
You can share the photos and videos that you have taken at the
Abby conference by uploading them on http://www.eu4u.info/photo 10/07/2010 10:27
@Geoff If the neoliberal economic policy continues I do not think
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com that the EU is viable... 10/07/2010 10:28
@sebastien: some tweets are being made of the conference but
they are focused more on content, not on this messageboard
Abby discussion. You can follow on twitter.com/PES_PSE and 10/07/2010 10:29
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
twitter.com/FEPS_Europe and twitter.com/solidar1948

Some proposal for the sustainable EU: 1.) Stability Pact must be
abandoned 2.) European budget must be inreased 3.) Social
model must be reiinvented 4.) Stop the privatization of pensions
5.) Austerity measures are the proper answer to reduce public
debt 6. Economic redistribution and democracy are of vital
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com importance 10/07/2010 10:33
Henrik @Matyas: Leaving the stability pact means leaving the Euro. 10/07/2010 10:35
Matyas: Austerity measures are the proper answer to reduce
public debt. Is that so, should Europe promote the living in
poverty of millions to have a balanced budget. While Europe is
Geoff not willing to put forward some regulations towards the rich. 10/07/2010 10:35
Please read correctly under proposals point 5.)Austerity
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com measures ARE NOT THE PROPER ANSWER 10/07/2010 10:37
@Henrik EURO is not a must, not all EU member states are in the
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com Euro zone and probable will never join. 10/07/2010 10:39
This manifesto is your way out? - out of the Euro - out of
Geoff solidarity - locking in on the national level 10/07/2010 10:39
@Matyas: I agree. European governments are scared chickens in
the face of the market. If this is all that governments can do,
Ingrid there is no social future for Europe. 10/07/2010 10:39
Maurice POLL ´Should Turkey be a member of the EU? I VOTE YES 10/07/2010 10:40
Diogo diogopinto@gmail.com Totally agree with Dimitri on what concerns Turkey's accession. 10/07/2010 10:41
We need a Europe that promotes and encourages public
investment and not seek to privatise services. Economic short-
termism has caused so many problems in national, regional and
Marcus (UK) global economies in recent years. We need a long-term strategy. 10/07/2010 10:41
@Maurice: I really don't know if Turkey should be a member.
There are big differences and big commonalities. However,
Ingrid Turkey is in any case not ready: they must be more democratic 10/07/2010 10:42
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
As for Turkey: I am in favour to enlarge EU to the Balkan and
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com Turkey. The problem is that EU even did not digest the NMS10. 10/07/2010 10:43
@Ingrid - what do you mean more democratic and if it is more
Maurice democratic they can become member? 10/07/2010 10:44
I vote NO for the short term, YES perhaps for the long term.
People in Europe are too eurosceptic and current problems of
Woopy the 27 should be solved first. 10/07/2010 10:45
Turkey should be letted in if and when they meet the criteria. It
Henrik would be a happy day for me. 10/07/2010 10:46
The answer is not yes or no yet,it is maybe! I think that first there
is a range of issues in which Turkey has to do significant
progress.For instance Turkey does not even recognise a state-
member,Cyprus,which has the right to veto.So first such
problems have to be solved and then we can start talking in
Thanasis another base. 10/07/2010 10:47
@Maurice: Turkey is dangerous for journalists who want to
criticise the government. That's not democratic. I think women
and minorities are not equal yert in Turkey. That's what I've read
in the papers. I haven't been to Turkey. But Turkish neighbours at
Ingrid home and they also say Turkey is not safe 10/07/2010 10:47
Maurice @Woopie - Turkey is waiting for 40 years! How long can it last? 10/07/2010 10:47
Turkey is not safe?! I was there on vacation - it is very safe I was
Pieter going around on my own and the people are very friendly! 10/07/2010 10:48
I agree with Woopy and disagree with Dimitri. Enlargement into
Turkey and the Caucasus is a project for a different generation of
European politicians and citizens. Europe needs to be deeper first
Desmond O Toole before it can become broader. 10/07/2010 10:48
Woopy @Maurice: If they waited 40 years they can wait a bit more! 10/07/2010 10:48
Turkey should be able to become a member of the EU, if it
wishes so and once it fulfills the membership criteria set by the
EU. As any other cstate which application has been or will be
Diogo diogopinto@gmail.com accepted. 10/07/2010 10:48
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
Turkey should eventually be included in the EU. If we shut them
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com out, they will align themselves with other powers. 10/07/2010 10:49
Maurice @Woopie - untill people like you feel safe? 10/07/2010 10:50
What will be the future of enlargement in 30 years? Keep on
enlarging to the East? The United States of Eurasia? Is that what
Woopy we want? 10/07/2010 10:50
My feeling is that the European Christian Club does not want
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com amongst them an Islamic country. 10/07/2010 10:52
As seen in the discussion on the message board (and many times
before), I think the inclusion of Turkey into the EU should be
Michael discussed with less emotion and more logic 10/07/2010 10:53
@Maurice: it is not about safety, it is indeed about deepening
first and foremost. I am not scared of Turks, Icelandics or
Woopy whoever! 10/07/2010 10:53
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com The United states of Eurasia? That sounds great! 10/07/2010 10:53
The pre-ambule of the lisbon treaty states clearly the values of
the Union, if countries want to subscribe to them they should
Maurice join... 10/07/2010 10:53
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com The long-term goal should be the World Federation of Solidaria! 10/07/2010 10:54
@Martin: Like in Star Trek without achieving goals like personal
Michael enrichment? 10/07/2010 10:56
@Martin: sounds great huh? Actually it is a song by Muse! But
Woopy the lyrics are not so positive! 10/07/2010 10:56
The European values do not prevail in practice, e.g. democracy IS
A BOURGEOIS DEMOCRACY. Human rights are day by day
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com violated, etc. 10/07/2010 10:56
The panel this morning is (from left to right): Moderator: Anke
Boone; Katy Dillon, Labour Party UK; Dimitri Tsarouhas, Bilkent
University; Katharina Luger; Judith Vorbach, AK OÖ; Jakob
Abby Kappeller, Linz University. 10/07/2010 10:56
Henk @Matyas - you do not believe in European values? 10/07/2010 10:57
Maurice Yeah Eurasia Capitalist Union! 10/07/2010 10:58
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
European Values is a good issue for the future, should Europe do
more to promote its values and support through that real
Geoff European citizenship? 10/07/2010 11:00
The political boundaries of Europe have been defined by the
Council of Europe already; I don't see the need to re-discuss
them again. The geographical argument is the ground zero of the
political debate, and countries which have applied and were
accepted as candidates should be given a fair chance of accession
Diogo diogopinto@gmail.com based on objective and transparent criteria. 10/07/2010 11:00
This discussion is confusing me. It's a bit like no-one is sure what
Europe stands for and then it's difficult to say what candidate
states should stand for to join. I don't care about deep values. I'm
not against Turkey. I just think enlargement should not endanger
the welfare states system in Europe and all our freedoms. Then
Ingrid it's all fine by me. 10/07/2010 11:00
I do believe in HUMAN values, but I am aware that the European
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com values are many times only on paper... 10/07/2010 11:04
Let the conservatives bicker about what's inherently and truly
European and what's not. We're socialists and social democrats,
we're in favour of global, international solidarity. The EU is a tool
to achieve this, or at least move a few steps forward, and just like
Dimitros said, the strategy we should adapt for EU enlargement
Martin Rynoson etc should be completely pragmatical and logical. 10/07/2010 11:05
Dimitri, instead of defining new values maybe we should start
defining the "values" we do not want as: - nationalism -
xenofobia - intollerance More and more Europe is doing policies
that tend to the above "values" than the one that we actually
Geoff really want to see... 10/07/2010 11:08
Why not try getting Canada to join? They have a somewhat
decent welfare state and all. Why should we limit ourselves to
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com Eurasia? 10/07/2010 11:10
Pieter Elected President?! Katy you rock... The answer is simply NO 10/07/2010 11:11
Woopy I say No to opt outs, including the Eurozone! The same EU for all! 10/07/2010 11:11
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
Jelena Milinovic jelenamilinovic@gmail.com Ex-Yugoslavian countries!? 10/07/2010 11:11
Ingrid I would vote for a President of Europe if I could 10/07/2010 11:12
@Geoff: well, OK, but if you are to promote a European project,
you should be able to say what it IS, and not only what you do
François not want it to be... 10/07/2010 11:13
cristian i vote for Dimitri President !! 10/07/2010 11:13
Geoff @Jelena - Kosovo, Serbia, BiH, etc. 10/07/2010 11:13
Joseph Abela joseph272001@gmail.com Why not vote for an elected president for Europe ? 10/07/2010 11:15
Referendum for an membership in EU will not have enough
support of voters in Croatia. We have to much euro-sceptic
ill people. What will happen if referendum for membership "falls"? 10/07/2010 11:15
Too many social democrats promote injust and sometimes
xenophoob policies - maybe Europe should define its lowest
Geoff point not only the highest. 10/07/2010 11:17
Joseph Abela joseph272001@gmail.com I vote Yes 10/07/2010 11:18
Linz, Austria, EU4U 10-07-2010 How to get good knowledge for
ordinary EU citizens in the new member countries? At the EU4U
conference II in Linz we discussed the issue of bridging the gap
between the EU Citizens and the EU Institutions. During our
discussion we found several reasons why many EU citizens have a
very limited knowledge of the European Union. One of the main
problems in the new member countries (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania and some other East-European countries) is not
knowing English, which is becoming the official language of
communication and documentation within the EU. The problem
originates from our history as the politics of the totalitarian
Soviet Union was based on Russification and depressing national
languages in official procedures. The educational system at that
time could not teach people the West-European languages (incl.
English). Therefore, the older generation (more than 2/3 of
Estonia-Lithuania- citizenry) is not capable of communicating in English and misses
Hungary amandre.senior(at)gmail.com out on the possibility to obtain important knowledge of the EU. 10/07/2010 11:18
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
According to our viewpoint this is an extremely important
component in the building the bridges between EU ordinary
citizens in the member countries and the EU Institutions. The EU
has to find the means (new IT technology, automatic translation
systems or other) to regulate this situation. Andres Mandre•
Estonia Dalia Linartaite • Lithuania Matyas Benyik • Hungary

Definetly in favour for a president of Europe, it will enhance our

Chirelle power in external relations. 10/07/2010 11:19
Katy is right about federalism. I think the financal crisis will have
a big impact on the future of the EU. It will be judged by how well
shelly it responds. 10/07/2010 11:19
Future for the EU: Progressive forces all over Europe should work
on alternatives to the neoliberal vision of EU. WE MUST BREAK
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com WITH NEOLIBERALISM. 10/07/2010 11:20
@ Chirelle & Joseph Abela: but then we have to make clear
WHAT President of Europe it will be. We already have a so-called
"President of the European Union", which, in fact, is only the
President of the European COUNCIL. We should first and
foremost make it very clear WHAT presidency we are talking
about, in order to avoid any intellectual misunderstanding - and
François fraud... 10/07/2010 11:22
@Il: I am tired of new member states being so eurosceptic, its
increasing eursceptiscm in "older" member states as well. If
Croats are so eurosceptic and they see the EU only as a way to
Woopy get better themselves then they should NOT join!! 10/07/2010 11:22
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
@Matyas: this is all soo vague. I have two kids of 3 and 5 years
old and I'm afraid their lives might be worse than mine and my
husband's. That's what the future of Europe discussion should be
about for me. Not about treaties, ideologies, this or that country,
Ingrid and so on. 10/07/2010 11:23
Everyone, please first let's not look at Turkey with prejiduces
such as democracy, human rights, minorities. I think you just
need to be objective about them because you get the knowledge
through subjective sources. Please join the EU projects heartly
Mehmet held by Turkish institutions. 10/07/2010 11:24
True revolutionaries do not flaunt their radicalism, Alinsky
taught. They cut their hair, put on suits and infiltrate the system
tarry.samuel@gmail.com Saul from within. 10/07/2010 11:24
I would also vote for a President of the EU if I could... but would
be happy enough to see the Parliament we already vote for to be
Diogo diogopinto@gmail.com the one electing the EU Commission, including its President. 10/07/2010 11:24
I 100% agree with Matyas. The biggest failure of social
democracy across Europe is its embrace of neoliberalism which
has always favoured the rich (often at the expense of the
workers) while making it hard to distinguish between progressive
and Conservative economic policy. We need real public
investment for the good of the people, not private enterprise for
Marcus (UK) the benefit of financial markets or shareholders. 10/07/2010 11:25
@Francois & Desmond Not necessarily on the same lines of the
US. I fully agree with Desmond that we need an elected
commission. Perhaps we need to restructure our institutions and
the head of the commission will be the president. But if Europe is
Joseph Abela joseph272001@gmail.com to be influential it needs to have its face and voice. 10/07/2010 11:27
The panel this morning is (from left to right): Moderator: Anke
Boone; Katy Dillon, Labour Party UK; Dimitri Tsarouhas, Bilkent
University; Katharina Luger; Judith Vorbach, AK OÖ; Jakob
Abby Kappeller, Linz University. 10/07/2010 11:28
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
mehmet- human rights is not a prejudice? and looking at Turkey,
objectively, it does not fit the eu joining criteria. Countries should
shelly not join until they are ready. 10/07/2010 11:29
@Joseph ... Europe does need a "face", but parliamentary
democracies are just as capable of providing leadership
candidates as presidential systems. I agree with Katharina's
comment that I don't want one person at the head of the EU
elected with their own personal mandate. I want a leadership
Desmond O Toole accountable to and elected from the Parliament. 10/07/2010 11:31
To add to what Desmond said: we should certainly encourage the
process of creating a contested political space in the EU, and in
particular (to continue to something of a sidenote), really
establish the conflict between left and right, so to speak. In last
year's EP elections, when I talked to people in Sweden during the
campaign, I didn't talk about the institutions, the enlargement,
yes or no to the euro. I tried to show that there is the exact kind
of political conflict that exists in the nations; a conflict between
left and right, between corporate interest vs the interest of the
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com average citizen and so on. 10/07/2010 11:31
I believe that people are taking the presidency thing way too far.
The idea has risen from the need to have a representative at a
Adi Cadar global level in the context of international turmoil. 10/07/2010 11:32
Dear Friends and Comrades, I think we always have to distinguish
between the policy of national governments and the people. I
have been working in Turkey and I am convinced that the
working people there are sharing the universal human values, so
Matyas benyikmatyas@gmail.com I am for taking Turkey into the EU as soon as possible. 10/07/2010 11:33
Shelly- I only wanted to give answers tosome classical questions.
And As I said before that is a process and Turkish people don't
hurry to complete the criteria. That's why many projects are
being performed by the state and private institutions at the
Mehmet moment. 10/07/2010 11:33
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
@Katy: there are the eurosceptic brits again! What scares you so
Woopy much about the EU? What is wrong with a federal europe? 10/07/2010 11:33
You all, more or less, agreed that countries shouldn't enter
European Union until they are ready? That is one of the rules of
EU, by the way. But, think a little bit about braking the rules that
EU made with some countries which are now in EU, just to
prevent some other thing, even though countries were not
A. ready. There shouldn't be double standards! 10/07/2010 11:37
Sorana I agree with matyas 10/07/2010 11:37
@Matyas I fully agree. EU needs Turkey also for economical
Gábor reasons and for the cultural diversity. 10/07/2010 11:38
@ Mathyas > I think than trukish people is more european than
England people and I'am ok to integrate them. I don't understand
the fear of this country and they are a chance for us to develop
economicaly and culturaly. Is it possible to go out England from
Sébastien Prodhomme sprodhomme133@hotmail.com Europe? ;-) 10/07/2010 11:40
Tudor Yes for the lingua franca project 10/07/2010 11:41
jose reis Santos I Vote YES on Turkey on the EU 10/07/2010 11:41
Friends, it is realy important to create future policies for us. Let's
vote for Turkey's membership but not on internet by hand with
Mehmet poublic. 10/07/2010 11:42
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
Linz, Austria, EU4U 10-07-2010 How to get good knowledge for
ordinary EU citizens in the new member countries? At the EU4U
conference II in Linz we discussed the issue of bridging the gap
between the EU Citizens and the EU Institutions. During our
discussion we found several reasons why many EU citizens have a
very limited knowledge of the European Union. One of the main
problems in the new member countries (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania and some other East-European countries) is not
knowing English, which is becoming the official language of
communication and documentation within the EU. The problem
originates from our history as the politics of the totalitarian
Soviet Union was based on Russification and depressing national
languages in official procedures. The educational system at that
time could not teach people the West-European languages (incl.
English). Therefore, the older generation (more than 2/3 of
citizenry) is not capable of communicating in English and misses
out on the possibility to obtain important knowledge of the EU.
According to our viewpoint this is an extremely important
component in the building the bridges between EU ordinary
citizens in the member countries and the EU Institutions. The EU
has to find the means (new IT technology, automatic translation
Estonia-Lithuania- systems or other) to regulate this situation. Andres Mandre?
Hungary Estonia Dalia Linartaite ? Lithuania 10/07/2010 11:43
I say Maltese as lingua franca: the minimum common
Woopy denomintor! Or Estonian? 10/07/2010 11:44
Martin Rynoson martinrynoson@gmail.com I vote in favour of the World Federation of Solidaria 10/07/2010 11:44
Oniga YES for Turkey 10/07/2010 11:44
@Sebastien - England is at the heart of Europe even if its a
difficult relationship because of the strength of right wingers and
the leftists anti EU campaigns. The reality is the UK has a massive
amount of people from Turkey already there as citizens. Maybe
Bob (Dudley) you should jog on? 10/07/2010 11:44
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
English is the lingua franca of the world, not just Europe. So
Jimmy embrace it - or we should all learn Chinese Mandarin! 10/07/2010 11:45
As stated on the panel, I think English became the main language
used throughout paneuropean communication. On the same
time, translations of official documents have to be done more
quickly into all official languages. That also will close a HUGE gap
Michael between EU institutions and EU citizens 10/07/2010 11:46
jose reis Santos Esperanto? 10/07/2010 11:46
Beto YES for Croatia, NO for Turkey 10/07/2010 11:46
Atenea I vote YES on Turkey on the EU too. 10/07/2010 11:47
English should be the lingua franca of the EU. In reality it is
already - both in politics and in the business world. So get over it
Angle and get on with it! 10/07/2010 11:48
Turkish people have been trying to learn English for many years.
Please don't discuss on it since it takes long time for Turkey to be
Mehmet a member. 10/07/2010 11:49
Lingua Franca is an old reference to french language which was
lingua franca at the beginning of 1900's. Is it possible to have
french as lingua franca? Else I propose binary as Lingua Franca :
Sébastien Prodhomme sprodhomme133@hotmail.com it's the language of computers... ;-) 10/07/2010 11:50
English helps communicate with people not just in the EU but
across the world. (By the way, all attendees at this conference
Marcus (UK) have a great command of English.) 10/07/2010 11:50
Desmond O Toole @Sébastien ... 100001110110001101001100110010 10/07/2010 11:52
@our Turkish friend: It would be great to have more than one
Woopy mother!! Can you imagine? 10/07/2010 11:54
Marco Tartari marco.tartari@yahoo.com I agree with Sebastian P. 10/07/2010 11:54
The problem with language is not only words, but concepts.
Every word is connoted in its language, and carries cultural
history and background with it. If a "lingua franca" has to be
found for Europe, than the first task would be to agree on what
François cultural concepts its words carry. And here comes again the 10/07/2010 11:54
 Conference III: The Future of Europe
question of the values...

DL What about the problem of kurdish people in Turkey? 10/07/2010 11:56

Koen The EU has a future and we'll make sure it is a social one. 10/07/2010 11:57
Friends, please be a partner with us with EU projects such as Ldv,
Mehmet projects about NGOs and Erasmus to make Turkey's membership 10/07/2010 11:57
In England many schoolchildren are now learning Mandarin as
their second language. We should adopt Mandarin for the EU, it
James Bowen jbowen@btmail.com would be more relevant than French. 10/07/2010 11:58
Woopy More EU4ME, 4U, 4EVERYBODY!! 10/07/2010 11:58
@ François > The problem of language is a problem of culture.
That's right !!! But if we want to have one language to
European's people we need to create our own culture. If we do
Sébastien Prodhomme sprodhomme133@hotmail.com this, the question of lingua franca will not exist. 10/07/2010 11:58
Dr. Aziz What happens if the EU becomes an Islamic Caliphate? 10/07/2010 12:00
Thanks everyone for joining us! Post your photos of the
conference on the EU4U website. A video report of the
Abby conference will be available by the end of the summer. 10/07/2010 12:01