Tuesday, 23 October 2012
First, it was about the nature of my trip. Second, it was about the EP as an institution. Third, it was about the core notions of political participation and the advocacy work we aim to do as well as the vote@16 campaign that emboides both of these notions.
The European Parliament is truly a fascinating institution. Where else in the world do you see so many different cultures, languages and variety of opinions come together to discuss and make legislation that is directly applied to EU27 plus the EEA countries (e.g. Norway), while at the same time influencing the lives of over 500 million Europeans. It was both thrilling and chilling to see the Euroskeptic Nigel Farage and xenophobic Marine Le Pen share the same house of European democracy with the legend of the Greens Daniel Cohn-Bendit and the federalist liberal Guy Verhofstadt to name just the two most opposing names when it comes to the federalists views of the EU. As a federalist, I'm happy that the “f-word” has become mainstream in EU politics again but hope that leaders and politicians live up to the true spirit of Altiero Spinelli and federalism to involve the citizens in the decision-making by informing them properly and honestly about the issues at stake.
Vote@16 and Strasbourg mission
This evening in the train from Strasbourg to Brussels I had time to reflect on several things that were going through my head during the vote@16 mission to the European Parliament.First, it was about the nature of my trip. Second, it was about the EP as an institution. Third, it was about the core notions of political participation and the advocacy work we aim to do as well as the vote@16 campaign that emboides both of these notions.
My train ride with a Board member from Brussels started on Sunday early afternoon with a proper picnic-like atmosphere (I made some fresh pasta carried around in a taper-ware and cutlery, he bought some starters and drinks). It never seizes to amaze me how traveling by
train can be so much less of a hassle than flying while at the same time wish the prices for train rides, especially the fast-track ones, would be more affordable. During the lengthy travel I was very much looking forward to working together with my colleagues on very hands on advocacy and lobbying, just like back in 2009 when I was part of a small but loud crowd of enthusiastic JEF members welcoming the MEPs to Strasbourg and calling on them to take the European integration project further and bring it closer to the citizens.
train can be so much less of a hassle than flying while at the same time wish the prices for train rides, especially the fast-track ones, would be more affordable. During the lengthy travel I was very much looking forward to working together with my colleagues on very hands on advocacy and lobbying, just like back in 2009 when I was part of a small but loud crowd of enthusiastic JEF members welcoming the MEPs to Strasbourg and calling on them to take the European integration project further and bring it closer to the citizens.
The European Parliament is truly a fascinating institution. Where else in the world do you see so many different cultures, languages and variety of opinions come together to discuss and make legislation that is directly applied to EU27 plus the EEA countries (e.g. Norway), while at the same time influencing the lives of over 500 million Europeans. It was both thrilling and chilling to see the Euroskeptic Nigel Farage and xenophobic Marine Le Pen share the same house of European democracy with the legend of the Greens Daniel Cohn-Bendit and the federalist liberal Guy Verhofstadt to name just the two most opposing names when it comes to the federalists views of the EU. As a federalist, I'm happy that the “f-word” has become mainstream in EU politics again but hope that leaders and politicians live up to the true spirit of Altiero Spinelli and federalism to involve the citizens in the decision-making by informing them properly and honestly about the issues at stake.
Lowering the voting age to 16 has been one of the main issues when it comes to political participation of young people within the European Youth Forum for several years. We have ample proof and research that testifies in favour of the importance of giving the youth a voice in political decision-making, especially by expanding the most basic type of political involvement such as voting to 16 and 17 year old. Our advocacy work in favour of this has constantly gained momentum and visibility. Last summer the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called on its Member States to lower the voting age to 16. This has encouraged us in our work to try to push this also within the EU.
We have pondered a lot about which would be the correct method and in the end opted for the sometimes tricky and difficult one of a Written Declaration in the EP. Though getting 50% of the EP + one is no mean feat, I believe that by putting this topic on the agenda, by
persisting in informing people about and basing our work on elements linked to citizens education as well as fighting for young people in Europe to get the rights that match their duties we are on the right track. I have witnessed the enthusiasm and efforts put into this work by our Expert Group and our MOs. It has been inspiring. Doing all this jointly with the 5 signatory MEPs, our members and the great team work between Board and Secretariat, such as demonstrated in the two missions to Strasbourg so far, gives me hope that we can manage to get the necessary amount.
persisting in informing people about and basing our work on elements linked to citizens education as well as fighting for young people in Europe to get the rights that match their duties we are on the right track. I have witnessed the enthusiasm and efforts put into this work by our Expert Group and our MOs. It has been inspiring. Doing all this jointly with the 5 signatory MEPs, our members and the great team work between Board and Secretariat, such as demonstrated in the two missions to Strasbourg so far, gives me hope that we can manage to get the necessary amount.
However, even if we were to fail, we would know we have done our utmost and would have contributed significantly on raising the relevance of the issue. Rome wasn't build in a day and women were not given their right to vote easily either but long-term struggles do pay off in the end. And I sincerely hope that if not by 2014 at least by 2019 all across the EU young people as of 16 will be eligible to vote in the European Parliament elections.
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