Creating the European public sphere - Europeanisation of the political party system: our task for the coming years.

Today’s challenges deserve a coherent response from the Institutions that govern the world’s largest internal market. Euro-barometers show that voters also demand European action on climate, energy and security.

The EU is the level to address these challenges. National parties should be honest about the fact that it is at that level where solutions should be found. We believe political parties should organise themselves at the level where major political issues need to be solved.

The recent EP-elections showed a low turnout of voters. Voters have little enthusiasm for the political level that is responsible for the solution of their key problems. We believe this turnout was caused by national political parties campaigning with two struggling souls in their breast: one soul that knows that we need to Europeanise to solve today’s problems and the other soul that tries to stick to its national focus. The resulting campaigns lack a convincing message to inspire voters. (more…)

UD Leader Kyriacou with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and FNF's Joerg Denhert

“Political will is what is at need for the attainment of an agreement for the reunification of Cyprus and for the normalization of relations between Greece and Turkey,” said Prime Minister Papandreou during his recent visit to Cyprus.

“We also need to create conditions of trust between Greece and Turkey and between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, for without trust no legal form of an agreement will survive through time.” He also emphasized that without the prospect of accession to the European Union, Turkey will have no incentive to move towards the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

Prime Minister Papandreou said that time is of the essence, since the nature of a problem gets more complicated as time progresses. (more…)

Brian Cowen, TD and Taoiseach

Through the last year, I worked hard with colleagues throughout the European Union to develop a comprehensive response to the fears of the Irish people as expressed in last year’s vote.

I believe the response was comprehensive and generous - rooted in a spirit of mutual respect and trust. I was particularly pleased with the warm public and private support of colleagues from within the ELDR. (more…)

“Deutschland kann es besser.

Wir von der FDP wollen, dass sich Ihre Arbeit wieder lohnt.

Mehr Leistungsgerechtigkeit durch faire Steuern. Mehr Netto vom Brutto. Bildung als Bürgerrecht.

Gemeinsam können wir es besser. Deutschland kann es besser.
Ab dem 27. September 2009.”

“Germany can do better.

We from the FDP demand that your job pays off again. More performance fairness through fair taxes. Less tax leaves more net income.

Education is a civil right.

Together we can do better. Germany can do better.

As of 27 September 2009.”

By Dr Guido Westerwelle MP, Leader of the FDP

Mariann Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture

Most people know the meaning of a symbol with twelve yellow stars on a blue backdrop. The same goes for five rings in yellow, blue, red, green and black. But do you know what a white AB with a butterfly on a green backdrop means - or a small red ladybird on a leaf?

In a world where consumers are making up their minds in split seconds, instant brand recognition is crucial. Some people only look at the price tag, but more and more consumers look for organic produce and other kinds of quality food. Unfortunately this quest is sometimes made harder by the jungle of private, regional, national and European labels that are used to give our food identity and history.

(more…)