The Greens have generally considered Europe as their common political horizon, as the European project was seen as the best way to achieve a more ecological, democratic and peaceful society. How have the economic, democratic, social and environmental crisis impacted on the Green perception of Europe in Belgium? This is the main question to be addressed by the last event in GEF's 2012 future of Europe series, organised with support of the Belgian Green foundations Oikos and Etopia and the Heinrich Boell Stiftung on November 30 in Brussels.
The event in Belgium will particularly address the economic, democratic and environmental (food & agriculture) crises, through three parallel workshops as follows:
Federal Europe and the European democracy
The Green European dream of a federal Europe - combining the greening of the economy, grassroots democracy and the peaceful coexistence of different identities in one institutional framework - is still alive but it is not unquestioned. The economic crisis undermines the solidarity needed to make such a project possible and pushes many European Nation States into a deep legitimacy crisis. In response to these trends, some actors proposed to move rapidly and resolutely towards a more federal Europe. But is this feasible without reinforcing solidarity inside the EU and without strengthening the democratic tools that could give legitimacy to the European federation?
This workshop will assess the current debate on federalism in Europe and will discuss the concrete Green proposals to strengthen citizen participation in the European construction.
Invited speakers include MEP Isabelle Durant, Gabor Eross (Member of the Board of the Hungarian Greens - LMP) and professor Mario Pianta (initiator of the manifesto Another Road for Europe).
A new Green narrative for the European economy?
In 2009, the narrative of the Green New Deal played an important role in the success of the Greens in the European elections. Prospects of a way out of the crisis by greening the economy and by taming the financial sector convinced many voters that the Greens were not enemies of employment and the economy; a picture so often painted by their adversaries. Four years later, the economic and social crises seem to have closed the window of opportunity for such an ambitious narrative. Does this mean that we have to give up the project of the Green New Deal or do we have to modify it, in order to broaden its social base?
This workshop aims to assess what were the concrete steps taken in the EP during this legislature in order to green the European economy and to regulate the financial sector and to discuss the backbone of the Green economic proposals for the next European elections campaign.
Invited speakers: MEP Philippe Lamberts, journalist Griselda Pastor and ETUI Secretary General Philippe Pochet.
A stronger Europe for a more ecological food production
The way Europe developed as a neoliberal oriented project is strongly reflected in its food and agriculture policies. Instead of sustainability, profit maximization was the priority. Instead of regional food markets with a minimum of food miles, agricultural production was part of an agenda of free trade and globalisation. Last but not least, research was subsidised in the field of GMOs while alternatives like agro-ecology where mostly ignored.
Although agriculture is one of the EU’s most integrated areas, we need a radically different Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) that can face the challenges of the future such as climate change, food security and biodiversity. With this workshop, we want to address a double question: what type of ‘a stronger Europe’ is needed for a more sustainable agriculture and healthy food?
Invited speakers: MEP Bart Staes and Germanwatch adviser Tobias Reichert.
Venue: Royal Library of Belgium
Brussels
Languages: English, French and Dutch
For more information go to the website of GEF.