Governance / Democracy and Citizenship – English Blogactiv Posts

Archives for Governance / Democracy and Citizenship

Turning Europe into the Product of Our Common Dreams

June 26, 2009

The European Union has almost 500 million inhabitants and 23 official languages. If the question of civic participation is complex at the local, regional or national level it is even more so at the European level. Involving citizens more in the decision-making process of the European Union: is it desirable? Is it feasible? Yes, and… » read more

English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Languages and Culture

Putting Ordinary Citizens on a direct line with European Policy Decisions

June 25, 2009

We are calling for the recognition of a type of civic participation space that will allow for deliberation and involve citizens of all stripes in policy-making. We also call for their recognition on issues with a European scope. Why do we need civic deliberation? It gives political decision-makers access to nuanced and balanced advice from… » read more

Civic Deliberation, Civic Duty, English, EU Priorities and Opinion, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Public Affairs

Créer un « Observatoire du développement durable » au sein du Parlement européen : « Eur-E.C.A » !

June 24, 2009

Avant toute adoption d’un projet législatif européen (économique, social, politique), les élus européens doivent être en mesure de vérifier si les critères environnementaux ont bien été intégrés dans ce projet. Pour le garantir, nous proposons la création d’un Observatoire du développement durable qui se grefferait au Parlement européen. Pour lire l’article complet, cliquez ici ———————————–… » read more

English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Rural and sustainable development

Create a Sustainable Development Monitoring Centre in the European Parliament: “Eur-E.C.A.”

Before the adoption of any European legislative project (economic, social, political), elected officials need to be able to verify if environmental criteria have been well-integrated into it. To guarantee this, we propose the creation of a sustainable development monitoring centre that will be attached to the European Parliament To read the full article, click here… » read more

English, environment, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Public Affairs, Rural and sustainable development, Social Europe, Sustainable Dev.

Financial Markets : more stability and robustness; less “optimality”, speed and speculation

June 22, 2009

Slow down the speed and increase the cost of executing orders on those financial markets where the underlying time constant is intrinsically large. Incite actors to think of the long-term evolution of their acquired assets. Increase stability and robustness on these markets. To read the full article, ———————————— Post written by Laurent ZIBELL. Founder of… » read more

Economy and Finance, English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Liquidity, Speculation

Reform the European Economic and Social Committee: How to make the voice of civil society speak up?

June 19, 2009

In 2006/2007, the students of DESS in Communication and European Affairs of IHECS-Bruxelles (Institute for Higher Education in Social Communication) organized a simulation of the European Parliament to draft a proposal that would strengthen civil society through a reform of the European Economic and Social Committee. The students advocate concrete change in the composition of… » read more

Civil society, EESC, English, EU Priorities and Opinion, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, NGO

Europe needs new Community Initiatives as LEADER, URBAN, EQUAL

The so-called Community Initiatives of the European Union were launched about 15 years ago, in order to support the participation of local actors in cooperation and exchange of experience on a European level. LEADER, URBAN, EQUAL and other acronyms stood for a bottom-up approach of local planning and participation of civil society in political decision-making.… » read more

Elections, English, EU Priorities and Opinion, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Rural and sustainable development

Plantes Génétiquement Modifiées (PGM) : une procédure taillée sur mesure pour les multinationales ?

June 18, 2009

Repenser les procédures d’autorisation des variétés transgéniques en Europe est un impératif, tant d’un point de vue scientifique que démocratique. Ces procédures doivent garantir une évaluation indépendante et rigoureusedes dossiers, associer les citoyens aux prises de décisions à travers un processus aussi transparent que possible et permettre le recours à des clauses de sauvegarde tant… » read more

BioTech, conference citoyenne, English, environment, EU Priorities and Opinion, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, PGM, Public Affairs, Rural and sustainable development

Genetically Modified Plant Authorization: A Procedure Made to Measure for Multinationals?

Rethinking the authorization procedures of trans-genetic varieties in Europe is imperative, both from a scientific and a democratic perspective. These procedures need to guarantee a rigorous independent evaluation of files, involve citizens in decision-making throughout a process that is as transparent as possible and which gives recourse to both national and regional safeguard clauses. Without… » read more

Authorization, BioTech, citizens conference, English, environment, EU Priorities and Opinion, GMP, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Public Affairs, Rural and sustainable development, Sustainable Dev.

Turn the European Union into a Model of Multilevel Governance Founded on the Principle of Active Subsidiarity

June 17, 2009

Europe is founded on the principle of subsidiarity. The fear of losing power held by numerous member states has led them to give the European Union a limited list of competencies. Paradoxically, this process reinforced the exclusive role of the market economy in the governance of the Union. Other modes of governance are developing pragmatically… » read more

active subsidiarity, English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, subsidiarity

Une information citoyenne au service des choix technologiques

June 15, 2009

Chaque jour, les politiques font des choix technologiques déterminants. Pour cela, ils sont conseillés par les lobbys industriels. Grande absente de ces débats : la société civile. Notre proposition vise à favoriser l’émergence de veilles citoyennes d’informationsémanant de la société civile. Ces « vieilles citoyennes d’informations » permettraient d’informer les politiciens avant la prise des… » read more

English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship

Business and the State: the Illusion of Eternity

June 12, 2009

In all societies, in all eras of history, there are pivotal actors around which economic and social life is organized. In the 19th and 20th centuries, these were states and big businesses. But is this still the case in the 21st century? Are they capable of meeting the demands of a sustainable society? We have… » read more

Consumption, English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, Production, society, Territory

L’Union européenne : garante de la paix dans le monde ?

May 29, 2009

L’Union européenne reste, aux yeux du monde, un exemple réussi d’intégration politique et de sauvegarde de la paix. Dans un monde marqué par les tensions et les inégalités, l’Union européenne cherche à transmettre son expertise en dehors de ses frontières. Un exercice difficile. Pour lire l’article complet, ————————————— Document collectif élaboré par Irenees, Institut de… » read more

Elections, English, Enlargement and Neighbours, EU in the world, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, security

European Union: Guarantor of World Peace?

The European Union remains, in the eyes of the world, an example of political integration and the maintenance of peace. In a world marked by tensions and inequalities, the European Union is looking to transmit its expertise outside its borders – a difficult but worthwhile challenge. To read the full article, ————————————- Collectif document drawn… » read more

Elections, English, Enlargement and Neighbours, EU in the world, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship, security

La cohésion territoriale, une réponse politique pour l’Europe élargie ?

May 22, 2009

À l’échelle des territoires de vie, rendre les évolutions intelligibles, encourager la participation des habitants, c’est possible. Prendre le temps du dialogue, donner suite aux propositions citoyennes, c’est le premier pas pour l’exercice politique de mandats décisionnels clairs et vérifiables. Mais, encore trop souvent, les projets de territoire butent sur une approche hiérarchisée ou découpée… » read more

English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship

Territorial Cohesion: A political response to an enlarged Europe

At the level of the territories we live in it is possible to render development intelligible and encourage the participation of residents. Taking time for dialogue and then following up on citizens’ propositions are the first steps in the political exercise of making clear and verifiable decisional mandates. But territorial projects run up against a… » read more

English, Governance / Democracy and Citizenship