Day two of the Open Europe / Fresh Start #EUReform
conference saw a thriving exchange of reform ideas between panelists and conference delegates, viral Twitter action for #EUReform via the Twitter wall, as well as numerous media interviews.
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| David Lidington, the UK's Europe Minister being greeted by OE Director, Mats Persson. |
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| Eva Kjer Hansen, Chair of the EU Affairs Committee the Danish Parliament discussing the role of national parliaments in the EU. |
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| Swedish columnist Katrine Kielos of Aftonbladet moderated the "Where does democractic authority lie" panel. |
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| Susanna Koski , President of Youth Wing of the National Coalition Party (Finland) and Cecilia Ackerman of Citi in discussion. |
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| German CDU MP Klaus-Peter Willsch debating how to make the EU more accountable to its member states during a roundtable discussion with Eva Kjer Hansen, Chair of of the European Affairs Committee (Liberal party) at the Danish Parliament, and Fresh Start MP Chris Heaton-Harris who is member of the European Scrutiny Committee |
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| Several screens showed the lively #EUReform exchange on Twitter |
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| Irish Minister for European Affairs Paschal Donohoe debating with conference delegates |
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| Open Europe's Nina Schick with Fresh Start Project co-founder Andrea Leadsom MP (left) and Latvian MP Daina Kazaka (right) |
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| Irish Minister for European Affairs Paschal Donohoe interviewed by Open Europe's Nina Schick. |
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| Ebba Busch, Deputy Mayor of Uppsala and one of the top MEP candidate for Sweden's governing Christian Democrats on the Future of Europe Panel. |
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| MPs from around Europe getting involved in the #EUreform agenda. |
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| Open Europe's Nina Schick moderating the final panel of the Conference. |
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Rachida Dati, MEP and Deputy President of the French UMP Party, in an TV interview before her keynote speech in which she called for a "realist revolution" in Europe.
Susanna Koski, President of the National Coalition Party's Youth Leage (Finland) adresses the Conference during the Future of Europe Panel.
Angel Martin Oro, Director of the Economic Trends Reporter (Spain) in conversation with a fellow delegate.
Delegates attend the interactive round-table discussions.
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NEVER MIND THE PICS - WHERE'S THE DAILY TEXT REPORT!!!
ReplyDeleteIn the main, aren't these pictures of failed politicians with an appalling EU track record discussing things that they have no mandate to discuss?
ReplyDeleteApologies if I have gotten the wrong end of the stick. But I very much doubt it.
SC
A bit off topic but, about this article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25810730
"EU plans to send troops"
Does the EU have troops?
Might be semantics but as far as I can tell the EU does not have military capabilities and is not expected to strive to get military capabilities.
It would be nice to have it clarified. Is it a UN-operation where some European nations are participating or is this a UN-operation where the EU is participating?
I think that pretty much everyone who's even vaguely tuned in to the EUSSR issue understand that this "conference" is nothing but more Open Eurrope, pro-Eurofascist bluster offered to make us all feel as though the EUSSR ain't really all that bad, once you get to know it.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is that bad -- in fact, it's downright evil.
And you don't reform evil.
You exorcise it.
Great effort to set the aganda imho, well done.
ReplyDeleteThis reform needs an agenda, but:
-it is by nature a very complicated one. So complicated that most simply will not be able to come up with it. Look at Hague's attempts, simply pathetic;
-anyway without an agenda this will most likely have huge similarities to things like immigration and the EUs structural reforms. A lot of talk. Not even able to get the facts straight. Ending in parties basically not discussing but shouting at each other and ending up with no actual result in the form of policies.
Imho wise to leave the immigration issue out at this stage. First a bit of line in the discussion befoire the real emotional stuff gets on the table. It is however hard to see how it can be avoided.
Re OE here hopefully somebody else will take the lead in this. This is the issue with the most risk in getting out off control. Better just keep reporting on the facts with few conclusions. More like UK and other populations want it on the agenda and it is one if not the main driver for rising populist parties.
As far as Cameron & Co goes this cannot be avoided. Simply on top of the public agenda in the UK and likely an issue he has to get grip on to shut up the back bench and score a point with his potential electorate. Probably better when somebody else after the main issues have been made clear does the trial-balloon stuff first. When it works 'Dave' can take over.
-anyway good that the reform side took the initiative and brought some line in the discussion. As the agenda will be very difficult. Agenda setting is very likely a big part of the job.
Needed eg to explain to business that leaving the EU doesnot mean losing the Common Market but might even mean less red tape for business and lower taxes.
The EZ is moving into a high tax direction with nobody able to really cut costs.
Plus Merkel's policies especially the recent ones running out of the steam it had basically because of Schroder's reforms and the luck to be historically in the right sectors for the aftermath of this crisis. No brilliant policies simply 99% luck that Merky's policies could ride as a fat parasite on the positive outcome of Schroder's reform and being since the 19th Century strong in manufacturing quality stuff. It enabled her to avoid making difficult choices. Credit has been eaten up now as it seems and she will have to start dealing with the reality she herself created, which will be pretty difficult and as said likely lead to higher taxes. Furthermore a not cleaned up EZ means low growth there and the very realistic chance of an EZ only new financial (Southern banking) crisis.