We are a long way from recovery and not far from the European elections. Will the voters want to demand a different set of solutions? A Green and sustainable economic model?
Green party leaders from across Europe met in Brussels on March 7 to discuss a range of issues core to developing the Greens election strategy for the European elections in 2014. While Green party delegates meet every year at the Spring and Autumn Councils, this was a rare opportunity for the party leaders to meet as a specific strategic event.
BLOG: In 1989, the party scored just short of 15%. Under any intelligent electoral system, that would have given us at least 12 seats in the European Parliament (EP). What a difference 12 or more British Green MEPs would have made in Brussels and Strasbourg. They would have been the largest faction in the Green Group and would have certainly given the group a different political flavour. That would probably have influenced the future direction of the EGP, too.
I went to Madrid, Spain, last week looking about the city in preparation for the EGP spring council in May. Then it was on to Budapest, Hungary, to discuss party politics. It was a two-pronged shock into the current economic reality facing wide streches of Europe.
The Congress witnessed the announcement of the party’s new name, selected by the delegates present, as well as the first outline of its policy program, which was presented to the participants. Also presented were the new spokespersons of the party, Sevil Turan and Arif Ali Cangı, two young and passionate individuals with very strong Green credentials.
November 14 - ACTION DAY AGAINST AUSTERITY: After five years of deep economic, financial and ecological crisis, it is time to say with one single European voice that we need a radical change. Unbalanced policies on social cuts and increases in regressive taxation are just creating poverty, social exclusion and youth unemployment.