EU Rapporteur Giannakou to EuroFora: EU Parties + Citizens Initiative = New EU Political Debate Area

Adequately Reinforcing, legally and financially, as well as strengthening Democracy and Transparency in New European Political Parties more directly linked to EU Citizens, and making them able to act also in Referenda, National debates, etc., in preparation of the 2014 EU Elections, almost at the same moment that EU Citizens' Initiative is prepared to start working, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReports), are, indeed, parallel and convergent moves which can develop, for the 1st time in a consciously organized way,  a kind of European Public Area for topical Political Debates" on main EU Decicions, agreed in substance, EU Rapporteur, experienced Head of Greece's Delegation to the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group and Member of its Bureau, f. Minister, Marieta Gianakou, replying to "EuroFora"s questions.

-Adopted by EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday with a very Strong Majority of 560 Votes for, against only 93, and 22 abstentions, (i.e. supported by nearly 6 out of 7 MEPs !), Gianakou's Report on "political Parties at European level", after having succesfully faced 100 initial amendments with 7 "compromise" points earlier, as it was reminded by one among the surprisingly Numerous (about 30) MEPs from various Political Groups and EU Countries who actively participated in Tuesday Night's debate despite the late hour, it obviously commits EU Commission's vice-President in charge of Institutional questions, Maros Sefcovic, to meet his promise to examine MEPs' proposals and prepare, in about 3 Months, a Draft Regulation on New "rules" and "funding" for EU Parties, for final adoption well ahead of 2014 EU Elections, based on a Solid analysis of the main EU needs initially highlighted by EU Parliament's Secretary General  Klaus Welle, and endorsed by its Bureau since 2010.
------------------------

 - "EuroFora" asked Giannakou, who was a keynote Speaker at the Press Conference of the largest Group of MEPs : ChristianDemocrats/EPP, and had just observed that a New Era was starting after the 12/2009 entry into force of EU's Lisbon Treaty, by giving f.ex. to the EU a Legal Personality for the 1st time, etc., if she found that, "concerning EU Political Parties", "Lisbon Treaty's other relevant Innovation" : EU "Citizens' Initiative, a completely New thing, might, eventually, go in a similar, interlinked Direction" :

- Recently, a main "Conclusion" on EU Citizens Initiative, "was, both for EU Commissioner (Cefcovic) and MEPs", (replying to "EuroFora"'s Questions : See previous NewsReports), "that, given what was adopted here, it might help also, not only for (EU) Citizens' voice to he heard in a special "Hearing" by MEPs, as it was decided at the end of EU Parliament's deliberations last year (2010),  but also to create a kind of European Public Space for Political Debate" : I. e. something similar to "what the German Political Philosopher, Jurgen Habermas, had named, a long time ago, as "Offentlichkeit", we reminded.

- "Do you thing that, by stimulating EU Politial Parties with what you advise now, they might also go in this Direction,  which was adopted recently (for EU Citizens' Initiative) here",  and "engage also themselves in such a kind of Dialogue, which would arrive, if everything goes well, in EU Parliament, according to what was decided here ?" (See previous NewsReports on the creation of a status for "EU Citizens' Initiative"), "EuroFora" asked.

+ "By the way, last week in Brussels, we were reminded f.ex. of Alcide de Gasperi (one of the "spiritual Fathers" of modern European ideas, together with Schuman, Adenauer, etc) who had signed himself a European Petition a long time ago (towards a Federal Europe), while being also in favor of the creation and development of EU Political Parties too", "EuroFora" topically reminded...  
-----------------------------------------

"'EuroFora"'s question naturally referred to the famous concept of "Public Space", or "Offentlichkeit", that German Philosopher Jurgen Harbermas has notoriously developed in his Book "Strukturwändel der Offentlichkeit".

But, as he speaks, precisely, of "Structural Transformations" (in plural : i.e. open to more than one period of such big Changes), similarly, Today, an Old Contradiction between Representative and Direct Democracy may be overcome by New Projects such as that of "EuroFora"s, which consists mainly (but not only) into developing innovative uses of Information/Communication Technologies to boost EU Citizens - MEPs a.o. EU Officials Debates and other Interactions before (and after) important Decisions affecting Peoples' lives and Society at large, are due to be taken.

Important ramifications of the issue, include Crucial points from Habermas' later work on Communication and particularly critical views on Mass Media Manipulation, Monopoly Freedom, Censorship, etc., as well as parts of his Dialogue (reviewed in 2007) with f. Professor Cardinal Ratzinger (currently Pope Benedict XVI), and particularly ideas that he developed more recently f.ex.  in a landmark speech at the University of Regensburg (2006) etc, where free Debate and Rational argumentations were highlighted even as ways to respect Free Will and Human Dignity in a Democratic Society.

-----------------------------------

" I thik that that the creation of the (advised) Political and Legal  status for European Political Parties, (as adopted by EU Parliament in Strasbourg) will give a possibility to open a Dialogue, at EU-level, about Europe, in a better way", and "to stregthen the Democratisation of the Political Life", positively replied to "EuroFora"s question EU Parliament's Rapporteur, experienced former Minister and MEP since the 1980ies, Mrs Marietta Gianakou.

+ Moreover, "talking about (Political and) Philosophical Dialogue, not only about the "Future of Europe", (i.e. the famous Synthesis of the biggest, topical Political Strategic Choices for the EU, from Economy up to Enlargement, Identity and Political substance, etc., as f.ex. French President Sarkozy had resumed them, as early as since 2007),  but also about "Democracy at European Level", yes, that depends on the Political Parties", she added.

- "It's not only something which comes with the evolution  of the EU as it was provided by the Lisbon Treaty, but it's something Necessary" today, the competent EU Rapporteur stressed :  

- First of all, "because it's not normal not to have a political statute for EU Political Parties, as we have already the possibility to have differend (EU) Citizens, of differend Countries, to be in the (Electoral) List of other Counties, and (EU) Citizens from (EU) Member States who can vote in anOther (EU) Member State, Members of Lists of Differend Countries, in another (EU) Member State, where is their (Permanent) Residence", she observed, pointing at a key-point in the emerging EU Citizenship movement.

    + In addition, it also responds to the obvious current need "to Stregthen the Democratisation of the Political Life", experienced MEP Gianakou added, "and probably to have the Member parties, the National parties, to strengthen the Transparency and the Democratisation there", i.e. both at a European and at a National levels, (the Report evokes even ....Local/Regional levels), particularly at a period when, generally, mistrust, abstentions, etc. of EU Citizens have notoriously provoked a dangerous "Gap", particularly since 1999-2004...

- "As it was said in the Meeting for the (inauguration of) the De Gasperi Room, and the Conference (that) we had there" (i.e. Last Week in, Brussels, according to "EuroFora"s Reminder : See supra), even if "we (EU) are not in the same Time, in the same Moment, (i.e. around 1950) the Situation is Differend in Europe today.  But not so (much) differend : The Dangers and the Realities are not so differend than the Realities after the 2nd World War !", she warned,

    + Also because "there are things that we have to avoid today, and there are things that we have to promote : And 1st of all, we have to work for the Young Generation. and that's a Key-point", (at least as far as attracting them to an active EU's Democratic life is concerned, as well as opening Horizons to discuss EU's Future), she pointed out as example, in conclusion.
---------------------------            

    - Gianakou's mainly positive reply to "EuroFora"s question (see supra) goes in the same direction with EU Commission vice-President Mario Cefcovic's observation, during EU Parliament's debates, that proposed New developments on EU Parties, indeed, "can develop a truly European PUBLIC SPACE, which goes at the HEART OF E.U. INTEGRATION", (as he had almost said also, in reply to earlier, relevant, "EuroFora"s questions at another, recent Press Conference on the adoption of EU Citizens Initiative's status : See previous NewsReports).    

    This key point didn't escape to the attention of various .. "EuroSceptics", who rushed to criticize Gianakou's Report on EU Political Parties during EU Parliament's Plenary debates... But, significantly, most of their arguments against the proposed strengthening of EU Parties, in fact, simply indicated the objective need for some among "EuroFora" Project's main points :

F.ex.  British Conservative MEP Daniel Henan's warning against a risk for "Bureaucrats" to take the place of EU "Demos" (People), could precisely be successfully counter-balanced by "EuroFora" project's idea to bring in the mainstream EU System EU Citizens'  "Public Debates with MEPs" before and afterce important EU Decisions, (including by adequate developments also on EU "Citizens' Initiatives", EU's brand new "Charter of fundamental Rights" - which naturally includes EU bodies' obligation to Motivate their decisions, efficiently and correctly,  in reply to affected EU Citizens' pertinent Observations, etc).
------------------------------

EU Parliament's Resolution, adopted according to Gianakou's Report, includes interesting elements almost pointing  in this direction, f.ex. by observing from the outset that "political Parties .... are essential instruments of a parliamentary democracy, holding parliamentarians to account, helping to shape the political will of citizens, maintaining dialogue with citizens and enabling citizens to express their views", as well as that "the (New EU) Treaty of Lisbon provides for this role of the political parties.....with a view to creating a European Polis, a political Space at EU level, and a European democracy, of which the European Citizens' Initiative is a key constitutive element". (Articles 1 and 2).

The same goes also for "their linked political Foundations", (f.ex. such as Adenauer Foundation, in Germany, currently chaired by former EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering, an always active Winner of June 2009 EU Elections in Germany, and Defender of Minorities a.o. Human and Democratic Rights at EU's Neighborhood and Worldwide : Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsDraft on Christian Minorities in EU's Southern Neighbourhood policy, already sent to Subscribers/Donors), etc.

But, the pre-existing "European ... parties, as they stand, are not in a position to play this role to the full, because they are merely "Umbrella" organisations for National parties, and Not Directly in touch with the Electorate", Resolution critically observes.

That's why, Gianakou's proposal invites EU Commission to officially propose "the establishment of Real EU Political Parties", with an adequate Legal Personality, EU Funding, and Direct EU Citizens' participation throughout all the EU, respecting elementary Transparent and Democratic Rules, able also to intervene in EU Referenda's Campaigns, as well as in National a.o. debates of EU issues.

The Funding would be 90% from the EP, and  for 10% they'll have to find their own Resources, from which, no more than 7,5% could come from "Physical" Resources, such as Donators, etc. Donations currently limited to just 12  Thousand € per person, per year, could go up to 25 Thousand €, per Donator, per Year, provided that his Identity will be disclosed, for reasons of Transparency.