Roundup: “The decline of Europe’s social democratic parties” and more…

MAIN FOCUS: EU may help Athens | 17/03/2010

from euro|topics

The financial ministers of the Eurozone countries have not as it turns out presented a concrete bailout plan for Greece, but merely agreed at the beginning of the week on “technical modalities” for the approval of such a plan. The Eurozone countries lack a strong leadership, say some commentators, while others see progress and call for still more cooperation.

Are Dutch still Europe’s least prejudiced people? – by Marijke Peters

from EU-DIGEST by A-News

The Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence at Germany?s Bielefeld university spoke to 8,000 Europeans about attitudes towards migration, religion and minority groups. Half of respondents said there are too many immigrants in their home country and 43 percent said homosexuals should not have equal rights.

MAIN FOCUS: The French rap Sarkozy’s knuckles | 16/03/2010

from euro|topics

The results of the first ballot of the French regional elections put the Socialists in the lead with 29 percent of the vote, with the governing conservative UMP trailing behind at 26 percent. European commentators say the French want an end to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s actionism and cast a worried look at the low election turnout and the success of the extreme right.

The decline of Europe’s social democratic parties,

by openDemocracy
Author:
Philippe Marlière
Summary:
On previous occasions of decline, social democracy has bounced back in Europe, but this time the record includes ideological and cultural meltdown. What would it take to survive the current crisis?

Most political commentators concur that social democratic parties have been in decline over the past ten years or so. Is social democracy historically doomed? Is this terminal decline or simply a bit of a rough patch? We have been here before: in the 1920s, Communism was looking forward to a bright future and social democracy seemed destined for extinction. This gloomy prospect re-surfaced again in the 1940s and 1950s, when Communist parties in several European countries (notably France, Italy and Greece) took the ascendancy over weakened social democratic forces. Some spoke again of the death of social democracy in the aftermath of May ?68. In the 1969 presidential election in France, Gaston Defferre, the socialist candidate, received a mere 5% of the votes, lagging considerably behind Jacques Duclos of the French Communist Party (21%). Each time, the most pessimistic predictions turned out to be wrong: each time social democratic parties in Europe proved to be extremely resilient and bounced back.

The involvement of the European Parliament: Common Commercial policy

from Julien Frisch

Europe 2020 – Results of the public consultations

from Julien Frisch

I have made some fun of Europe 2020 and I think that is what this strategy deserves.

Can migration work for Britain? Not like this ,

by openDemocracy
Author:
Ruth Grove-White
Summary:
Government policy of ‘managed migration’ has backfired and produced public mistrust related to a vicious circle, of the assurance of control and the reality of failure. With the major parties set to continue this system, Ruth Grove White argues that there is ample scope to challenge the principles behind managed migration. We just need to be brave enough to make the case.

People on the Move logo and linkIn the run-up to the 2010 general election, supporters of a progressive approach towards immigration have good reason to feel isolated. After ten years of reinventing the UK immigration system, New Labour?s project has misfired, producing rising public suspicion about the arrival of migrants in the UK and driving ever more aggressively control-oriented policies. Parties of all colours are now jostling for position over who can be the ?toughest? on those people coming to live and work in the UK.


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