Reblogged from Konstantinos Kyranakis:

Elections took place on May 6th, elections are taking place again on June 17th, in the same country, Greece. Why? Didn’t the Greeks have the chance to decide? Didn’t they show the way and expressed their preference to the policies they trust? Didn’t they choose what they want? The answer is no.

The Greeks might have expressed their voice, or at least 65% of them, but the result was nothing more than an anger vote, a condemnation of what they have seen in their country over the last 2 years, and some say, over the last 30 years.

Read more… 1,142 more words

We have seen in recent times how what happens in one country can effect the entire Eurozone. No longer can we ignore the politics of Greece, Spain or Italy- decisions made in these countries have an impact on the Irish economy and the Irish people. We share a currency with 17 other states, and this Treaty provides for our Governments to work closer together to create the best future possible for people across Europe.
The fiscal rules and structural deficit rules in this treaty will restore stability to Ireland and the Eurozone. Reckless borrowing was a fact of life in some Eurozone states, and this treaty makes it clear that this is no longer acceptable. These rules are already part of European law, but this Treaty makes sure they are written into the national law of each member state. No country, big or small, will be able to break the rules and endanger the entire Eurozone economy.
Ireland needs access to the ESM. Those who say otherwise are willing to take chances on our future, chances we can’t afford. Whether we require future funding or not, the ESM is like an insurance policy and helps create certainty. It gives investors and job-creators confidence in Ireland’s future. This will help us to go back to the bond markets and wave goodbye to the IMF as soon as possible.
This Treaty will not solve all our problems, but it is an important step on the path to recovery. Rejecting the Treaty leads us into uncharted waters, instability and confusion. Saying Yes will help us restore our economic sovereignty and create the right environment for growth and job creation. This Treaty is good for Europe and good for Ireland. Vote Yes on May 31st to give Ireland the best chance for a better future.

Julie O’Leary, International Secretary, Young Fine Gael

Related articles

• Why I am Voting Yes – For Stability (stephenspillane.com)
• The honest No voices on our chances of funding (williamquill.com)
• YFG Launches YES Campaign (stephenspillane.com)

European Union 

World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it. The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. In taking upon herself for more than 20 years the role of champion of a united Europe, France has always had as her essential aim the service of peace. A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.

“Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.”

Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.
With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point.

It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe.  The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.

The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part and bound ultimately to provide all the member countries with the basic elements of industrial production on the same terms, will lay a true foundation for their economic unification.

This production will be offered to the world as a whole without distinction or exception, with the aim of contributing to raising living standards and to promoting peaceful achievements. With increased resources Europe will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent. In this way, there will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system; it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.

“There will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system; it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.”

By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.
To promote the realization of the objectives defined, the French Government is ready to open negotiations on the following bases.

The task with which this common High Authority will be charged will be that of securing in the shortest possible time the modernization of production and the improvement of its quality; the supply of coal and steel on identical terms to the French and German markets, as well as to the markets of other member countries; the development in common of exports to other countries; the equalization and improvement of the living conditions of workers in these industries.

To achieve these objectives, starting from the very different conditions in which the production of member countries is at present situated, it is proposed that certain transitional measures should be instituted, such as the application of a production and investment plan, the establishment of compensating machinery for equating prices, and the creation of a restructuring fund to facilitate the rationalization of production. The movement of coal and steel between member countries will immediately be freed from all customs duty, and will not be affected by differential transport rates. Conditions will gradually be created which will spontaneously provide for the more rational distribution of production at the highest level of productivity.

In contrast to international cartels, which tend to impose restrictive practices on distribution and the exploitation of national markets, and to maintain high profits, the organization will ensure the fusion of markets and the expansion of production.

The essential principles and undertakings defined above will be the subject of a treaty signed between the States and submitted for the ratification of their parliaments. The negotiations required to settle details of applications will be undertaken with the help of an arbitrator appointed by common agreement. He will be entrusted with the task of seeing that the agreements reached conform with the principles laid down, and, in the event of a deadlock, he will decide what solution is to be adopted.

The common High Authority entrusted with the management of the scheme will be composed of independent persons appointed by the governments, giving equal representation. A chairman will be chosen by common agreement between the governments. The Authority’s decisions will be enforceable in France, Germany and other member countries. Appropriate measures will be provided for means of appeal against the decisions of the Authority.
A representative of the United Nations will be accredited to the Authority, and will be instructed to make a public report to the United Nations twice yearly, giving an account of the working of the new organization, particularly as concerns the safeguarding of its objectives.

The institution of the High Authority will in no way prejudge the methods of ownership of enterprises. In the exercise of its functions, the common High Authority will take into account the powers conferred upon the International Ruhr Authority and the obligations of all kinds imposed upon Germany, so long as these remain in force.

On the 31st May 2012, the Irish citizenry vote on one of the most important referenda of a generation, a vote that could mean the difference economic recovery or pariah status as a nation. This blog entry addresses the importance of Ireland’s adoption of the European Fiscal Stability Treaty.

Ireland needs certainty. Irish businesses need certainty. International investors need to have certainty in Ireland. The upcoming referendum on the European Fiscal Stability Treaty, while not perfect, provides that certainty. It provides reassurance, a sort of guarantee that if worst came to worst, Ireland has options and a viable route to recovery.

The rejection of EFS Treaty will provide only confusion, uncertainty and fear – exactly what those on the ‘No’ side want to capitalise on for their own political gain. Its rejection could mean a new nadir for Ireland.

While domestic Irish business can and will deliver the growth and innovation to help reduce our sovereign and personal debt burden, as a small and open economy on the fringe of Europe international investors need to have confidence that they are investing in a country that is economically and politically stable.

2011 was a year bereft of investment in many sectors due to political indecision both at home and abroad. The new coalition government have ensured that a clear path is now marked to recovery. We must continue to follow it, while avoiding the mistakes of former governments.

The fiscal rules and the structural deficit rules at the core of the treaty will prevent the reckless borrowing that was culturally ingrained in certain Eurozone states. It will provide new rules to ensure that excessive deficits and fiscal carelessness will not be accepted. It encourages governments to be prudent during bull markets, which in turn will provide greater flexibility and re-actability during bear markets. No different to how a sensible household should behave.

The rejection of the treaty will place Ireland in an exposed and dangerous position. If further external funding was required outside the agreed IMF/ECB programme, and ESM access was blocked, Ireland could find itself in extreme and rapid austerity, or face default with the chaos that would ensue.

Access to the ESM, as provided by the treaty, means Ireland’s future funding prospects, post 2013, are certain. Whether or not this funding is needed is immaterial as simply having the option would ensure the confidence of investors, rating agencies and allow an easier transition back to the bond markets.

The argument of those in the opposition is that funding would still be available to Ireland is nonsensical, irresponsible and naïve. Already, Germany and France have hinted that no additional funding would be available for countries outside the ESM treaty.

The passing of this treaty will not cure all of Ireland ills but it will provide a reassurance for consumers and businesses, both domestic and international, that this country is a good place to do business, a country that is stable and a country that remains at the heart of our biggest trading partner, the Eurozone.

A Yes vote on May 31st is the only option to guarantee the right environment for recovery through investment, growth and innovation.

For further details visit http://www.stabilitytreaty.ie

YEPP website: www.youthepp.eu

Related articles

• Sinn Fein anti-Treaty leaflet quotes three economists who advocate a Yes vote – Paschal Donohoe (yfginternational.wordpress.com)

Our European Family. Have a look!

YFG resolutions in this include ACTA, Enlargement and the resolution on the constitutional reforms in Hungary.

Big thanks to the contributers- Tom Vandekendelaere (Jong CD&V, Belgium) , Linda Eichler, (IRLY, Estonia), Federico Potočnik (MSI, Slovenia) and our own International Secretary, Julie O’Leary. As always, Konstantinos Kyranakis (YEPP Vice-President, ONNED, Greece), was there to make everything look professional!

Check out the YEPP website for more info on policy and resolutions: www.youthepp.eu/library

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• YEPP Resolution: Continuing Enlargement as a Positive Step During Reconstruction (yfginternational.wordpress.com)
• YEPP Resolution: In Support of Free and Open Internet – for a revision of ACTA (yfginternational.wordpress.com)
• Youth EPP Council Meeting: Budapest, February 2012. (yfginternational.wordpress.com)
• Podium II (yfginternational.wordpress.com)

“The back hole in the Sinn Fein call for a No vote is their inability to guarantee continued funding for our schools, hospitals and social welfare payments. But even I was shocked when I came across the Sinn Féin leaflet calling for a No vote, which quotes the economists Colm McCarthy, Karl Whelan and Seamus Coffey.

“All three of these experts have said while they have some reservations about the contents of the Stability Treaty, a Yes vote is in Ireland’s best interests. To take the example of Karl Whelan; the Sinn Féin leaflet uses the following quote: ‘the economics of this treaty are pretty terrible’. What the leaflet doesn’t do is finish the quote, which goes on: ‘I think that, on balance, the arguments favour Ireland signing up to it’.  

“Sinn Féin is choosing to selectively quote Mr Whelan. But they don’t stop there. They also use a quote from a recent article from Colm McCarthy, which includes the line: ‘As an exercise in addressing the eurozone’s twin banking and sovereign debt crises, the fiscal compact makes no worthwhile contribution’. If Sinn Féin bothered to read the full article, or indeed any number of articles penned by Mr McCarthy recently, they would know he has strongly advocated a Yes vote , describing the Government’s approach as   ‘the correct response, unavoidable and in the country’s best interests’.

“Finally, the Sinn Féin leaflet quotes from a contribution Seamus Coffey made in a recent presentation to the EU Affairs Committee. Mr Coffey did not give his own opinion during that contribution, but he makes his views clear on his blog, where he states: ‘there is little to be gained from rejecting the Treaty’.

“This all says an awful lot about the many weaknesses in Sinn Féin’s argument. Not only do they wrongly claim that Ireland would be able to magically access funds in the future from mystery sources if we reject the Treaty and the backstop of the ESM; and not only do they condemn the financial mistakes of the past while refusing to sign up to sensible rules to stop these mistakes from being repeated; now they are resorting to misrepresenting the views of others. Sinn Féin should withdraw this leaflet and explain why they have misrepresented three impartial experts to support their claims.”

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• Sinn Fein and selective hearing… (sluggerotoole.com)
• Martin McGuinness accused of sanctioning murders of two senior police officers (independent.co.uk)
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The programme was broken into a number of different areas. We looked at how the EPP party apparatus function, the future of European integration and global democratisation from the EPP’s perspective and we also looked at presentation skills and how to best utilise modern media.

Participants at the CES Academy (Eoin is third from the right)

“It was fast apparent that the influence that the EPP has on my everyday life is much larger than I ever expected.”

There were two major things that especially struck me when I was over there.

Firstly, it was fast apparent that the influence that the EPP has on my everyday life is much larger than I ever expected. The Deputy Secretary General of the EPP, Christian Kremer spoke to us about the impact of EPP Ministerial meetings. These bring together the all national ministers from EPP parties where they attempt to coordinate policy initiatives for their mutual benefit and come to a consensus to present at Council of Ministers meetings.

This debates and discussions that take place at these meetings have a direct impact on the decisions that ministers take when they come home. They are valuable forums for exposing ministers to new ideas from across the continent and getting insights into what works and what has not for other governments. It is no surprise that European ideas such as the Dutch healthcare model are beginning to take a prominent role in Fine Gael policy development.

It was also interesting to note the influence of the Centre for European Studies itself on the last Fine Gael election campaign. Much of Florian Hartleb, the Director of the CES Academy’s, research over the past while has been around the concept of Cyber parties and on the important role of social media in political campaigning. EPP spokesperson Kostas Sasmatzoglou gave an intriguing insight into how the EPP have dominated the European political party scene on social media.

It was interesting to pick up a CES publication that included an essay from Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran and Ravi Singh about how such techniques were applied to the Fine Gael General Election Campaign last year.

The work goes on in the CES has a direct influence on EPP policy making and as a result upon the policies taken up by governments led by member parties. In terms of bringing about a sustainable economic future for Europe the policy brief (http://www.slideshare.net/thinkingeurope2011/the-european-union-at-a-crossroads-an-action-plan) presented to us by former advisor to the Belgain government Stefaan De Corte was of particular interest.

The other major thing that dawned on me at the CES Academy was regarding the important role of ideology in politics. Irish politics is so devoid of ideological rhetoric that it is easy to forget the influence that normative values have on what we consider to be the best policy. It also became fast apparent that my own values fit quite comfortably within the EPP framework.

“Irish politics is so devoid of ideological rhetoric that it is easy to forget the influence that normative values have on what we consider to be the best policy. It also became fast apparent that my own values fit quite comfortably within the EPP framework.”

Wilfried Martens, former Prime Minister of Belgium and the President of the EPP, gave a talk about the values of the European People’s Party. He stressed that these values are central to what the EPP is all about and in this vein spoke of a number of EPP values that really struck a chord.

EPP Vice-President, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and EPP President Wilifried Martens

He put forward an interesting ideological framework whereby government must be strong enough to provide for a social market economy but decisions should be made at the lowest possible level (subsidiarity). He talked about putting the individual at the centre of policy formulation and argued that what is best for the individual citizen is what should be promoted as being best for society at large.

If you would like to learn more about the Centre for European Studies, why not come along to their Economic Ideas Forum in Dublin Castle this Thursday and Friday? See their website for more details: http://www.thinkingeurope.eu/eif12/ 

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From 1 April, citizens from 7 EU countries can ask the European Commission to put forward a legislation that is of its competence, by collecting 1 million signatures.  According to YEPP, no lasting economic and institutional reforms are feasible without the broad support of the EU citizens. Therefore, the European Citizens’ Initiative is crucial in order to keep their commitment to the European project.

In YEPP’s view, though the new instrument is not binding legally, it can enhance participation, awareness and transparency all over Europe. The new initiative might also mean more political feedbacks from citizens that might result in more efficiency and a better achievement of the EU’s political aims.
YEPP encourages the European Youth to benefit from their active presence in Europe-wide online community networks and be in the front line when collecting 1 million signatures in a great number of EU policy areas.

The board of YEPP

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