cafebabel.com

Eurofreaks, eurosceptics and euroabstainers: youth parliament talks

('Andrew Christie',) — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:15:00 -0000

We’ve had 30 years of the right to elect representatives in EU parliament, which has moved from an advisory board to a fully-fledged legislative institution. However, the increase in power of the only EC institution to be elected directly via universal suffrage has coincided with a consistent fall in voter turnouts. Voter turnout in the EU elections is around 20 points lower across the board than in national elections

Joseph Daul: ‘when we get up and turn on the light, it’s the EU who decides what type of light bulb we can use’

('Joss Corner',) — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:26:09 -0000

If the European centre-right wins the European elections again between 4 - 7 June, they will be able to use the key political positions in order to advance the EU. Helping Europeans combat the crisis and involve them in the construction of a community project: those are two sizeable challenges. Interview

Italy: to vote or not to vote in EU elections on 6-7 June?

('Julia Karlysheva',) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:45:00 -0000

But most importantly, why vote? The European elections between 4 and 7 June 2009 are victim to a changing and uncertain political landscape

Exclusive: Parlorama MEP ranking portal back onsite

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:15:43 -0000

The website which judges the activity of Euro MPs came back onsite on 14 May at 3pm – with a few modifications and the same desire to make some noise. It was forced to close for three weeks after officials objected to its content

‘Vovis' versus ‘gorrillas’: tackling precarity in Seville

('Kate Stansfield',) — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:23:00 -0000

They’ll find you parking spots for a little loose change. This form of begging in disguise allows the poorest members of society to make themselves a few hundred euros a month. Despite its large-scale growth in the Andalusian capital, the phenomenon is becoming a headache for the authorities

Why Austria might fall with central and eastern Europe

('Hayley Worsley-Carter',) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:15:00 -0000

Will the European Union be under threat of the financial crisis that is eating away at its eastern members? A barrage of bad news suggests that it might. Solidarity may be the only way to come to eastern Europe’s aid and to save its member states from possible danger

Europe’s liberals campaign for June elections

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:47:08 -0000

On 15 April 2009, the European liberal democrat and reform party (ELDR) launched their campaign for the European elections amidst sequins, sound effects and an eccentric presenter. Here are some visual and aural reminders of a large-scale seduction operation aimed at the media

Daniel Cohn-Bendit: 'converting back to ecological ways is the only way to save jobs'

('Andrew Burgess',) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:15:00 -0000

The electoral campaign of the green party has been launched. Inspired by their Green New Deal, they want to transform industrial, housing and agricultural worlds in the short and the long term. For the French-German MEP, this will not be pleasurable

A simple guide to the European elections

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Seven out of ten young people didn’t vote in the 2004 European elections. Was this lack of interest due to a lack of understanding? It seems that a little clarification is needed, so here is something to whet your political appetite, two months out from polling day