YDE – Page 3 – Young Democrats for Europe

Europe is a political project

The VI EDP Congress, held in Brussels, has just concluded after two days of discussion. More than 100 delegates, coming from 17 different countries have attended. The Congress took place during a signifying period for Europe and Italy.

With regards to Italy, the previous days had been marked by a controversy between Italian and German governments about the Italian debt; controversy arisen from the words of Angela MERKEL against Italian policies about debt reduction animating the last few weeks of the Italian semester.
Regarding the Italian presidency of EU Council semester, Matteo RENZI said that “we faced a big challenge: to find the soul of the EU and to find the deep sense of European togetherness” and “this challenge inevitably affected our results”. Indeed, the Italian presidency results seem below our expectations – as Matteo RENZI admits – but in consideration of the hard troubles we had to tackle, we still managed to achieve important results such as the review of tax policies and a better coordination among member states. Anyway, these achievements have not been perceived by the population: Europe is still identified as foreign institution.
At present time, the quotation of a former President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI, is still topical: he defined Europe mainly “a political project”.

For such reasons, we must be aware that EDP role is very important: a crucial role because we – as EDP members – are concrete politicians and we have tried, even during our conference, to bring a human dimension to EU policy and policies. Our way to be politicians is intended not just as “muscle power show”, but mainly as the courage to suggest the right solutions, even if they could be difficult to understand at a first sight. We really believe that such behaviour will bring European people closer to our party.

On November 23rd, local elections in Calabria marked an amazing achievement for us, by electing Flora SCULCO, a young woman who joined the EDP project, as Congress delegate and Calabria MRP. During her electoral campaign, we talked a lot about European Institution and about all the issues we recently discussed in Brussels EDP Congress: economic growth and employment recovery, fiscal convergence, common foreign policy, immigration and fight against human trafficking. We have the proof that such topics are not unrealistic and they stimulate the debate among people and between our party and people.

In conclusion, a short hint about a crucial theme, the sustainable development. Lima’s summit (COP20), the environmental summit preparatory to Paris Conference, has just ended without gaining significant results, nevertheless reaching some progress in the fight against climate change that, we all know, represents a real challenge for the future.
The Young Democrats for Europe (YDE) will surely engage with passion these challenging issues. Together we can realize the project of Europe as a political union.

By Laura Venneri

YDE 23 Dec ’14

News

The EU has to promote and defend regional identities

The recognition of regional identities and cultures and the democratic right for people to decide of their own political future are European Union funding principles.

In Bilbao this year, Young Democrats for Europe have reminded their attachment to these principles while voting a motion on democratic dispute resolutions and the right to resolve political disputes by means of democratic process.

This self-determination, as it was named by the United Nations, has to be protected and guaranteed, in the Union as in every legal state, as a condition of the democracy stability.

The Scots yesterday, the Catalans today : the European Union and the member States have to hear and recognise these people’s request for giving their opinion about their political and economical future. Yesterday, Catalans were asked two questions: whether they wanted Catalonia to be a State and whether this State should become independent from Spain.

The Young Democrats for Europe ask the European Union to insure and maintain a climate of dialogue between the Spanish Government and Catalonia, and help Catalonia to lead its referendum process at its end. The votes has no direct legal consequences but in a way represents the freedom of expression of European people and shows that more discussions are needed to define how regional identities and cultures can be more taken into consideration.

For more details on this issue, you can also read the resolution adopted in Bilbao on the 27th of September 2014 on Democratic Dispute Resolution

Las Juventudes Demócratas Europeas animamos al pueblo Catalán a decidir su futuro democráticamente el 9 de Noviembre. @JNCatalunya #9N2014

— Young Dems for EU (@YoungDemsEU) November 8, 2014

YDE 10 Nov ’14

Feature Article News

Bilbao: A political renewal for the youths of the EDP

Coming from ten European countries, on the 26th, 27th and 28th of September, more than fifty delegates of European youth organisations gathered for a debate on the new political direction of the Young Democrats for Europe (YDE), the European Democratic Party youth organisation, and to renew their management team.

Meetings, exchanges and conviviality.

After Aitor Esteban – Spanish EAJ-PNV MP -, Matteo Fiorini – only YDE member who was Head of State – and Mihai Sebe’s speeches, the Congress opened with the previous team reports. Then, two organizations were accepted unanimously within the Young Democrats for Europe: UDI Jeunes (France) and Youth of the National Forum (Croatia). Significant changes to the statutes were adopted, which allow the organisation to be more dynamic and efficient with improvements such as a better integration of individual members. Finally, at the end of the day, a new team was elected based on different but complementary profiles. The new YDE team, led by Miroslava Demkova, will aim at revitalizing the structure and expanding it.

This Congress was the occasion for the Young Democrats for Europe to reaffirm their long-term political project for the coming years. Projects on Youth unemployment and empowerment in politics, EU foreign policy and peoples’ self-determination in Europe will be launched in the coming weeks.

Throughout this weekend, different activities organized by the young Basques from Euzko Gaztedi Indarra also allowed delegates to discover the Basque culture. This Congress ended with the Basque National Party day, one of the most important annual events in the Basque Country gathering more than 50,000 people.

YDE 10 Oct ’14

News Press Release

“The ERASMUS generation has no job!”

On September 27th 2014, the Young Democrats for Europe (YDE) elected at their Congress in Bilbao their new Bureau members.

On this occasion, the YDE underlined the need to tackle youth unemployment and the lack of influence of the European Union in the world.

“From Spain, where unemployment affects more than 51% of young people, we urge the EU to create an economic shock to revive investment and solve massive youth unemployment. The ERASMUS generation has no job!” explained Miroslava DEMKOVA, the new elected President, who recalled the direct impact, unemployment could have on the risk of populism in Europe.

Jeremy COSTE, spokesperson, called “the European Union to play a role as world power on the most important crises the world is going through whether at its borders, in the Middle East or in Africa. The EU cannot be any longer just a pushing power. We expect the EU to become a leading power and to ensure global peace.”

The Young Democrats for Europe are the youth branch of the European Democratic Party, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament. At the Bilbao Congress, delegates from 10 youth organisations coming from 8 European countries elected a 10-member Board with Miroslava Demkova from Slovakia as President. She will work closely with a Secretary-General, Mathieu Camescasse (France), a treasurer, Johannes Meiners (Germany), and a spokesperson Jérémy Coste (France).

Message from Ivo Vajgl (EDP MEP from Slovenia) – 2014 YDE Congress by JDE-YDE