Category: News

Joining the European Youth Forum!

The Young Democrats for Europe are glad to join the European Youth Forum family this weekend! This will be an important step towards our long-term development. Being the 101st member will allow us to take part more actively in the policy-making process involving young people at the European level.

We will also be able to cooperate with other European Non-Governmental Youth organisations and more especially political youth organisations such as JEF, LYMEC.

We will therefore be given the opportunity to develop and promote our positions on Youth empowerment, freedom of movement amongst other issues and work actively on strengthening democratic ideas and values in Europe, promoting and defending European citizens’ rights and freedoms, and fighting against populism in Europe.

 

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Germany moves to the right!

State elections in Germany: right-wing-populist-party AfD enters three parliaments

During the past weeks, Germans have often made fun of the Americans. “How can they vote for someone like Donald Trump?” German people would ask. And they cannot be blamed. The Republicans’ presidential candidate wants to forbid the entry in the United States to Muslims; he wants to bolt the Mexican border with a wall and describes himself as “the best president God has ever created”. Regarding his statements and demands, we are stunned and also about the Americans’ electoral behaviour. But with the last state elections in Germany on March 13, the situation in Germany turned out to be as worse as in the United States.

24.2% is the score the right-wing party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD, Alternative for Germany) did receive in Saxony-Anhalt at its first election! This result is frightening and dangerous. In Baden-Wurttemberg (15.1%) and Rhineland-Palatinate (12.6%), the situation is hardly better. After this electoral Super-Sunday, the political map of Germany has changed. A party that wants to allow shooting at refugees, to dissolve the EU, to abolish social benefits and to prohibit Muslims from practising their religion is now represented in eight of the 16 federal state’s parliaments. “The AfD confesses to the traditional family as an example” and rejects state kindergartens. Men should work; women should educate children and stay at home to cook. Every vote for the right-wing populists is a retrograde step.

UKIP in the United Kingdom, the Front National in France – and now the AfD in Germany. The biggest reason why parties like these could get that popular is the refugees’ crisis: hundred thousands of people fleeing from their native countries from war,  to Europe, to Germany. The AfD takes advantage of this, rushes and shrinks back from nothing; and gets votes – alarmingly many votes. The AfD gets voters from the established parties; however, non-voters give primarily their votes to the right-wing-party. Besides, three of four voters indicate to have chosen the AfD not because of their manifesto, but to teach a lesson to the governing parties.

Already once in German history a right-wing-party scored such a great success in such a short time! It should not only be a German effort, but also a European one, that this will not happen again. Established centrist parties must take the citizens seriously, their demands, worries and fears. They must not give them a reason to vote for a right-wing party only to teach a lesson. This is the only way to maintain our democratic and pro-European values. However, the AfD is not one thing for sure: an alternative.

By Bettina Schwarz (@betti_schwarz)

Photo: Túrelio

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IED Call for papers – Migration, borders control and solidarity: is Schengen at risk?

Following the Winter Academy co-organised with our organisation in December in Brussels, the IED (Institute of European Democrats – European Democrats’ think-tank) aims at involving young generations in its reflections, this call for papers is therefore specifically addressed to applicants who have not reached 35 years of age by the 31st of May 2016

Since its foundation, the main goal of the IED has been to promote an in-depth discussion on the core aspects of the European integration process while playing an active role in strengthening the confidence of European citizens and furthering their understanding in the European Institutions and common policies. With the current migration management’s crisis and the consequent debate on the Schengen acquis, the EU is facing a new challenge that will demand a more comprehensive approach. With a view to shed some light on this issue and better understand the solutions ahead, the Institute of European Democrats has decided to launch an external research project on “Migration, borders control and solidarity: is Schengen at risk?” and intends to award 10 grants for “Research Fellowships”.

The draft papers will be object of discussion at the event “Schengen at risk. Can we keep the freedom of movement?” in May 2016. Some researchers could be invited to attend the conference (the IED will cover the expenses). The final result will be published online on the website of the IED (www.iedonline.eu).

Eligibility criteria:

  • Master’s degree in the relevant field
  • Age limit of 35 years old by the 31st May 2016
  • Proven excellence in writing skills in English

More info here:

File Format Pdf-507x507

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22nd of January: Anniversary of the German-French friendship

22nd of January: Anniversary of the German-French friendship

On the 22nd of January 1963, centuries of wars and enmity in the heart of Europe ended. Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Élysée Treaty in Paris and transformed a long term enmity into a friendship. During the following 52 years, the German-French respect has improved steadily. Not only for both countries, but for the whole of Europe this friendship is essential. Germany and France are essential as the propelling forces of the European integration, the EU without these both countries would be quite inconceivable for most of people. The seat of the European Parliament is therefore on the German-French border in Strasbourg.

One of the darkest days in the history of the German-French friendship was the 13th of November, 2015. While locals romped about in Paris restaurants, tourists sauntered through the streets and 80,000 football fans watched the friendly football game between French and German national teams, in the French capital one of the worst terrorist attacks ever occurred. In the midst of the grief, the fury, the questions, the desperation and the sympathy, the German-French friendship hardened so much as never before in its history. Countless Paris citizens opened their doors to give football fans from both countries protection. Germany gave a lot of condolences. After the awful attacks France and Germany grew together even more narrowly. Now both countries strive not only for peace and friendship among themselves, but in whole Europe and all over the world.

Bettina Schwarz

(Photo: Mark_K_)

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