On November 28-30th SDLP Youth representative and Lecale Branch Secretary Barry Magee was in Madrid, Spain for a European Community Of Socialist Youth (ECOSY) bureau meeting and the Party of European Socialists (PES) Council.

With the European elections in June 2009 the PES Council provided an opportunity for social democrats and socialists from all over Europe to adopt the PES manifesto for the European elections.

The PES manifesto ”People First: A New Direction For Europe” was adopted in Madrid by over 232 delegates from 33 member parties. At the centre of the manifesto is building a new Social Europe- by putting people first.

SDLP Youth believe that this can be done through building a citizens’ Europe by engaging more young people in policy developments and enlarging the scope of youth exchanges.

During the year ECOSY formally adopted 9 Deliverables that would form the basis of the ECOSY input into the PES manifesto.

These deliverables include: 15 million new jobs by 2014 - better working conditions for young people; more social security - better public services; eradicate poverty - national minimum incomes and wages; no unnecessary bureaucracy - building a citizens Europe; better integration - tackling roots cause of migration; equal rights; sustainable lifestyles; no more unilateralism; and decent work for all.

SDLP Youth are very happy with our contribution into the final official ECOSY input into the PES manifesto. SDLP Youth input focused on creating a level playing field for agency workers; reforming the European social model in light of recent EU enlargement; addressing the current global economic malaise; and creating social responses to the globalisation of capital markets.

We want Change For Europe, We want to put People First!

Further information:
- ECOSY 9 deliverables
- The 2009 PES Manifesto

MEMBERS NOTICE

Dear Friend

SDLP Youth as members of the European Community of Socialist Youth (ECOSY) have been invited to attend the 9th ECOSY Summer Camp 2008 which takes place from 25th - 31st July in Mont-de-Marsan, France.

This is an unmissable event, with around 2,000 socialist delegates from all over Europe attending. The week long camping experience also includes training, debates and many social activities. This is a great opportunity to meet with our European friends and networks.

SDLP Youth will be sending a delegation, so if you are interested in this event, please email peter.armstrong AT sdlpyouth DOT com

We have deadlines to meet so please express an interest before Tuesday 10th June.

Further information can be found at: http://sc2008.socialeurope4everyone.org/

SDLP Lecale Branch Secretary Barry Magee has called for a renewed social agenda across Europe.

On returning from a European socialist youth conference in Brussels Mr Magee has urged for the greater support of workers within the EU and an end to exploitative working practices.

During the 3rd European Community of Socialist Youth (ECOSY) Winter Conference young socialists from all over Europe gathered in the EU Parliament in Brussels to demand the re-launch of Europe’s social dimension.

Key priorities of the conference included tackling European and global inequality and the issue of global climate change.

Across Europe we socialists and social democrats want to ensure a better working environment for all workers in the EU, particularly marginalised workers. Economic development and prosperity has left many people behind and ECOSY, the youth section of the Party of European Socialists (PES), demands that the EU works towards a more equal and sustainable European model of development,

The EU Spring Council is about to adopt the Integrated Policy Guidelines for the final policy cycle of the EU Lisbon Strategy and at the same time the PES, of which the SDLP is a member, is debating a manifesto for the 2009 European elections.

Therefore we, as ECOSY Young European Socialists developed twelve demands for the EU Spring Council and the PES manifesto.

ECOSY demands to the EU included: Employment flexicurity not without social security; fight unemployment and under employed (particularly in young people); for full employment; increased job security; promotion of a knowledge-based economy; proper sustainable development and environmental protection; free access to education and life-long learning; more investment in research and development; better access to public services; improved youth exchanges; and better provision of information on EU policies for European citizens.

It was a great honour to represent the SDLP and the North of Ireland at ECOSY and I am extremely happy with the SDLP contribution to the conference. We ensured that two of our demands made the final ECOSY document.

We in the SDLP want to see minimum standards of working conditions to be introduced in EU member states. This is to include legal guarantee for social rights and protection, full rights for interim agency workers and treatment of internships as real jobs.

SDLP wants to see the promotion of the ‘Decent Work, Decent Life’ agenda at EU level. The Lisbon strategy has an important external dimension and its social goals have to stand at the heart of Europe’s external policy. Official development aid needs be increased by 1% of GDP in order to achieve UN Millennium Development Goals and help alleviate global poverty levels.

SDLP and ECOSY want an end to exploitation and the creation of a more equal and sustainable Europe. This can only be done through the relaunching of the Social Europe Agenda.

European inequality can only be tackled through social protection and an end to the neo-conservative political agenda across Europe that has only benefited the political and economic elite.

A Chara,

SDLP Youth are organising a Mystery Tour to Europe. It will take place in the first week of June 2008. All party members aged 16-30, with an interest in European politics, culture and beer are invited. The estimated cost is €150 euro per person including travel and 4 nights accommodation.

Those going will not be told where in Europe they are going until check-in at the airport! If you wish to reserve a place, or have any questions, please contact Peter Armstrong on 028 9024 7700 or using the Contact Us page.

Flights will be booked on 4th April (RSVP ASAP!). Details may be subject to change.

Peter Armstrong

Vice Chair
SDLP Youth

SDLP Youth Chairman Gary McKeown has welcomed a report by BBC News which has highlighted the plight of children in the Czech Republic who are caged-up in state institutions, saying it should act as a wake-up call for other EU members.

Mr McKeown said: “The BBC report showed how children with mental disabilities are locked behind bars with no stimulation whatsoever. Not only does this fail to address their needs, but it drives them into fits of despair. It is breathtakingly shocking to think that this is going on within the European Union in 2008.

“There is a tradition in some eastern European countries to take an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to children with special needs. Often this involves locking them up in state institutions, denying them affection or any kind of meaningful human interaction.

“The treatment of these vulnerable children is like something one would expect to find in a battery farm.”

Mr McKeown also condemned the treatment of children in institutions in Bulgaria: “These youngsters are denied any form of stimulation and often their medical needs are ignored. There have been documented cases of children effectively being left in agony to starve to death. The child mortality rate in many of these Bulgarian institutions is positively Victorian. Yet this is all happening in 21st Century Europe.”

“The Czech Republic is a top tourist destination. Bulgarian homes are being snapped up by Irish investors on a daily basis. Both counties are full members of the EU. Yet simultaneously children are being treated in torturous conditions in these countries.”

Mr McKeown concluded: “There is a burden on every one of us to deal with this issue by putting pressure on the governments of these countries. They are living in denial of the need for basic human rights for these children. By visiting these countries or spending money there without protesting against their governments’ record on the treatment of children, we are effectively sending them the signal that we are happy to accept their shortcomings.

“I urge people to research this issue and write to these countries’ embassies protesting against their record on the treatment of children in care.”

Hi guys,

I’d just like to ask you all to sign our online petition to cut VAT on condoms across the EU. The campaign is really important because as we approach World Aids Day, we want to remind governments that AIDS is still an issue, and within the EU it remains as much of a problem as elsewhere. The common tariff for VAT on condoms would be a step closer to getting a common, unified policy for dealing with AIDS.

Please, please take 2 minutes to sign our petition!!! I will be delivering it personally to the ECOFIN Council which gathers all 27 finance ministers from across the EU. Your contribution is important.

Simply log onto: http://www.socialistgroup.eu/gpes/petition.do?lg=en

Thanks

Niamh

P.S. Thank you to those of you who have already signed!

SDLP Youth Vice Chair Peter Armstrong has called on MEPs to support EU legislation to lower roaming charges when the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

He said: “The Austrian initiative will see a price cap put on roaming charges, gradually decreasing in cost over the next three years. It was a deal agreed by EU officials at the eleventh hour after initial opposition from the British and French governments. SDLP Youth are calling on MEPs to support the legislation which could see roaming charges reduced in time for this summer when many people will be travelling abroad.”

“In Northern Ireland, mobile operators over-charging has a huge effect on small businesses that make cross-border calls and people living in border areas. Some European consumers pay up to €12 a minute for pan-European calls. If the legislation is not enacted at this month’s plenary meeting, it will be too late for this summer when the mobile operators make their billions from over-charging tourists.”

SDLP Youth Vice Chair Peter Armstrong has called on the UK government to stop postponing and start supporting an EU initiative to lower roaming charges.

He said: “The Austrian Delegates to the European Parliament are currently trying to introduce legislation that will significantly reduce roaming charges, but the British government is opposed to the reductions.

“Britain is taking the side of the mobile operators over consumers. Consumers have long been ripped off, nowhere more than in Ireland. Exorbitant roaming charges need to end. The charges do not reflect the actual costs incurred by operators. The over-charging has a huge effect on small businesses that make cross-border calls, as well as people living along the border who are constantly changing networks.

“The UK government wants pricing to remain unchanged - leaving some European consumers paying up to €12 a minute for calls. They want customers to have to opt-in to any price caps, meaning that the networks could continue to inflict higher charges on unsuspecting customers.

The SDLP and SDLP Youth have campaigned for many years against roaming charges, meeting with governments, regulators and operators. This legislation is vitally important but time is running out. If the legislation is to be enacted for this summer when the mobile phone operators make billions from over-charging, the EU Parliament must pass legislation before June. ”

SDLP Youth Representative Peter Armstrong has voiced concerns to the European Socialist Youth Congress currently being held in Poland that our local MEPs are failing to represent Northern Ireland in Europe.

Speaking from Warsaw he said: “SDLP Youth have a unique opportunity to meet with political youth groups and MEPs this weekend at the ECOSY Congress in Warsaw.

“It strikes me that the SDLP are the only party representing the people of Northern Ireland at these events. Our local MEPs are opposed to the whole European project; they use Europe only for electoral gain, and completely forget about providing any kind of voice for Northern Ireland.

“All of Europe and further a field are watching news that the NI Assembly will finally move forward with a power-sharing partnership on May 8th. But European ministers won’t be discussing the news with our elected MEPs because they are absent from Brussels - not one of our 3 MEPs even managed to attend the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

“On the few occasions that they have attended the Parliament, Bairbre de Brun and Jim Allister have used it for point scoring on domestic issues – leaving the Europeans baffled and local people wondering why they were elected.”

SDLP Youth Representatives Noeleen Higgins and Peter Armstrong are attending the European Community Organisation of Socialist Youth (ECOSY) Congress in Warsaw, Poland.

Noeleen Higgins said: “This congress provides a unique moment for SDLP Youth and all member organizations to strengthen and advance our positions in Europe.

“The SDLP have always been a party for Europe and this position will not change as our youth group continues to work hard to develop and maintain strong links with our European colleagues.

“SDLP Youth are looking to the future with our social democratic friends in Europe and are ready to face the future challenges that an evolving Europe will bring.”

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ECOSY.org