Social Europe

I am a male swedish highscool teacher, 35years of age, diagnosed with asperger’s syndrome and adhd as an adult. Since I has chose to be open about my diagnosis to reduce predujice and sometimes get support from society I have been subjected to discrimination numerous times from among others: Swedish authorities, Swedish schools and Swedish counties. The treatment of people with these conditions is a true modern human rights disaster! On the 1st of may 2017 for the first time In my life, I therefore chose to march with a sign saying “equal rights despite ADHD, Asperger’s” to press the importance of these issues! I marched together with my dear comrades in the beautiful and sunny city of Borås in Sweden! Shortly after the march, I showed papers from Swedish Social Security Authorities denying me a disability equal to 25% reduction of full time working ability. Authorities mock me for having Asperger’s syndrome and consider that the right job for me would be something within my areas of interests, where I have little or no contact with people, and all days are predictable and free of stress! Please let met get back to this pressing and very important issue once again when I have time! By this post I hope to inspire other young social democats around in Europe to work for human rights for people who have conditions like Asperger’s, ADHD and so son. I also hope to inspire other grassroot politicians like me who also might have neuropsyhicatric conditions like ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, Dyslexia, Tourettes syndrome and so on to come foward and help in the struggle for equal rights! Regards Rikard Grossman-Nielsen

The frontier between personal and professional life is getting blurry. The time we dedicate to work as well as where we work are getting confused. You might not be always working, you might be working intensively for a few months in a year, you might work for 10 years in your life. Paths of life are now far from unique. We cannot disregard the fact that flexibility is crucial to our modern world; wether it is forced or chosen for better or worse this flexibility became for many of us a way of life. For some it creates de facto a fluctuent and unreliable income, which is everyday’s headache as soon as you are looking for a flat, paying your taxes or social contributions. For others it encourages to choose a path “risk free”, following the safer path of life, out of fear. At the same time many activities essential to a functioning society are not gratified by any remuneration. When we invest time to take care of our community, your social contribution needs to be rewarded. I’m not contending there should be a remuneration there, but that we should, as social democrats recognise the social contribution made. That is why I believe that as progressives we should provide “law” to this new reality. It is important to adapt to this urge for flexibility in a part of the society but should not get abused by people confusing flexibility with legal insecurity; communities need legal safety to flourish and show their full potential. Legislations favouring involvement at the European level, with the definitive aim to provide for a minimum wage and an European Universal Income coupled with the recognition of harmonised rights; all are not just about fairness, it will simplify life of businesses and administrations all across the EU, by making sure that one internal market really means one.

Social Europe needs to support, empower, encourage and mobilize the EU citizens for changes, Social engagement in justice, inclusion for all no matter Disabilities, race, gender, ethnicity. Justice under ONE law, european constitution and federal gentrification. Human rights Protection, common tax implementation, one commonly voted legislation for tax equality. Centralized education for People’s direct connection to the free market, occupational stabilit, chances for emplyement for all. Financial support from the European Finance Central Bank for all the Youth Entrepreneurship, empowerment for the institutional research, Best Practices exchange for the Students Community. Access go health and treatment for all, free drug policy, update and upgrade of the medical research for chronicle diseases. Social Europe needs to run with one accelerate and follow one and only policy.

We can progress with change, and only if we change our minds we can make a Social Europe. However, we can do that only if we are able to answer the how question. The Gothenburg Statement on Social Europe has answered to the what and the why questions, but we still need to answer to the most important one: How? How do we do a Social Europe? So far as a group we have not been able to speak and listen to ordinary people. The plan is great! But the structure is not easy to be understood in the whole EU. As Max Weber said: “Politics is made with the head, not with other parts of the body or soul”… but on the Brussels leg of Europe Together, on 19 October, the Mayor of Charleroi, Mr Paul Magnette said: “We [socialists and democrats] lost the elections but we have a soul.” Soul is not enough as Weber teaches us. We need a strong and smart head. We need to be able to talk to those in difficulties, to those that are not able to understand the complexities of the European Institutions and its policy making procedures. Therefore, we should question ourselves: Are we able to give voice to the voiceless? Those of us that participate in these events are lucky enough to have opportunities, but are we able to speak to unemployed people that struggle everyday for a piece of bread and to feed their children? Are we able to guarantee that the future of Europe is with a stronger European Union? If we show the way forward, if we explain how to achieve a Social Europe, then we will able to face the far-right populism, unfortunately in the rise in the whole EU. We need to go in the field, we need to be with the people, we need to ask them about their daily struggles and problems. We need to address the challenges of ordinary European citizens. This is the way forward for a Social Europe!

Social Europe would mean to achieve an common behavior and goal setting for all European citizens and future citizens. Which still means that we need to highlight and retain every countries individualistic charisma. It is very important to maintain this line between each countries own politics and European politics. It is healthy to keep an direct political decisions between the citizens and its own country in first place. Gradually in order to keep up with this pace of globalization we have to increase the Eu-politics direct affection and other influences. By working together and bringing up these big guidelines for countries and their municipalities, and most importantly guidelines that works in rural areas an not only the capitals and other big cities. Rather having personal growth as a goal rather than a growing wallet. Social Europe means to include everyone, and mostly to focus on those who are in need, and to bring up countries that really needs everyone’s collaboration in order to survive, without leaving successful areas unheard. It is all about finding the balance between benefits, greed, solidarity and generosity. Social Europe means putting together a big force and stand against China, USA and Russia mostly. Not to fight, or negotiate at our own benefits, but to show them how we want to live on this earth, in peace, as we teach our children. Social Europe is about representation. We should work close to media and to not let it be owed by the elite, people should have the right to hear the truth, and we have to work actively against any kind of corruption from the top of the hierarchy. It should be about representation inside of every governing body in our nations. It is about free trade and the expansion of Schengen areas in Europe. We should aim to make every country in Europe attractive and affordable to our citizens, it should not be a class question if you have the opportinuty to free education nor healthcare, we have to achieve this as an human right. Because right now, we are loosing so much creativity and possibilities as human beings living on this earth, the lack of free education and healthcare for example is a big treath and should be a priority in Europe. Social Europe should be more about the interests of the majority and not the minority. I am talking about the elite, creating this twenty four hour consumption society, setting our standards as workers, making us suffer. Making us consume as if we had unlimited resources, as if the ozone-layer do not need our support, as if our beautiful seas need more plastic in it, as if we lived in a planet we do not care about. Sustainable energy is definitely my field, and let me keep this short. To make Europe function in a way more sustainable way is close, and the truth is, we have all of the technology and knowledge that is needed. But we are not working active enough and I will not be the one telling our polar bear-fellows that their land are melting away in our greed and egoism. We have to put pressure on these big companies and manufacturers, who produces all of these plastic bags, pet-bottles, cars, foods, clothes and everything we can touch, eat or use. This is not an okay behavior, and EU need to take the power to at least ban these products that we use everyday, that is killing our ozone and our bodies and to control what we eat. Stop making it beneficial for the elite to go around these circumstances, this earth is as much as mine as theirs, and we should protect what we value as human beings in this earth. Honestly, if you want to know the truth I am tired of these discussions back and forth, issues regarding poverty, segregation, gender equality, unemployment, prostitution and sextrades, healthcare, education, war and so on.. Most of it comes down to behaviors, and how to change these standard and traditional way of thinking and acting, and to allow the modern reality to kick in. As my friend said: “Politicians are talking about integration, reduction of unemployment and criminality. But are shadowing the facts that segregation is a product of racism, and the ignorance of structurally building these apartments so tall, that it looks like they will fall down from the sky anytime. Putting people of color in all different kind of cages and expecting them to apply for jobs, where the employer only reads your foreign name on the application and then skips it. And now we are putting the demands on these same citizens, and also asking why hatred and racist parties have been growing?” And then you all ask why it is a big amount if people who are not voting in the EU-elections and national election in our own countries. You do not care enough for “everyday people”. Even myself, and those who represent justice and equality, have not enough experience of it, we are mostly wealthier people compared to the average, with mostly privileged backgrounds. Meaning, a lot of people are unheard. And we can not represent their voices without giving them the ability to speak. I can go on all day, but to keep it short. Europe should not be afraid of change or the youth, let the innovative minds create magic. We need to change our behavior and to not hide our real problems under our own feet. We have big challenges in Europe and we need to face them, then aim for bigger projects. And to set standards for the other continents to get inspired and eventually collaborate as a big force for once. Patience is not only the key, we have to know how to solve these issues in order to open the borders with the key. I hope my message was reached. I would love to come and discuss more about my concerns! Sincerely, A 20-year young but old firefighter named Kimiya Espahbodi, from Stockholm Sweden.

We are closer to the next technological revolution, in few years all aspects of our lives can be totally transformed. More than ever is necessary to strengthen our syndicates and workers’ rights as we go through this. Also to be aware of the dangers, identify and implement better practice and preparation of consequences of artificial intelligence will have in people’s jobs. I belive Artificial intelligence can be the better thing for humanity only if we can think and implement a new progressive, humanist and strongly social economy before.

In many developed countries we can check that people have Education as the most important force of progress and innovation. And they are right! But as we know fight to have more competencies and education is not always easy and it can be expensive. Not just because of the fees, but in many times people go to study very far from home. And it can difficult a lot the life of families with less budget. When I talk to people of Government of Portugal about reduce the fees to 0, a dream of a lot of families, we came with a conclusion that to do it happen it takes a very large rise of taxes. So we need to think Together! Rise our ambicions when the matter is education is very important for all Europe but can be for people that want to come live or make business here too. Lets take it as debate to make High and Common Education as one of the top priorities in the EU Budget. For more equality of opportunities.

It’s a cliché, yes, but the most important thing the Europe must do is bring people closer to each other. Democracy is based on the idea that everyone has a vote, yet it really doesn’t seem that everyone’s voice is heard. This isn’t something that can be changed easily. Most of the people live their busy lives with barely any time to think about politics or what is happening outside or town, let alone country. The little information we get is from evening news and online headlines that are mostly wrapped in sensationalism and are presented in a dramatic way, pitching people, companies and governments against each other to make the story more intriguing and interesting. I’m our minds, the world becomes a hostile place and we assume the appropriate attitude towards anything outside our trusted, comfort zone. Yet we should not thrive to be hostile. We are at the point in humanity’s development where we need to realise that hostility can’t bring us any good. People need to become aware that their well being and well being of their descendants directly depends on the well being of someone on the other side of the world. Peace is the only way forward. But how to accomplish this? With technology allowing for instant communication between us and any place in the world we really should be using it much more. While Erasmus is a great way to get university students exposed to different cultures, we can do more. We could be exposing much younger students by connecting two classes from different countries from the start of their education and have them communicate via video conference on a regular basis with an adaptive and planned programe. 1st class students could be singing each other their countries popular children’s songs with teachers translating/explaining. They could be sending each other drawings of other town’s landmarks. Older students could be teaching each other some words in their languages. They could be congratulating each other holidays, even if it isn’t a holiday in their own country. The idea is to have the same class communicate during extended period of time, as long as possible and get them to make friends from across the continent even tho in most cases they can’t understand each other. This will facilitate precious cultural exchange and make younger generations aware that other country is not some imaginary land from from movies but an actual place with people that are just like them. The classes could even visit each other once! In general we need more examples of unity and working together to achieve something that benefits all. These stories should be promoted and people and companies that are working on projects with partners across the borders need to be rewarded Sharing of ideas and philosophies and putting them together always brings extraordinary results. People need more than phrases and political participation, they need to feel united! The only way for progressiveness to win is to make us care about someone far away. In that case not everything needs to benefit us directly, when we care about someone far away we will still be satisfied if they benefited from a new policy or a change.

The recent financial and economic crisis has led to more economic exclusion: EU’s answer, mainly austerity measures, has proven to be unsuccessful in several occasions. This should be rectified: Europe needs a strong integrated market, but at the same time workers’ rights shouldn’t be put aside. Besides, the problems that newer generations face should be taken in account more seriously: in a globalized word, Europe offers highly specialized jobs, but it has not been able to create a system that provides the necessary education to everyone. High tuition fees exclude part of the population, creating – on the short, medium, and long run – economic exclusion. To conclude, the European Union and its members must implement new policies and promote reforms that can strengthen European workers’ rights. However, the peculiarities of the various member states should be respected: “one-size-fits-all” models are rarely successful.

Italy, as it is known, is having much more difficulties, than most other European countries, in emerging from the economic crisis. An unbridgeable-looking discrepancy opened up between the left wing and the subordinate working-class, who live in precarious conditions. At the moment, the existence of a concretely progressive force, which could at least offer some sort of social redemption, is called into question. The gap between the Italian center left and the younger generations seems even bigger. For the afore mentioned reasons, I am very impressed by the path taken up by Jeremy Corbyn, appreciated and supported by the younger generations because capable of conciliating innovation and tradition. I would like to create and be part of a group of people who could plan and propose social inclusion paths, capable of giving again hope to the new generations.

Europe means unity and diversity that gives the right to everybody to live their Life according to the same background and history.

As Europe geographically means us, Union literally means us. “One for all and all for one” is what I want to see. As we get to hear very loudly just some voices, we should work to hear everyone’s voice. There are no ghosts in real life, so why create them?

I wish that in Europe one day will be easer to go to study abroad (Europe) for university and I wish that life for students will be cheaper

Take decisive action to reduce alcohol related harm across the European Union Reason for amendment: Harms related to high levels of alcohol use are a heavy burden on public health, social welfare and economic productivity in the European Union. Europe is the heaviest alcohol consuming region in the world. High levels of alcohol consumtion inhibits upwards social convergence between European regions and EU member states and has significant negative effects on the quality of life in the EU. For example: • Between 5 and 9 million children in the EU live in families where alcohol is abused. • Alcohol is the third biggest cause of preventable death and disease in Europe, and is a risk factor for over 60 chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and liver disease. It is also linked to obesity. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for ill-health and premature death for those aged 25 to 59, the core of Europe’s working age population. • The financial costs of alcohol-related harm are colossal – up to €155.8 billion a year, according to figures used by the European Commission • 60% of EU citizens surveyed in the RARHA SEAS study reported being harmed due to others’ drinking in the past 12 months. 20% reported serious harm such as being harmed physically, getting in a serious argument, being driven by a drunken driver or being involved in a traffic accident related to drunk driving. • There are large differences between EU member states when it comes to alcohol related harm. For example, reported serious harm was over 40% in Lithuania and around 10% in Sweden, Austria and Hungary. Example of concrete actions that can be taken: • Renewed EU alcohol strategy • Higher EU minimum excise duties on alcoholic beverages • Ban on alcohol commercials during hours of peak television viewing by minors • Stronger action on drink driving throughout the EU • Lower the levels of alcohol that can be transported between member states by private individuals without paying excise duty in the country of entry • Ensure that alcoholic beverages are not exempted from nutritional or content labelling

To cope with demographic challenges and the impact of a growing digital economy, we must:

Develop new ways to guarantee workers’ rights and representation, decent working conditions, fair competition and social protection in the “fourth industrial revolution”.

Organise the portability of workers’ rights as they move around in the European digital labour market.

Extend collective agreements to individuals engaged in new digital forms of work.

Mitigate the risk of brain drain by investing in measures supporting circular migration, and ensuring mobility is not the result of inadequate employment opportunities or social protections.

Invest in active ageing and enable people reaching pensionable age to have the option to continue working while being able to draw partially on their pension if they work less than full-time.

***

All your comments and amendments will be taken into account and debated during our next TOGETHER event in Tallinn, Estonia.

The Progressives wish to create a Social Europe and will fight for it… But I am wondering how we will do it, the project is good in theory but its implementation is on the fence, we just need to look at the political orientation of the governments in Europe. The entire Europe is moving to the right wing, from the West to the East, the South slightly resisting. When I look at the French elections’ results, I still feel more sceptical. Admittedly, if Macron wins, it’s not the worst choice for Europe but it’s definitely not the best for a Social Europe. It is more than necessary for the Socialists to go back to their roots, to go on the streets, to go to the social outcast, to the workers… because today, we can definitely see that their votes go to people like Trump, Le Pen, Wilders, … I also think that it is important to reshape the “socialism” and to give its values back. Too many people became affiliated for self-interests or to gain power. Indeed, I don’t see socialism in the French government, I don’t see socialism in some S&D MEPs discourses…or votes, and I don’t see socialism in my hometown when I look at the Publifin scandal (Liège, Wallonia, Belgium).

et même, tout est dans le titre

TFEU. SECTION 2: AIDS GRANTED BY STATES Edit Article 107 Edit (ex Article 87 TEC) 1. Save as otherwise provided in the Treaties, any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the internal market.

European identity should be reinforced along with the existing national identity in order to create togetherness and build solidarity bonds among all Europeans . Staying together , be united means sharing all the positive and negative factors and promoting human rights without compromises. This is the Europe, this is the union we should be aiming at. Supporting each other, creating a homely feeling for all Europeans wherever they live, strengthening the feeling of belonging in the same family would positively expand the framework of european values and reinforce the feeling of security.

The EU should thrive towards establishing directives for the progressive increase of the budget for Research and Development among all member countries.

Too long we have talked about social Europe without it becoming a reality. Yet it is clear today that we need Europe to protect and enhance social standards in order to secure people’s belief in the European project. The revision of the posted workers’ directive will be the opportunity to stop social dumping and unfair practices and will benefit all European workers. Decent common standards in terms of minimum wage need to be established, either by law or collective bargaining to stop the race to the bottom. We advocate for the ban of 0-hour contracts and for employee status to be recognised more systematically in the shared economy. In the wake of digitalisation, we advocate for a working time reduction in the context of providing decent work for all.

Civic values consist of team spirit, open and critical relation towards any social power or new idea. The negation of civic values is despotism, autocracy, centralism and, on other side of the problem, reluctance to accept group norms, selfish behaviour and non-participation and lack of social and group responsibility. Not understanding the crucial role of civic values toward social and economic development has been the main European error, leading to decadence and loss of cohesion. Maybe the most developed countries are those that benefit from central geographic position and a history that enhanced civic values. This inter-cultural and macro-cultural approach must be on debate, benefitting from Max Weber, Sidney and Verba, Putnam, Hofstede, Inglehart, Acemoglu and Robison, as others.

Making the EU trade policy more transparent and aimed at enhancing EU standards globally.

Active promotion of the core European values through Member States’ educational systems. These include, but are not limited to, Openness, Inclusivity, Diversity, Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights. Should the EU wish to remain the most ambitious project of integration between peoples, it should promote the creation of physical spaces to stimulate dialogue between people. The Court of Justice of the European Union, as the ultimate enforcer and implementer of EU Law, should keep these values to the highest standards when delivering its decisions.