“On Friday about a thousand European citizens, representatives of the organisations of civil society and elected representatives at the local, regional, national and European level participated in a human chain around the Rond-point Schuman, right in the heart of Brussels “quartier européen”.
This event was organised by the Union of European Federalists in collaboration with the Intregroup European Constitution within the European Parliament on the occasion of the European Council meeting in Laeken.
There cannot be a strong Europe with weak institutions, and there cannot be strong institutions if their democratic legitimacy is not reinforced, the organisers stated afterwards in a press release.
“If the EU does not manage a qualitative leap of its political system, Europe will be condemned to institutional paralysis – be incapable of governing the Euro, acting on the international scene, efficiently contributing to maintaining world peace, fighting against terrorism and defending Europeans’ security. It will be left to the financial markets and incapable of facing the challenges of globalisation,” the organisers stated.
Among the participants were Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-President of the Group of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, Virgilio Dastoli, Spokesman for the Permanent Forum for Civil Society, Andrew Duff, MEP (ELDR, UK) and Fernand Herman, President of the U.E.F.-Belgium, Jo Leinen, MEP (PSE, D) and President of the Union of European Federalists, Cecilia Malmström, MEP (ELDR)”
The comrades are taking to the streets! From every slum and factory the oppressed of the earth are pouring forth onto the blood-spattered cobbles of Belgium and putting up the barricades. This is revolution and the air is thick with popular slogans such as:
“If the EU does not manage a qualitative leap of its political system, Europe will be condemned to institutional paralysis”
How cleverly it rolls off the tongue and sears into the heart of every visionary as they storm the steps of the Winter Palace.
Bureaucrats, lobbyists, statisticians and office-holders unite! You have nothing to lose but your weekly column in the departmental newletter
“WHAT TO WE WANT?”
“MORE FOOD SAFETY LAWS”
“WHEN DO WE WANT THEM?”
“NOW!”
