Articles

Towards a European citizenship: the importance of civil society – Nouvelle Europe’s activities

By Alexandra Yaghil | 26 February 2013

“Today there is a European nationality, just as at the time of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides there was a Greek nationality.” Victor Hugo felt it, it has become a fact: we, Europeans, different in so many ways, have decided to walk a common path towards an increasingly united Europe. Nevertheless, European citizenship strongly remains passive. And, if our common identity is undeniable, it does not seem to be entrenched in Europeans’ consciousness. Only mutual understanding can lead the European project towards a continental and historic achievement. In consequence, there is a necessity to promote mobility and information; such are Nouvelle Europe's objectives.

The ‘League of Young Voters’ in Europe, an on-going project initiated by the European Youth Forum

By Capucine Goyet | 6 February 2013

The European Youth Forum is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. As an independent, democratic, youth-led NGO, it “strives for youth rights and works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives”. And yet, reality sometimes proves an obstacle to the will of empowerment. We are currently witnessing the gradual decrease in youth electoral participation, especially at the European level. Facing the problem, the European Youth Forum decided to launch a new initiative: the League of Young Voters, with the aim of bringing youth to the forefront of the next European electoral campaign.

Nouvelle Europe organizes a day-seminar on European Youth and Education programmes

By Alexandra Yaghil | 5 February 2013

On January 25th, 2013, Nouvelle Europe guided a group of local representative and youth workers from Paris region for a day-seminar in Brussels aimed at raising awareness on European programs for youth, and especially on the programme "Youth in Action". Three different conferences provided the group with complementary visions and information on existing programmes and guidelines for their use. The various questions raised by the current negotiations on the future EU budget were also debated.

The negotiations about the budget: A happy ending tragedy?

By Chloé Fabre | 4 February 2013

“If you do not believe in miracles, you should not work in European affairs” said a German official about the budget negotiations. In fact, these negotiations highlight the lack of solidarity among member states in a time of crisis, and give an example of European disintegration.

Democratic deficit and public opinion in the EU: A trust issue?

By Rose Lemardeley | 4 February 2013

The rejection of the constitutional treaty by referendum in France and in the Netherlands in 2005, as well as the current threat of an in/out referendum on the EU in Great Britain, has cast light on the enduring debate about the democratic deficit and the crisis of legitimacy in the EU. What is at stake and are there possible ways out of this doom and gloom?

Bulgaria, Romania and the UK: economic aspects of migration or more?

By Mila Moshelova | 4 February 2013

With the fast approaching end of labour restrictions of the 2007 EU Enlargement countries Bulgaria and Romania, reluctance grows in the UK, forming a complex political debate. Are concerns only with regard to the protection of national economy or do they have some broader significance too? This article assesses the main elements of this debate in a UK, EU and UK-EU context.

Reinforcing or disintegrating the EU? The case of Scotland

By Arielle Giovannoni | 4 February 2013

Scotland has a history of its own when it comes to the concept of Union. From the Act of Union in 1707 with England and Scotland forming Great Britain, to the Scottish Devolution referendum in 1997 and the upcoming independence referendum in 2014, is Scotland setting a precedent also in the European Union?

The UK Independence Party – A party ready to rule?

By Delphine Roulland | 4 February 2013

The speech delivered by David Cameron on the future of the UK membership of the EU, on 23 January 2013, caused mixed reactions – astonishment, anger, or even a sense of victory for some. Thrilled that an in-or-out referendum has now been offered, UKIP believes they 'will deliver what David Cameron will not'. But can they?

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