Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), led by the Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, won the parliamentary elections in Croatia held on 25th November 2007. It achieved 34.9% of the votes, meaning 43.1% of the seats in the Croatian Parliament, thus once again strengthening its position as the strongest party in Croatia. The HDZ has achieved the best individual result at every election since Croatian independence. The turnout of the elections was 63.53%.
The results will be made official only at the beginning of December, but the breakdown is as follows(click for full size):
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In late October Lisbeth Sejer Goetzsche was elected president of the Nordic Youth Council. Lisbeth is a member of Young Conservatives (Konservativ Ungdom) in Denmark and also the secretary general of the Nordic Young Conservative Union (NUU).
The Nordic Youth Council consists of all the political youth organizations in the five Nordic countries. The Nordic Youth Council also has representation in the Nordic Council. The work of the Youth Council is to lobby the Nordic Council to incorporate the Youth Councils resolutions into Nordic legislation and to give the youth a voice.
http://www.norden.org/unr/ |
PORTUGUESE YOUTH EVENT
“Volunteering: A Challenge for Youth Empowerment in the 21st Century”
Lisbon, 15-17 September 2007
The Youth Event of the Portuguese Presidency was held in Lisbon from 15 to 17 September 2007, hosted by the Portuguese Government and organized in close cooperation between the Portuguese Youth Institute (IPJ) and the Portuguese National Youth Council (CNJ), with the participation of the European Youth Forum (YFJ). Participants in the event were representatives of the National Youth Councils of the EU Member States, candidate countries and EFTA countries, as well as a range of International Non-Governmental Youth Organizations. DEMYC was represented by Manos Andritsoyannis, member of ONNED, Greece.
The event followed the publication of the European Commission Communication on “Promoting young people’s full participation in education, employment and society” and preceded the adoption of a Council resolution on voluntary activities of young people, focused especially on the theme of volunteering. Furthermore, there were six working groups working more in depth in the following six sub-themes:
- The role of young people in the European Construction
- Employment and Entrepreneurship
- Social inclusion and equal opportunities for all
- Youth participation and structured dialogue
- Non formal education
- Volunteering
I participated in the second working group, namely “Employment & Entrepreneurship”, having as main issue the ‘hot potato’ called flexicurity. The voices were different but all very powerful. Of course there was also a complete denial to even discuss the subject, coming especially from some “leftist” organizations, but finally the majority recognized that every proposal should at least be discussed before being disapproved. The final statement about this issue was that youth organizations should be given an active role in the flexicurity debate, especially on the occasion of the adoption of national strategies on flexicurity in 2008. Moreover, the European Commission needs to develop a study on the financing of flexicurity in different national contexts and public authorities at all levels should spread accessible and clear information on flexicurity.
Furthermore, our group stated that national authorities’ analyses on labour market trends need to be publicized more as such information would help young people choosing their career in full knowledge of existing opportunities while it would allow the better adaptation of educational programmes to the needs present in the labour market. Moreover youth organizations and social partners should work together to improve the situation of youth in the labour market, with a special focus on disadvantaged groups, because youth organizations are better equipped to reach excluded youth, while social partners are experts on employment issue. Volunteering is at the basis of competences skills and expertise which are greatly needed in labour market, youth organizations and social partners need to cooperate more to improve recognition of volunteering in labour market.
These are some of the main conclusions of the group I took part. Below you can download the full text of the conclusions of the Lisboan seminar.
Finally I have to point out that DEMYC is no longer a simple observer to the EYF events and this is of course a result that stems from the hard work that the people of DEMYC who are appointed to participate in the EYF events have done over the last two years. DEMYC’s voice is strongly heard, our candidates are elected and the results of the EYF events have become more objective.
Manos Andritsoyannis
ONNED, Greece
manosandritsoyannis@hotmail.com
On November 10th Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) convened its Congress. A new Chairman was elected and a new Board was formed.
The Congress was also an important bridging event for the party in between the Parliamentary elections in May of this year and the upcoming presidential elections in February 2008. In Parliamentary elections RPA accomplished almost impossible, the Party not only managed to maintain the majority it has been enjoying in the previous two convocations but also achieved the strongest vote ever by earning 65 out of 131 seats in Parliament in May. This result also meant that party can put forth its candidate for the upcoming presidential elections with much confidence in his victory. The Congress approved the candidacy of the newly re-elected Chairman of the party, Prime-Minister Serge Sarkissian, to be the RPA contender in the Presidential elections of the next year.
The recent polls conducted by British ComRes, one of Europe’s most renowned public survey agencies, indicate extremely high level of popularity of Serge Sarkissian. Surveys showed him to be the leader in all wide range of questions posed (who would be most the pertinent candidate to promote of economic growth, social welfare, national security, etc). 67 percent of voters expect him to be elected as the next President and 38 percent of voters would have voted in his favour if elections had taken place tomorrow (the rest of the votes being dispersed among the other 11 candidates). ComRes, thus, predicts a strong victory for Serge Sarkissian and even doubts that there will be a necessity for a second round.
Strength of the RPA and the growing popularity of the party are easily explainable through the dynamics of progress of the country since the time the Party became the ruling political force in Armenia. For the recent seven years Armenia, despite the continuing blockade by two of its neighbours Turkey and Azerbaijan, through well-thought economic policies has managed to achieve as experts put it an economic miracle, i.e. maintaining two-digit growth levels for the past seven years, which in 2006 according to IMF experts placed Armenia as the 5th fastest growing economy in the world (in the scale of 181 countries)! This has had a tangible impact on the quality of life of people especially through implementation of targeted social policies to avoid asymmetrical disbursement of gains from growth.
The Government is committed to maintain the current high levels of growth, however, challenging the tusk may seem. Currently, the budget for 2008 is being created in the Government. The document has distinctly social nature, aiming at a balanced distribution of the benefits of envisaged economic growth. Social expenditures have to boost by 46 percent in comparison with 2007, as well as science, health and education will enjoy of about 20 percent enlarged financings from the state budget. The experts have already classified Budget 2008 as the most ambitious budget to be ever introduced in the National Assembly. In general the document puts considerable pressure on the Government by envisaging serious increases both in revenues and expenditures in 2008.
To many these goals sound as heavily obliging and highly ambitious. So has been the path of RPA, that started from a desperate underground fight of a handful of people against the Soviet regime to today’s powerful structure, a path that proves that when you not only dream for the best but work passionately and love unconditionally, the country of your dreams can become closer day by day through every new step accomplished.
Lucine Haroutunian
YRPA International Secretary
Advisor to the DEMYC Bureau
20 November 2007
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Elisa Reynolds is the new DEMYC Head of Office in Brussels. She was born in Lisbon and she has recently graduated in History of Art at Lisbon University. Elisa is a JP (Juventude Popular) member, where she worked at a District and National level. She is now living in Brussels and attending to a Masters program on Iberian and Latin American Studies at Leuven University. |
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16th October Croatia was elected a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 period with 184 votes in the third round of a ballot held in the UN General Assembly. | "It is a big success and the result of the work of all Croatian generations, representing the final affirmation and strengthening of Croatia's position in the world with which the accomplishment of the remaining two goals, membership of the EU and NATO, will be much easier." Prime Minister Ivo Sanader stated.
Darija Jurica
MDHZ
DEMYC SUMMER SCHOOL
Portorož, Slovenia
29 August - 2 September 2007
"The environment is ours!"
"Healthy environments for a healthy life"
This years DEMYC Summer School took place in Portorož, Slovenia in corporation with NG SLS and SDY. DEMYC is grateful for the host organisations big work in keeping DEMYC on the top as the best youth political learning organisation. A special thanks to Matjaz Marincic og Urska Toplak who spent a lot of effort in organising the event.
 
 
More photos from the event is to be found in the DEMYC Photo Album
Downloads:
 Download: govcomms DEMYC Portoroz TS 070831v01.ppt (4 MB)
The conference took place 17-18 September with a broad range of youth political organisations. Download the report by Agata Granatowska here:
Download: 07-Lisbon-report.pdf (70 KB)
Greece's ruling Nea Dimokratia won a second mandate in elections on Sunday.
"We owe it to all Greeks, whatever they voted, to move ahead quickly, with determination and take the country forward," prime minister Kostas Karamanlis said after receiving a mandate to form a government from the President of Greece.
Karamanlis, 51, had easily won the 2004 election, becoming the youngest prime minister in modern Greek history. He called the snap poll in August, sure his economic record - 4.4 percent economic growth and reduction of unemployment - would secure victory. But last month's massive forest fires that killed 65 people turned a large number of voters away.
 
 
Nea Dimokratia managed to win 41.8 percent, thus 152 of parliament's 300 seats, as thousands of supporters celebrated in central Athens, waving flags, blaring horns and setting off flares. The Socialists took 38.1 percent of the vote, or 102 seats, a loss of 15 seats.
The government must now overhaul a pension system expected to go bust in 15 years due to an ageing population, and push through a series of privatisations and education reforms.
Popular Orthodox Alarm party, or LAOS, became the first far-right party to enter parliament since 1977, playing on public discontent at a wave of immigration with firebrand nationalist rhetoric and winning 3.6 percent of the vote and 10 seats.
PASOK appeared unable to capitalise on the government's woes, with many voters not ready to forgive the socialists for their scandals over 20 years in power.
In the new cabinet, several ministries were merged, including the Interior and Public Order ministries and the Aegean and Merchant Marine ministries, reducing Cabinet size from 18 to 16. Four of the new ministers are former presidents of ONNED.
Costas Papachlimintzos
DEMYC Vice-Chairman
Mr. George Papanikolaou, President of ONNED
Mr. Yannis Smyrlis, International Secretary of ONNED
Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, International Secretary of Nea Demokratia, former chairman of DEMYC
September 1, 2007
Dear Yorgos, Dear Yannis, Dear Stavros,
Dear Friends,
The shock and sadness that we felt, after hearing the news of the fires that are devastating the beautiful landscape of Greece and which result to a great number of victims, is tremendous. The deadly forest fires that have been raging in Greece for the past week consist one of the worst natural disasters in the modern European history. Tens of people have died, homes have been destroyed, hundreds of animals have been burnt alive and thousands of hectares of forest land have been consumed.
Through this letter, we would like to express our deep sorrow for the loss of lives and the huge ecological disaster and convey a message of sympathy and solidarity to our friends in ONNED, and through them to the government and people of Greece, for the tragedy they experience.
DEMYC strongly condemns any kind of arsons, since these are widely perceived as the origin of many of the fires. DEMYC wishes that the endeavor of the Greek government of Nea Demokratia in finding the criminals and bringing them to justice will be rendered successful.
On this occasion, we urge the European Union to enhance and further advance the tools that will actualize one of the core values upon which united Europe is founded, the principle of solidarity.
On behalf of DEMYC,
Ines Elise Prainsack
DEMYC Chairwoman
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On Wendnesday June 20th the PETITION OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS on the consequences of the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline for the Baltic sea was signed. The project was the initiative of the DEMYC member organisation JKL.
Download:
Download: Baltic Sea 2007.pdf (1 MB) |
Pictures from the ceremony
  
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The Democratic Party (DS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), New Serbia (NS) and G17+ have finally agreed to form a government after almost four months of negotiations. The new Prime Minister is once again Vojislav Koštunica, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Serbia who has successfully led the previous government.
The formation of the government creates conditions for achieving much needed stability in the country which is the crucial precondition for Serbia to move forward. | The Parties have reached a full agreement over five crucial programme principles of government policy:
1. Dealing with issues of Kosovo and Metohija
2. European Integration
3. Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal
4. Social and economy policies and creating new jobs
5. Fight against crime and corruption
The second principle of the government’s policy is the European integration. The continuation of the process of Stabilization and Association is very important in terms of Serbia’s overall orientation towards the integration into European Union. In the upcoming days the European Commission will resume the Stabilization and Association talks with Serbia and hopefully SAA will be signed by the end of this year.
Serbia’s full membership is a clear commitment of every party in the government. Equally clear is the position of Serbia as a democratic European state which is against violation of the international law and independence of Kosovo and Metohija as such.
The big challenge for the Koštunica’s government is chairing the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. The Serbian government will put all its efforts in order to make this chairmanship useful in further improvement of the country’s position in the international community as well as promoting the values that Council of Europe stands for.
Besides Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, DSS will be presented in the Government by:
-Mr. Dragan Jočić, Minister of Interior
-Mr. Aleksandar Popović, Minister of Energy and Mining
-Mr. Predrag Bubalo, Minister of Trade and Services
-Mr. Zoran Lončar, Minister of Education
-Mr. Radomir Naumov, Minister of Religion
-Mr. Slobodan Samardzić, Minister for Kosovo and Metohija
There is no doubt that the new democratic and pro-European government will guarantee the implementation of tasks connected with Serbia’s efforts to join the European Union. The first step has already been accomplished: Serbia and the European Commission have initialized visa relaxations and readmission agreements. The Agreement on Visa Relaxations will facilitate the visa issuing procedure for businesspeople, students, experts, doctors, architects, sportspeople, artists and culture workers, civil society activists and other categories of Serbian citizens.
Mia Magazin
DEMYC Vice-Chairman |
Aleksandar Sukic
YDPS
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DEMYC Vice-Chairman Páll Heimisson reports on the recent election May 12th.
Download: Republic of Iceland Parliamentary Elections.pdf (88 KB)
Páll Heimisson, vice-chairman of DEMYC, took part in a steering committee meeting of Young Decision Makers Initiative of the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (www.iepfpd.org) on May 11 2007.
Dear Friends,
It is equally with pleasure and pride that I share with you the news on the outstanding victory of the mother party of YRPA, Republican Party of Armenia, in the Parliamentary elections of Armenia that took place on May 12, 2007. The Republican Party of Armenia has earned 65 MP seats in the total of 131 parliamentarian seats.
This is a remarkable victory since during the last elections the Republican Party has already hold the majority of 55 seats in the National Assembly, and not only maintaining but increasing the number of our MPs in the National Assembly was a very ambitious tusk to achieve. However, elections are a very pertinent chance for the people to give their evaluation to what has been achieved or on contrary promised and not delivered during the mandate of a given Parliament. Since the last elections the country has maintained a record pace of two-digit economic growth with the gains from growth going to less advantaged layers of population, an important Constitutional referendum was held that was decisive for allowing further democratic progress and most of the Armenian legislature has been brought in line with European standards. All of these and many other significant improvements made the progress quite visible and tangible in every day life of ordinary citizens, hence evaluation of Armenian people is evident in the increased vote for the Republican Party. Three out of four opposition parties in the National Assembly did not receive enough votes to re-enter the National Assembly, while a new opposition party managed to get to the National Assembly for the first time.
What I believe is also important about these elections, are the positive reports received from all of the observer organizations which were Council of Europe, European Parliament, OSCE and CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. In their reports the elections were classified as “free and fair/transparent/democratic/in correspondence with European standards” etc. Political stability and quality elections are among attributes that make Armenia favourably advantaged in the region, and as noted in the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana’s, congratulation message “this can also be a positive signal to other countries in the region.”
Basically at this moment the Republican Party of Armenia has gained such record number of votes that it has sufficient majority not to need to form any coalition in the National Assembly. However, consultations are taking place, and we are open for cooperation with all relevant political forces. June will conclude this exciting phase in Armenian political life as new leadership of the Parliament will be elected, the decision on existence of a coalition announced and a new Government will be formed. So keep tuned to more news from Armenia.
Lucine Haroutunian
YRPA International Secretary
Advisor to DEMYC Bureau
On the political scene of Serbia, the main topic still is future status of Kosovo and Metohija. In the first half of 2007 the final decision on the status will be taken by the UN Security Council. Serbia still hopes that there will be no violation of the international law which guarantees the integrity of each and every country.
Negotiations on the future government of Serbia are not in the focus because of the current situation of Kosovo and Metohija. Still, there is some progress and hopefully, Serbia will again have a democratic, pro-European government by the end of April.
 
 
Youth of Democratic Party of Serbia had its Congress on the 10th of March where new members of Presidency got elected. New chairman of the Youth of DSS is Dragan Danicic, and for the position of International Secretary, Andreja Milivojevic got re-elected. Ex-chairman and today the youngest DSS MP, Borko Ilic is elected as a Chairman of the National Youth Council.
Mia Magazin
DEMYC Vice-Chairman
Report on the Parliamentary elections 18 March 2007 in Finland by Henna Hopia.
Lowering voting ages to 16; the removal of visa obstacles; the election of a Constitutional Assembly that will establish a democratic Convention, and an EU wide referendum for the European Constitution, were among the demands made by participants at the Rome Youth Summit, held on 24-25 March 2007. The young people gathered at the Summit also called on EU institutions to increase the levels of youth participation in the democratic life of the Union and to engage in a true dialogue with youth organisations while ensuring their sustainability.
  
The Rome Youth Summit, organised by the EU institutions together with the European Youth Forum, brought together more than 200 young people, who had been involved in large consultations and national debates held prior to the summit in all 27 EU Member States.
DEMYC participated in this very significant event by its representatives Costas Papachlimintzos (DEMYC vice-chairman), Erik Paisley (member of KU) and Manos Andritsoyannis (member of ONNED). It was one of the few INGYOS that participated actively in the pre-summit in Brussels as well and that sent beforehand (after consulting its MO’s) its recommendations on the six topics of the final text, that was named the “Rome Youth Declaration”.
Gathering to mark the anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome, in the very same building where the Treaty was signed by the six founding Member States 50 years ago, the participants adopted a Rome Youth Declaration, voicing their main messages regarding the future of the European Union.
Young people called on EU institutions to include youth organisations and young people from diverse backgrounds in all youth-related decision-making processes. A concrete means to increase youth participation is to lower voting ages to 16, as has already happened in Austria. Moreover, the barriers that prevent young people from experiencing the full potential of Europe, and in particular, visa obstacles, need to be removed so as to strengthen civil society in Europe.
The delegates also urged the EU to increase its transparency in order to improve inclusion and trust in EU decision-making bodies. In particular, European institutions need to be reformed to ensure the European Commission is transformed into a true European executive body and the European Parliament into a true legislative one. Such reform requires a legitimate Constitution that can only be achieved through transparent and participatory procedures, such as the election of a Constitutional Assembly that will establish a democratic Convention and an EU-wide referendum
Download: Rome Youth Declaration.pdf (71 KB)
Costas Papachlimintzos
DEMYC Vice-Chairman
One of the newest members of the DEMYC family, ODSS from Serbia, elected a new bureau and new chairman at its election Congress that took place in Belgrade, on March 10. The representative of DEMYC, Costas Papachlimintzos, had the honour to be the second speaker in the Congress, even before the vice-president of DSS, the mother party of ODSS. The 300 delegates from the local branches of ODSS participated actively in the Congress and elected the 15 members of the new bureau, that elected its new chairman, Dragan Danicic. Andreja Milivojevic was reelected at the position of the international secretary of ODSS. DEMYC wishes all the best to the new ODSS team and hope to continue our successful partnership.
Dear friends,
It is with deep sorrow that I am sharing with you the tragic news from Armenia. This Sunday, on March 25th, the Leader of our party and the Prime-Minister of Armenia, Mr Andranik Margaryan has passed away. To say that Andranik Margaryan was a highly popular and beloved public figure in my country is almost to say nothing. A man of unremarkable talent, firm principles and rare courage he was one of those uncommon exceptions when a politician is a well-acceptable person by all the public in general, regardless of political preferences. Since yesterday there is an unbroken vast chain of myriads of people coming from all over the country and abroad to pay the last tribute in his memory.
A zestful believer in Armenia’s bright future he had done a lot for giving blood and flesh to the dream. It was under his leadership of the Government since 2000 that the country managed to break the ice; to overcome the harsh consequences of the war imposed by Azerbaijan in the early 90s and despite the current blockade of Turkey and Azerbaijan to achieve extraordinary and consistent economic performance; the democratic progress was evident as well. A committed supporter of European integration he saw Armenia’s future where it belongs to, only within the European family. He was a big friend of DEMYC as well, since he was personally supporting YRPA’s involvement in DEMYC, was always interested in updates and despite his overloaded schedule found an opportunity to spend time with the DEMYC Delegation that was visiting Armenia prior to our membership in January 2004.
Andranik Margaryan knew well that true love often means sacrifice. The word freedom was on his lips not just now when it is a universally accepted value but in the gloomy times of Soviet regime. Together with a group of dissidents like himself he was one of the founders of the United National Party, an underground political movement whose vision was a Free and Independent Armenia. Not too many of today’s politicians would ever have considered such a bravery. Before seeing his dream to come true he had a price to pay for his love to Armenia, harsh sentences in various Soviet prisons. The sentences that had ruined his health.
His surgery was scheduled today but his heart did not wait for his busy schedule to adjust… it stopped beating two days prior… he was only 56. It gives me a great pain to write about him in past tense. He gave his life to prove that he loves passionately… Armenia has loved him back in return. On March 28th, 2007, Armenian flags will be lowered everywhere throughout the world, we are grieving our loss.
Lucine Haroutunian
YRPA International Secretary
Advisor to the DEMYC Bureau
March 27, 2007
Yerevan, Armenia
In the weekend 17-18th of March 2007 the annual congress of KU, Denmark (Young Conservatives) took place in Odense. At the congress a new leadership was elected and the chairman for 3 years Kasper Hülsen was replaced by the vice-chairman for 2 years Rune Kristensen. Furthermore the long-time DEMYC activist Mikkel Wrang was elected as the new vice-chairman of KU.
 
Rune Kristensen is 24 years old and has a BA in political science, he has been active in KU since 1999 and has been a member of the executive board of KU since 2004. He has been the vice-chairman of KU from 2005 to 2007, and has attended various DEMYC events like the study session in Strasbourg in 2003 and the 2 seminars in Copenhagen in 2004 and 2006.
At the congress the DEMYC Secretary General Lasse Krull gave DEMYCs greetings on behalf of the Chairwoman Ines Elise Prainsack and the rest of the bureau.
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This weekend, February 24-25, municipality elections in Lithuania were held. Young Conservative League, as one of the strongest political youth organization, nominated 15 candidates.
The final results shows that Homeland Union Lithuanian Conservatives gained significant victory and will have the majority seats in most municipality councils.
Kristina Milkeraityte
Young Conservative League |
"The force of our time" was the slogan under which the Youth of the Croatian Democratic Union (MHDZ) held its 9. electoral Congress on 10 February 2007. It was a well chosen motto because in numbers, as well as in the demonstrated power of conviction and in willingness for action the MHDZ has proven itself to be a strong and reliable partner and a veritable force in the Croatian political spectrum. In a full arena in Zagreb, more than 800 delegates elected the new President of MHDZ Mislav Banek. In his inaugural speech Mislav presented his program underlining the vitality and vigour of the youth in the shaping today's politics, all the values that DEMYC subscribes to.
 
I saw and heard much that corresponded to what our organisation stands for - the youth as a fertile ground that shapes future leaders, the youth as an added value with fresh ideas and content for political action, the youth that raises awareness of the importance of actively engaging in the development of a society, the youth that brings politics closer to the upcoming generations.
 
When I was addressing the Congress I recalled a question that a friend of mine once asked. He asked if I knew the difference between a politician and a statesman. I started to elaborate, but the friend stopped me and said that the answer was much simpler. A politician just thinks from one election to the next, but a statesman thinks of the generations coming after him - he thinks of the young people.
 
As I was listening to the Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader I was reminded of this. During his speech he called to the young members of the MHDZ and emphasised that the youth is the force which must continue to give suggestions, resolve issues and face challenges without being satisfied with the status quo. The young, which are willing to take on the responsibility for Croatia and its future should always be given a chance.
It was clear to me from the welcome I received and from the overall experience I had in Croatia that we can consider MHDZ not only partners and allies, but above all friends.
Along with the Croatian Prime Minister and HDZ President Ivo Sanader, the President of the Croatian Parliament, Mr. Vladimir Šeks, and HDZ International Secretary and Minister of Culture Božo Biškupić as well as other members of the Croatian Government and the Croatian Parliament attended the Congress and emphasised in this manner the role that the youth organisation plays in party politics.
Ines Elise Prainsack
DEMYC Chairwoman
Report from the 4.th regular election congress of Nova generacija SLS
On the 10th of February Nova generacija SLS (Demyc member organization from Slovenia) held a 4th regular election congress in the historic city of Ptuj. Over 70 local board delegates attended the congress, thous representing all of Slovenian regions. The delegates have elected new leadership for the 2 year mandate, made statuary changers and adopted 3 political resolutions.
Rok Ravnikar was reelected for the president of Nova generacija SLS. For the two vice-president positions delegates have elected Alexander Jovanović and Tibor Vörös.
The congress was held in a positive and optimistic atmosphere, mainly due to successful national local elections held in the autumn of 2006. Many members of Nova generacija SLS were elected for city council's and Blaž Milavec was elected for the youngest mayor in the history of Slovenia.
Miha Miklavcic
DEMYC Vice-chairman
In the beginning of the month, the DEMYC Bureau held its meeting in Brussels. There was a double aim in our 3-day meeting: to prepare the DEMYC work plan of 2007 and to promote DEMYC in the EU structures, through meetings with EU officials.
The Bureau discussed thoroughly the details of the coming DEMYC seminar in Belgrade “Notions of Identity in the Multinational State” and drafted the innovative DEMYC work plan of 2007 with projects and the new-style seminars.
The Bureau members held very fruitful meetings with the following high-ranking EU officials:
- Stavros Dimas, EU Commissioner for Environment
- Wilfried Martens, EPP president
- Othmar Karas, Austrian MEP, vice-chairman of the EPP-ED group
- Gunnar Hökmark, Swedish MEP, leader of the Moderate Party group
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| Bureau with the EU Commissioner for the Environment Mr Stavros Dimas |
Bureau with the EPP President Mr. Wilfierd Martens |
Mr. Karas, Mr. Hökmark and Mr. Schellekens (Deputy Head of Mr. Dimas’ Cabinet) had served in the DEMYC Bureau in the past. They all emphasized the importance of youth politics and the bonds that are created through them, which remain active even in the level of higher politics.
Mr. Martens was very interested in the work of DEMYC and there was a mutual interest in a closer cooperation between EPP and DEMYC in the future.
On the whole, the Bureau Meeting in Brussels was very productive, both internally, in terms of planning and organizing, and externally, in terms of contact making, promotion of DEMYC work and lobbying. We expect that the outcome of this weekend will soon be evident to all the DEMYC members through our work.
On January 23rd Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) discussed a report and adopted a resolution on the honouring of Armenia’s obligations and commitments towards the Council of Europe. The time of the discussion has been quite symbolic since it was exactly six years ago that Armenia had joined the Council. In my opinion it also serves as an excellent opportunity within this framework to summarize the road that my country has passed since our membership.
Already back in 2004 in PACE resolution on Armenia it was fixed that Armenia has unconditionally ratified all conventions of the Council of Europe. The report previous to the January document also had pointed out significant progress in terms of harmonizing Armenian legislature with the Council of Europe standards. Nevertheless, for bigger achievements we had a serious impediment, the limitations posed by the Constitution. To allow full compliance with the Council of Europe standards in terms of better separation of powers and more accountable and transparent system of governance it had to be significantly amended. This was a responsible and challenging tusk requiring much political will and tremendous amount of work. Nevertheless, our mother party, Republican Party of Armenia which at that time (as well as currently) was the ruling political force took the responsibility to initiate this significant process. Nearly a year ago, thanks to the positive outcome of the Constitutional Referendum, we managed to overcome the constitutional obstacle and as it has been reflected in this last resolution adopted by PACE, Armenia today has a Constitution which fully complies with the European standards. The PACE Resolution much welcomed this positive development that has an exceptional significance for the progress of democracy in Armenia, as well as noted with satisfaction the important amendments made to the Electoral Code, and to many other laws.
As a result of the constitutional amendments Armenian Parliament has obliged to adopt 51 laws in two years time. During the last year 27 laws have already been adopted. Thanks to these improvements Armenian citizens have gained the opportunity to appeal to the Constitutional Court, and currently decisions have been made on over more than a dozen cases. It is very important that the parliamentary opposition has also gained the right of appeal to the Constitutional Court, since the number of the required signatures has been considerably lowered (from one-third of the total number of the MPs previously to one-fifth currently). An important indicator that confirms the democratic progress is the fact that in the course of the last six months the opposition has had two positive outcomes on its appeals in the Constitutional Court.
This year Armenia will conclude the process of harmonization of its legislature with the European standards. This will mean that there will be no more obstacles left to fully honour our obligations towards the Council of Europe. The positive path of development that the country has embarked on was not left unnoticed during the discussion on Armenia in the Council of Europe. As it was stated by one of the French MPs from UMP, the ruling right party, a tribute of respect should be paid to Armenia that despite many grave difficulties like full blockade by two of its four neighbours (Turkey and Azerbaijan), harsh consequences of war in the beginning of 90s and absence of natural resources, has managed to achieve exceptionally high economic growth rates in the last 5 years (about 11-12 percent annually) and significant democratic progress through considerable improvement of legislature as well as of legislative and administrative practices. However, although achieving significant progress is a tremendously challenging goal, maintaining the pace and the privilege to lead the country in the chosen path is non-less difficult. Republican Party of Armenian that has been heading the government and had majority in the Parliament since 1999 will face, yet another important trial this year, the Parliamentary election scheduled in May. The competition is going to be fierce but it is clear that despite the current victories in economic and democratic fronts we cannot afford to relax, and we are going to do our best for the sake of the future of our country and for the honour of being a member of the European family.
Lucine Haroutunian
YRPA International Secretary
DEMYC was represented by its vice-chairman, Costas Papachlimintzos, in the Pre-Summit organized by the European Youth Forum in Brussels, at the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
The objective of the Pre-Summit was to initiate debate among youth organisations on the future of the European Union, to prepare the basic discussion document and to set up a process leading up to the Youth Summit in Rome.
The discussion document for the national debates and INGYO consultations as well as the full report of the pre-Summit are available online on the pre-Summit
web-page: http://www.youthforum.org/youthsummit.htm
A general rapporteur will prepare draft conclusions of the Youth Summit in advance on the basis of the contributions from the national debates and contributions from INGYOs. If your organisation would like to have a say in the conclusions, have a look at the discussion document prepared at the pre-Summit (via the above weblink) and the attached guiding questions for debate and prepare a short contribution.
Your contribution will be very valuable for the paper that DEMYC will submit to the EYF, that should be representative of your views. Please send us your contribution on one or more of the six sections of the discussion document by February 28 the latest.
Costas Papachlimintzos
DEMYC Vice-chairmen
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The turnout at the Parliamentary Elections was very high-61,2% of 6,6 milion registered voters sounded their voice.
Even though, final results are not announced yet, we are still waiting for results from abroad, we know the situation in general when it comes to number of seats in the Parliament.
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Here are the results:
- Serbian Radical Party (far right) -got 28% of support and they will have 81 seats in the Parliament
- Democratic Party (Social Democrats)-got 23%, meaning 64 seats in the Parliament
- Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-we got 17% and 47 seats
- G17+ (centre-right)- got 7% and 19 seats
- Socialist party of Serbia got 6% and 16 seats
- Coalition of: Liberal Democratic Party, Social Democratic Union, Christian Democratic Party, Social Democrats from Vojvodina and Civic Union of Serbia- they got 5,5% and 15 seats in the Parliament
Minorities have entered the Parliament as well:
- Hungarian minority will have 3 MPs
- Bosniak minority will have 2 MPs
- Albanian minority will have 1 MP (first time after 10 years Albanian parties participated at the elections)
- Romanies will have their 2 MPs.
There is no doubt that pro European parties have big majority. Most likely, future government will be presented by Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Serbia and G17 +.
We expected to gain up to 20%, but having in mind that leading party in the government is expected to loose some support, especially in the country that is in transition. It never happened that the leading party keeps the same percentage of support two elections in row, like DSS did.
Even though DSS came third, no party can even think of forming the government without us. That is why we have good starting position in negotiations when asking again for the position of Prime Minister.
Negotiations will start in the next few days. Hopefully, we will have the Prime Minister of Serbia from the party that is member of EPP!
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Andreja Milivojevic
International Secretary of ODSS |
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