The General Assembly of EAEA approved in 2003 a plan to develop co-operation with the MP-s of the European Parliament (EP). The year 2004 is unique as the 10 acceding countries will take part in the European Parliamentary election for the first time. The EAEA has never practised joining in the activities of the election at the European level and it is the right time to start and gain benefits on the long run.
Aims of joining the campaign of the EP election:
- To make the EAEA and its goals better known at national and EU levels in the enlarged Union
- To facilitate putting a focus on the adult learning issue of the Lisbon Agenda, especially according to the priorities of the EAEA
- To collect experiences in activities influencing public policy in order to pursue better advocacy of adult learning matters among the MP-s and to develop a plan of action for contact building with relevant EP groups and committees in the coming period
As the proper infrastructure and funding conditions are not in place, the campaigning activity is voluntary for interested members of the EAEA who would like to participate.
For the period of March- June , 2004 the Budapest Link Office will undertake a minimum co-ordination task to support individual and co-ordinated activities done by the member organisations in accordance with the prior approval of the board of the EAEA.
Principles:
- The EAEA members may contact all the political groups without distinction and focus on the cross-cutting issue of adult learning.
- The EAEA members will call the attention to the importance of non-formal adult learning, the role of NGO-s, excluded groups and their participation.
- The campaign will advocate for the single citizen of the Union and for the interests of adult learners.
- The activities of the members are voluntary, the key messages will be approved by the board and all participating members will strive to maintain co-ordination. The use of good examples of others (actions, documents, messages) is freely available.
- Participating members will engage in exchanging experiences and giving feedback to each other.
The main forms of activities proposed to be conducted by the members of the EAEA
- Monitoring activities and exchanging information, turning up the voice of relevant messages on the stage of the Union.
- Raising critical issues on the agenda by using the resources of the members and the whole EAEA.
- Contact building with candidates during the campaign events and public contributions to the campaign.
More specifically:
- presenting the evidences of the importance of non-formal adult learning and NGO led adult learning at national and Union levels
- collecting and exchanging information on the context-relevant messages of the national campaigns and main political groups during the campaigning period, and commenting on political statements and
- highlighting arguments from the point of view of EAEA priorities
organising national level (if possible Union level) dialogue with different candidates on the matter of adult learning in connection with the implementation of the key strategic documents of the EU on adult and lifelong learning
- establishing solid contacts with key candidates for the period after the election
Methods:
- Collecting and exchanging basic information on the activities, messages, deadlines and events
- Drafting and distributing concise, short appeals on the agenda of adult learning (leaflet, e-mail, Internet ) in English as well as in national languages
- Inviting candidates for public discourse, taking part in campaign meetings of the candidates and contributing
- Personal and group consultation with candidates
- Putting the information and experiences at the disposal of the membership of the EAEA regularly during the period of March-June, 04
Further agenda:
The board will discuss and specify the initiative of campaigning
Drafting messages, appeals, declarations approved by the board of the EAEA (March, April and continuos)
Carrying out advocacy in the EP campaigning, regular exchange of information and experiences (April-May)
Feedback and evaluation by the board of the EAEA (June)
Using the experiences gained by the EAEA in the activities of the Adult Learning Week, 2004-2005
Drafting the plan of co-operation with the relevant committees and political groups of the EP for the period of 2004-2009
Co-ordination:
The Budapest Link Office will set up a notice-board for the period of 1st of March- 1st of June, 04 on the home page of the Link Office: www.eaeabudapest.hu
With your questions, proposals, comments, please contact: EP election and the EAEA eaea@nepfoiskola.hu
Further resources for advocacy activities:
Advocacy Guide. Securing the right to learn
http://www.eaea.org/advocacy.pdf
Adult Learners Week in South Eastern Europe IIZ/DVV, 2002
The Learning Festival Guide
http://www.unesco.org/education/uie/InternationalALW/
Useful links on Parliamentary issues
General
European Parliament
http://www.europarl.eu.int/
Enlargement of the European Parliament
http://www.europarl.eu.int/enlargement/default_noscript_en.htm
European Parliamentary Association website
http://www.ape-europe.org
The European Parliamentary Association (EPA, or APE by its French acronym) is now available in English and German as well as French. The association aims to forge closer bonds between all the members of the European Union by organising events and meetings at its premises in Strasbourg.
CITIZENS' PORTAL
- Correspondence with Citizens
- Petitions to the European Parliament
- Complaints to the European Ombudsman
- Access to official documents
- Access to the Register of European Parliament documents
- Access to the Register of other Institutions
- User's guide and search help
- FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
You can find the same portal in all the languages of the acceding countries
It is especially important to the NGOs of the acceding countries to know more basic information about the EP and citizens.
http://www.europarl.eu.int/opengov/default_noscript_en.htm
Acceding countries
Country profiles and lists of useful links. Complete information by countries.
Useful for all those who are interested to have an overview information on any acceding country.
http://www.europarl.eu.int/enlargement/default_noscript_en.htm
Committees
The two most important committees with which the EAEA membership could build closer co-operation in the future.
Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport
http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/cult_home.htm
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/empl_home.htm
Practical information:
Citizen's rights
Summary about the practices of rights of citizens.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/archives/abc/cit3_en.htm
Voting rights and eligibility
Legal rules about the rights of citizens.
http://www.europarl.eu.int/factsheets/2_4_0_en.htm
Citizens Signpost Service
Individual information service for citizens mostly on legal issues. The legal experts of the Citizens Signpost Service are waiting to hear from you.
http://europa.eu.int/citizensrights/signpost/front_end/signpost_en.htm
European Parliament Information Offices
List of offices of present members and acceding countries for direct contact.
http://www.europarl.eu.int/addresses/offices/default.htm
Political groups online
Presentation of the major political groups of the present EP, followed by the separate websites of the five main groups: people´s party, socialists, liberals, united left and greens.
http://www.europarl.eu.int/groups/default.htm
Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats
http://www.epp-ed.org/home/en/default.asp
Group of the European Socialists
http://www.socialistgroup.org
European Liberal Democrats and Reform Group
http://eld.europarl.eu.int/Content/Default.asp
European United Left Nordic Green Left
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/gue/showPage.jsp
The Greens | European Free Alliance in the European Parliament
http://www.greens-efa.org/
Drafted by the Budapest Link Office
February, 04
