Minutes, 29Th Council, European Green Party
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29th Council, European Green Party 23-25 November 2018, Berlin, Germany Venue Telekom Hauptstadrepräsentanz Französische Strasse 31a-c Adopted Minutes Friday, 23 November 2018 Welcome Words 13:00 – 13:30 Speakers: • Monica Frassoni: Co-chair of the EGP • Antje Kapek: Co-chair of the Green Group in the Berlin state parliament • Annalena Baerbock: Co-chair of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Germany Monica Frassoni welcomes the participants to the 29th EGP Council in Berlin. She starts by informing the participants that the two Turkish Greens co-leaders, Eylem Tuncaelli and Naci Sönmez, had their passports confiscated by the Turkish authorities and were not allowed to travel to Berlin. She then salutes the newly elected Green party leaders. She states that this Council officially starts the Greens common European electoral campaign, and that for the first time Greens can be game changers in shaping Europe’s future. She claims that the recent successes of the “Green wave”, which includes electoral and civil rights victories, stem from the fact that Greens have a European character and are seen as an alternative to both status quo mainstream parties and nationalist forces. Monica Frassoni calls for the Greens to transform the Green wave into more votes and garner support for their policies even across party lines, in a moment when the fight against climate change is visibly lagging behind. She also argues that Europe is not a doomed project and stresses the role that Greens have in this battle as the most cohesive pro-European parties. Monica Frassoni warns that Green policies for an ecological transition must be perceived as rooted in solidarity and equity, if they are to be widely supported. She continues by underlining the urgency and importance of taking immediate action to save the planet. She concludes by paying homage to the late Savvas Philippou (Cyprus Greens) and Tony Cooreman (Groen) and gives the floor to Antje Kapek. Antje Kapek starts by highlighting the historical and political links between Berlin and the history of Europe. She states that, against the extremist and populist governments across Europe and in the US, the Greens stand in defence of the European project and European 29th EGP Council / 23 – 25 November 2018 / Berlin / Minutes as adopted Page 1 of 16 29th Council, European Green Party 23-25 November 2018, Berlin, Germany values, such as peace, fundamental rights and decent standards of life. Antje Kapek claims that only a united and more democratic Europe can tackle today’s challenges, such as climate change and digitization, which can only be solved on a global level. She calls on the EU to take on a leadership role in energy transition. She concludes with the wish that Greens will elect the largest possible number of MEPs, as a sign against those forces which strive to destroy Europe. Annalena Baerbock opens her speech underlining the need for a strong Green force to defend and protect peace in Europe. She claims that the European Greens stand for both climate protection and a just transition that includes social security and jobs. She continues by arguing that a Europe that delivers requires a higher budget, and that therefore stronger countries such as Germany should financially contribute more. She continues by stating that Greens support the Global Compact on Migration as a benchmark for the European project itself, which is based upon the notion of free movements of people. Annalena Baerbock argues that the shift to the extreme right happened because democratic parties refused to debate on Europe fearing they would lose the argument; on the contrary, she calls on Greens to engage in these debates in order to uphold democracy and protect the European project. She concludes by inviting participants to engage in discussions and in the Council activities. Monica Frassoni closes the session by giving the floor to Reinhard Bütikofer, moderator of the opening plenary. Opening session "The European Union can do better - what makes us hopeful for the future of the European Union?" 13:30 - 14:30 Moderator: • Reinhard Bütikofer, Co-chair EGP, MEP, Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament Speakers: • Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations Research Institute • Prof. Dr. Peter Bofinger, Member of the German Council of Economic Experts • Jordi Vaquer, Regional Director for Europe of Open Society Foundation Daniela Schwarzer emphasizes that Europe is challenged to stand up for its own principles and values and has to ask itself how to defend and spread those outside of Europe. While many political forces are trying to re-nationalise, the truth is that the big questions and problems 29th EGP Council / 23 – 25 November 2018 / Berlin / Minutes as adopted Page 2 of 16 29th Council, European Green Party 23-25 November 2018, Berlin, Germany cannot be solved on a national level anymore. This is true for climate change but also the security challenges. Answers to security threats have to be as encompassing and multi- facetted as the challenges themselves. To do that, the EU has to build resilience by consolidating itself internally. The EU has to build consensus - so answering the challenges has to start from within. The EU has to get a joint analysis of the challenges and then once we have that, we also have to revise our common instruments of how to address them. Peter Bofinger says that the crisis makes him hopeful since every crisis presents an opportunity. There are two crises: One external crisis of the old trading system that Trump is now challenging and Brexit. This makes people realise how small the member states are compared to China or the US and also the Brexit vote makes people realise how valuable the EU is and that a political integration is now easier to achieve. Bofinger moreover thinks that Europe needs to protect both its citizens and the environment. Areas where Europe can do this are trade policy, industrial innovation policy, competition policy, tax policy and environmental policy. In regard to the tax policy, only the EU can speak out against this outbidding between countries and only they can step up against tech-giants, such as Amazon or Facebook. Lastly, only the EU can introduce a successful EU carbon tax, which should be supplemented by a carbon border tax. The challenge ahead is to give globalization a human face and to share the benefits and limit the negative ones. Jordi Vaquer sets out the scene by stating that what makes him hopeful is for example the Sargentini report on the state of law in Hungary. Yet, there are many negative things happening and he sometimes wonders whether Europe helps national democracies or whether it fuels their crises’. He recognises that Europe has the right tools in its toolbox to overcome the challenges put to democracy, but that no state alone can face those challenges to our democracy because they cannot make the big companies pay taxes or deal with the automotive industry. Only if European countries work together, they can overcome those challenges. Europe is the only way to take back control over air or water. The reason why populists hate the EU is because they sense that it is an obstacle to their authoritarian goals. However, national parliaments and governments have to step up for European’s rights and show solidarity with opposition forces to Orban or Salvini. Reinhard Bütikofer thanks the speakers and the audience and closes the session. Plenary session Manifesto Plenary Session "The road to the European elections: It is time for a Green change!" 15:00 – 17:00 Moderators: • Oras Tynkkynen, EGP Committee Member • Thomas Waitz, EGP Committee Member, MEP Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament 29th EGP Council / 23 – 25 November 2018 / Berlin / Minutes as adopted Page 3 of 16 29th Council, European Green Party 23-25 November 2018, Berlin, Germany Juan López de Uralde (former Co-chair of the Spanish Green party EQUO) speaks about how Spain is very much affected by climate change, having to face and manage droughts, forest fires and floods. He highlights how fighting emissions is about defending cities. He demands further work to be done on water and air pollution and plastics contamination in order for people to live healthier lives and climate change be fought. Eamon Ryan (Co-chair of the Irish Green Party) thanks his fellow Europeans for the amazing solidarity that ensures there will be no border on the Irish border, highlighting how Europe protects even the smallest country. He is inspired by what is happening in Europe (Green wave), giving him a sense of hope. He further elaborates on how people need to be focused on local community and local actions in order to reaffirm their sense of place and community in the fight against climate change. Amelia Womack (Deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales) sends solidarity from the UK to other Greens in light of the Brexit. She demands action to be done on climate change and how people and movements have been taking it upon themselves to hold their governments accountable. She questions media for its lack of input on the environment. She believes there is much opportunity to make sure that an environmental agenda is at the heart of politics in the future. Katri Ylinen (Co-spokesperson of the Federation of Young European Greens) speaks about how the Green wave was carried by young people, being the first to challenge the far right and their politics based on fear and exclusion. She calls for a Europe that is feminist, sustainable and where people are fairly paid for their work. Gustav Fridolin (Co-spokesperson of the Swedish Green Party) highlights how the Green movement tackles inequality in society, and that societies will progress when ensuring politics serves people not corporations.