EUROP E A N F R ee A LLIANC E : V O I C E O F T H E P E OPL E S O F E U R O P E T H E F I R S T 2 5 Y E A R S O F HISTORY (1981-2006) European Free Alliance: Voice of the peoples of Europe The first 25 years of history (1981-2006) The 25 year history of EFA Preface Nelly Maes Party Political European of EFA, President Twenty-five years ago, nine partners signed the Declaration of the Convention of Brussels (July 9, 1981), thus founding the EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE (EFA). Today we are proud to present the first book chronicling a quarter century of history. Moreover, this book has also been the impe- tus to launch a broader study on regionalism and democratic nationalism in Europe. Shortly after the first direct elections to the European Parliament, the basic principles for the creation of the European Free Alliance were recorded in the Declaration of Bastia (1979). The main focus of this document was the building of a Europe of the Peoples, who were to have their own identity and inalienable rights. At the time, the nine signatories also expressed their satisfaction with the newly acquired statute of the Basques, the Catalonians and the Galicians. The alliance became a genuine Eu- ropean party in Barcelona in 2004 and the 33 parties of the European Free Alliance were very enthusiastic to find that the Catalonians have recently taken a further step towards greater autonomy and a new statute. SNP and Plaid Cymru were the driving forces behind the establishment of, respectively, the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments. In Belgium, the VU was able to exact new concessions with regard to increased autonomy for Flanders and the other regions every time the party partici- pated in government. Up until 1993, the Greek government stubbornly refused to recognise the party that rep- resents the Macedonians in Greece. Intensive lobbying on behalf of the EFA finally made the Greeks give in so the Rainbow Party-Vinozitho could participate in future elections. To this day and in spite of two convictions by the Strasbourg Court, the Bulgarian govern- ment still refuses to recognise the Omo-Pirin party, which represents the Macedonian minority in the country. The oppression and the denial of the rights of numerous communities and minorities constitutes a major challenge in various old and new member states. “The EFA seeks to consign to the history books all injustice with regard to languages and communities, minorities and stateless nations.” A European Union that merely recognises the rights of states cannot lead to true democ- racy and lasting peace. The denial of the rights of peoples and regions, of their language and 5 E U r o pea n F r ee A l l i A n c E culture and of their right to self-determination remains a source of frustration and dispute in many European states and abroad. On the other hand, the narrow-mindedness and self-interest of the member states are pre- venting Europe from becoming a true champion of human rights, development and peace on a global scale. Free peoples who can experience their own identity as a nation, a region or a language community and who work together to create the democratic institutions that shape the European Union politically: that is the dream of the European Free Alliance. We want to realise this dream through peaceful and democratic political action rather than resorting to violence. We do not aspire to a centralised European super state, but neither will we be satisfied with a European Union that only exists as a market and that stands divided and impotent when human rights and international law are being violated, or when poverty, war and environmental disasters threaten the lives of millions. Neither will we accept a European Union that looks down on small countries and constitutional regions while allowing the larger member states or the economic and military superpowers to dictate the law. If Europe wants to be a major player, then it will have to bring together and harness all these resources. It is our task to create the institutions and generate the means to achieve this goal while also ensuring the continued existence of our own individuality. That is why we choose to join forces in the European Free Alliance and why we show solidar- ity with all who wish to aspire to the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the world. 6 The road between Strasbourg and Brussels: the European Free Alliance (1981-2006) Mathieu Vanhaelewyn ADVN-Centre for Archives, Documentation and Research FORZA PARIS! “Forza Paris!” (let us work together!) Thus Michele columbu ended his opening speech at the EFA meeting of May, 1988 in Sardinia, ADVn, BE ADVn Ac652, EFA Fonds, D10955(2/1): Minutes rainbow Group meeting of May 2-4, 1988 in Sardinia, p. 1. L’union fait la force Ici c’est la vie en rose But they don’t accept us The way we are (TC MaTiC, 1981) The European visionaries decided that difference is not a threat, difference is natural. Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict.T he answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace – respect for diversity. (John huMe, Winner of The nobel PeaCe Prize 1998) J. Hume, “nobel lecture”, oslo, December 10, 1998, http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1998/hume-lecture.html. The cultural wealth of Europe lies in diversity, not uniformity. It is positive that the peoples of Europe feel European but the imposition of any kind of common cultural denominator would be negative, even dangerous. (José saraMago, Winner of The nobel Prize for liTeraTure 1998) http://www.eu2003.gr/en/articles/2003/3/7/2199. (...) Que aqui se unen y hablan pueblos dialogantes Que aqui cruzan sus palabras contrastantes En un foro de libertad insuperable (...) (sonneT dediCaTed To begoña lasagabasTer, sardinia May 3, 1988) ADVn, BE ADVn Ac652, EFA Fonds, D10968(3/1): “Soneto ripioso-politico, en versos no medidos, dedicado a la amabilidad de Begoña en un dulce atardeler sardo”. The 25 year history of EFA – introduction Mathieu Vanhaelewyn read history at the University of Ghent. He wrote his contribution on the history on EFA as a scientific researcher for the ADVn. The ADVN (www.advn.be) was founded in 1984 in Antwerp as a private independent scientific institute. It is recognized by decree and funded by the Flemish Community. To put to use on a European scale the The institute has an archival, documen- expertise it build up over a period of twenty tation and research assignment concerning years, the ADVN is developping the NISE-da- nationalism and national movements in gen- tabase, a scientific data- and archival project eral, and Flemish nationalism and the Flemish (www.nise.be). movement in particular. It collects, preserves NISE aims to make a systematic effort to and describes on those subjects all sorts of centralise and validate all information con- historical sources (archives, books, periodi- cerning the nationalist and regionalist move- cals, photographs, films, tapes a.s.o.). These ments in Europe and to help collect, preserve are made available, general and specific reg- and describe for scientific purposes, the ar- ulations permitting, for research in its read- chives and documentation of the organisa- ing-room. They are also used for publications tions and persons linked with them. and exhibitions and for media-purposes. Concurrently, there is a want of advice and The institute does scientific research on all other assistance concerning the preservation theoretical, general and specialized topics in and valorization of those source-materials. the field of nationalism. It also partakes in a NISE proposes to organise such a retrieval number of state-funded database-projects, and linking of information and source-mate- like Archiefbank Vlaanderen – the register rial, along with archival assistance, on a Euro- for private archives in Flanders (www.archief- pean scale with the help of a web-database bank.be). and a helpdesk. The ADVN publishes the results of its re- search through conferences, exhibitions and publications. It also publishes Wetenschap- pelijke tijdingen, the leading scientific journal on the history of the Flemish movement. 9 The 25 year history of EFA – introduction introduction On May 8, 1945, the BBC World Service broadcast the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the whole world. Europe celebrated the end of the Second World War, a war which had devastated the Continent. Five years after Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), on May 9, 1950, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Robert Schuman, read a declaration which is now regarded as the document which later gave birth to the European Union.5 The European association for which Schuman was calling was clearly motivated by the thought of peace. Initially, only a number of countries formed part of this supranational association which was limited as far as the transfer of powers was concerned. These initial steps would result in the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952. At the Conference of Messina (Sicily) in 1955, the six ECSC countries decided to draw up the text for a Treaty, which resulted in the Treaties of Rome (March 25, 1957). With the signing of the latter, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany formed the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and the European Economic Community (EEC). The economic integration of Europe continued to progress and resulted in the prospect of a single market which was proposed by the European Act and which came into effect in 1993.