All that you ever wanted to know about Newropeans … but never dared to ask !

Is Newropeans on the left or right of the political spectrum?
Neither, nor. Newropeans is a trans-European political movement whose principal objective is to contribute to making the European Union democratic. Democracy is not something exclusive to the right or the left. On the other hand, Newropeans is firmly opposed to all movements/political groups which are anti-democratic in nature, such as are found on both political extremes. Following the same logic, Newropeans is against any political force which is fundamentally opposed too European integration per se.

What purpose can Newropeans serve?
The members of Newropeans think that the European project is bogged down. The project needs to re-inspire the confidence of citizens, and the only way to do this is by democratising the European Union, i.e. allowing European citizens to control the main orientations of the European project. This process of democratization also requires a renewal of the European elites, in order to prevent only national political parties – which understand nothing about Europe – and bureaucrats – who understand little about democracy – from running the European Union. The process of making the EU democratic is of course a matter for all citizens of this continent. But they are going to need a political instrument in order to achieve the “democratic new beginning” of the European project. We think that Newropeans could be this instrument. In order to contribute actively to this democratisation, Newropeans will in the 2009 European elections present a list with the same programme and name in all 25 of the Members States of the European Union.

How will Newropeans act in the European Parliament ?
On all the major political questions debated in the EP, Newropeans will adopt a four-fold approach:
. gather majorities around its proposals and programme embracing the full political spectrum from left to right and national positions;
. make proposals (or support proposals) systematically encouraging democratisation of the European policy areas concerned: improving the way opinions of citizens and involved actors are taken into consideration in the policy in question (both in terms of the way the policy is devised and in its implementation and evaluation).
. oppose the current way the EP functions as an echo chamber for the Council and Commission.
. impose the EP as a source of legislative proposal, even if the treaties do not allow it, justifying this with the direct election by the citizen.


Can one be a member of Newropeans and a member of a regional or national political party?
Yes, except if this party defends anti-democratic, xenophobic or is against the European construction process.

What will Newropeans do during national or regional elections ?
Newropeans will not present any candidates or lists in national or regional elections, only in European elections. However, Newropeans will publish a comparative study of the political programmes presented, giving the electorate information on their degree of compatibility with that of Newropeans, every time there is a national or regional election in a Member State of the EU. In this case, to inform, is also to act politically.

How is Newropeans financed?
Newropeans is financed by the membership fees and donations from its members and supporters.

How many MEPs does Newropeans reckon to obtain in the European elections of 2009?
Newropeans reckons to obtain between 5% and 10% of the votes in the European elections of 2009 and therefore between 50 and 75 MEPs. This would immediately make Newropeans a key political actor in the European Parliament: the only one with a European group from the same political movement, and the only one to have a direct relationship with European citizens from all over the continent. That will allow us to immediately implement the programme, and to attract MEPs and other movements represented in the European Parliament. In function of such a result, Newropeans would hope to obtain over 150 seats in 2014.

Is Newropeans a political movement that wants to take power in Europe?
Newropeans is a political movement of limited life-span (between 10 and 20 years maximum). Its objective is to help the European Union to become more democratic. Once this democratisation has been achieved, it twill be up to a trans-European left and right to take up the running. One could compare Newropeans to the “Democratic Fronts” that many European countries have known in their past, when citizens fought for and obtained the “democratisation of their country”.

Who runs Newropeans?
Its members: for the first time in the history of Europe, citizens can join the same trans-European political movement and participate directly (without national, regional or local intermediary) in the major decisions, including the election of the leadership. Newropeans is currently directed by a Managing Committee of thirty members who come from all parts of the EU. The third Congress of Newropeans will be held in Spring 2006, during which the members will elect the new leadership team. All members of Newropeans participate in its Agora (general meeting) votes, by means of electronic votes on the Internet.

How do I join Newropeans ?
Those joining Newropeans clearly wish to work for the « democratisation » of the EU and for the continuation of the European project, indeed so as to show that the European Union and democracy are compatible. It is possible to contact Newropeans directly, either on the European level, or through a local or sector specific network. After participating in a first information meeting, a person can decide if they wish to become a member or not. Membership costs €100 per annum (€50 for citizens from new Member States). It is respectively €50 and €25 for those who are under 30. Two members of Newropeans need to sponsor the candidature of a new member to pledge that the candidate fulfils the criteria (not being anti-democratic or anti-European). Moreover, given that Newropeans considers it is essential that the life-long legal immunity of community officials should be suppressed, it has been decided to refuse the membership of community officials so long as that immunity is not eliminated.

Can one support Newropeans without becoming a member?
Of course it is possible to become a supporter of Newropeans, without becoming a member, and thereby to be kept informed of its activities each month (via the Newropeans newsletter). A supporter clearly does not have the right to vote in Newropeans. Supporters pay an annual sponsorship with any sum from €20 upwards.

What languages are spoken in Newropeans?
Newropeans is multilingual, and applies the recommendations of its own programme in matters of language. Its internal functioning, notably in the decision making organs, is bilingual, using French and English without any translation. That therefore demands that each Newropeans office holder masters at least one other European language – even French and English mother tongue speakers. These two languages are the core of the internal newsletter of the Newropeans network, aimed notably at the local and sector-specific networks. In the major internal political meetings, such as the Agora (general assembly), the debates will take place in 5 languages : English, German, Spanish, Polish, and French. Communication to the citizens will be in all the languages of the EU. From September 2005 the new web site of Newropeans will be operational and will apply the same linguistic policy.

What is a local or sector-specific network in Newropeans?
Newropeans decided to create two types of internal organisation in order to bring together members from the same geographic region or the same type of professional sector. They are called the “local network” and the “sector-specific network”. They have no political role in the organizations: their leaders do not represent the members Newropeans, as each member can participate directly through the Agora (general assembly). The local and sector-specific networks are, however, there to organise the activities of Newropeans in a region, town or professional sector by means of meetings, debates, participation in trans-European projects, preparation/organisation of the 2009 campaign, etc. In order to create such a network, there must be at least 10 members of Newropeans who ask for it. In this case a part of their membership fee is sent to a network of their choice, in order to help the network organise itself. The network has to organise a minimum number of events each year in order to continue to exist: 7 conferences or debates a year, and participation in at least two trans-European events per year (including Newropeans weeks).

What is the Newropeans Week?
Each year Newropeans organises two “Newropeans Weeks” (one in Autumn, one in Spring) in which local and sector specific networks will all participate. With a common theme for all Newropeans, these “Newropeans weeks” will allow the organization of a number of events, simultaneously across the whole of Europe. They will also be the chance for a meeting and an exchange of views between members from networks in different countries.