From the Local to the Global: European Greens gather in Dublin for major conference on Europe-wide common campaigns

Over 200 delegates will gather in Dublin this weekend for a major European Green Party conference hosted by the Irish Green Party. Delegates from Malta to Norway and from Dublin to Georgia will discuss common Europe-wide campaigns and debate the proposed new EU constitution.

Green Party Leader, Trevor Sargent TD, said that the "Green Party is delighted and honoured to be hosting the first Council meeting of the European Greens here in Dublin".

"This weekend approximately 200 delegates made up of Green parliamentarians, MEPs and foreign affairs spokespersons along with the Federation of Young European Greens will arrive in Dublin for the first council meeting of the European Green Party. Formerly the European Federation of Green Parties, the European Greens was founded in Rome earlier this year when I joined fellow Green Party leaders to sign the charter for the new political grouping."

"Green Parties have grown considerably since the founding of the European Green Coordination back in the eighties with many member parties forming governments across Europe. For example, in Germany the Greens are now serving their second term as coalition partners with the Social Democrats (SPD) and where the German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister is the Green's Joschka Fischer.

Green Party Chairman, John Gormley TD, said that active participation in the European Greens was a very important step in the development of the Irish Green Party. "We have stated repeatedly that we are a pro-European party, committed to working constructively with our Green colleagues throughout Europe. This weekend we hope to concentrate on a number of common campaigns as suggested by Reinhard Butikofer, chair of the German Greens. The Irish Green Party will be hoping that common campaigns can be agreed on global warming and climate change, GMOs and clean food production, the promotion of renewable energy and the need for a global campaign for fair trade."

"While a number of fringe meetings are being held today involving regional groupings such as the Baltic Greens, Adriatic Greens, and the Mediterranean network, the Saturday morning debate on the European Constitution will be a key topic. A very lively debate took place in Brussels in November and a major talking point was whether the European Greens could speak with a common voice on the Constitution. There are different concerns and different points of view within the European Greens on the issue."

"While we welcome aspects of the new Constitution, particularly in the Charter for Fundamental Rights, the New Citizens' Initiative and the fact that the Council will now be open when discussing legislation, we do have concerns in relation to defence matters."

"We also regret that the Euratom Treaty, a treaty designed to protect and encourage the nuclear industry, has not been dealt with in the new Constitution.

We have expressed concern that neo liberal values are enshrined in the Constitution and that there is not enough accountability in relation to trade issues. We appreciate that many of our fellow Greens throughout Europe have similar concerns. The issue for us all is whether the plusses outweigh the minuses. The Irish Greens will be conducting a number of regional seminars and holding a special convention on the issue, where party members will decide on our approach to the referendum."

Arnold Cassola, General Secretary European Greens, said that, "we have important work to do in Dublin this weekend particularly in relation to our common campaigns. Last May the Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament along with the Irish Greens launched a Europe-wide food safety campaign at Dublin Castle.

One of the many common Green policies is our campaign to make food safer, healthier and more sustainable including the fight against obesity, EU-wide measures to block junk food advertisements on television including our call for GM free zones. Other areas include global climate change strategies, renewable energy, fair trade and equality issues."

He said that the progress of the European Greens must be based on mutual understanding and respect; respect for Europe's diversity and respect and understanding for each member state's unique political situation. "We are looking forward to a positive and constructive weekend's work."

Grazia Francescato (Italian Greens and Honorary President of the Italian Greens) said that the European Green Party and Green Group in the European parliament are unique in that they both have a co-leadership rule where there are joint female and male leaders. There is a north south difference in gender balance in political parties - northern countries have better gender balance than southern countries, and it is not enough just to introduce gender policy rules, we also need to change the culture of politics. Woman do not identify with political titles, they have a more service delivery approach to politics whereas men tend to be attracted to the roles and status attached to political life."

Referring to gender equality Ms. Francescato said that, "only 15 per cent of all national parliamentarians in the EU are women". "To fulfil our demands for equal opportunities we need women in at least 40 per cent of all public leadership positions. The Greens want quota systems for women at all political levels, at higher public administration level and on representative bodies. For example, In just a few years, the introduction of quotas in Finland for all public sector committees, has shown outstanding results. Now all public bodies must have a minimum of 40 per cent women."

Note: The European Greens represent a wide-ranging group of Green parties from

Malta to Norway and from Ireland to Georgia. Green parties from countries

represented from outside the 25 member EU who will attend include Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, Georgia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova and Albania.

A delegation will also travel from Columbia, South America and a tree planting ceremony will take place on Sunday to honour kidnap victim, Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian Green presidential candidate who was kidnapped by FARC in 2002. "

Also in attendance will be the co-presidents of the Green / EFA group in the European Parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit (the 1968 student movement leader) and Monica Frassoni.

The main item for discussion over the weekend will be the Saturday morning session on the European Constitution titled: "A Constitution for Europe: To Be or Not To Be? ". Other topics include Green gender politics: "Equal rights and non-discrimination" and "Getting our act together: perspectives for the European Green Party". A number of resolutions have been tabled including:

• Les Verts, France: That the European Greens organize a referendum on the European constitution among all European green party members. The decision should decided according to the principle of the following double majority: one half of the 25 Green parties of Europe and 50 % of the Green members will have to pronounce themselves in favour of the same point of view to allow it to become the point of view of the whole European Greens.
• Die Grunen, Austria: calling on member parties to support the campaign for the immediate release of Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian Green politician and Ex-Presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, was kidnapped by Colombian FARC-guerrilla in February 2002. Since then she has been on hunger strike three times, and is said to be in very bad health conditions since her last hunger strike.
• Les Verts, France calling for the implementation of the decision of the UNO General Assembly of July 21,2004 according to which "Israel, as an occupying power, has to fulfill its legal obligations" and which is asking "to all states members of the 4th Geneva Convention to make it apply in Israel";
• Comhaontas Glas, Ireland: Calling on the Irish Government to reverse its decision to build incinerators and adopt sustainable policies to waste management that will not harm the health of the Irish population or the environment.