Closing the Pandora box of populism?

29 April 2016

We are entering a new phase where young, fresh right wing populist become the new faces on the political stage. Every time these ‘anti-democrats’ get good results in Elections, regardless of whether it is at local, regional, national or European level, the excitement and the protests do not last too long. We seem to have become acquainted with this trend which now includes most European countries.

Disappointment and the fear factor are the main driver for voters moving away from mainstream political parties and mainstream political alliances. Centre right parties (and other parties), for electoral and tactical reasons, have perhaps rehabilitated a xenophobe or an anti-Semite, or they have adopted an anti-Islamist discourse. The fear of losing, the fear of change and the fear of those who are different changes voting patterns at all levels of society. In order to prevent their access to power, the democratic parties often create alliances they do not want which act as a ‘firewall’. This creates a dilemma as these necessary temporary coalitions let the populists cultivate their anti-establishment discourse.

What to do? Send troops to the Italian borders and close the Brenner Pass? Send ferries to take the migrants back? Close borders, close the Balkan route and let the victims die in a new “Dead Sea”? All these political decisions seem to lend support to right wing populists as the democrats seem to lose their orientation under the pressure from ‘public opinion’.

Policy making requires ambition and courage, but it also requires compromise. Progressives in some countries pay dearly for their compromises and concessions.

In these scenarios, the media play a dangerous game. Driven by their search for readers, viewers and market share, loud and provocative statements seem more likely to attract journalists, even those coping with bad working conditions such as free-lancers. The media tend to favour those who provoke rather than doing their own research and analysis which would create an understanding of the compromises on which democracy is built. Daily polls pollute the political and democratic culture. This has become another danger for democracy when it is coupled with the discourse of the ‘new’, the ‘fresh’ and the ‘modern’. Against these, civil society organisations, trade unions and progressive parties are presented as overwhelmed by the changing society. Perhaps it is time to look at the drivers for change, and the dangerous changes we face.

Pandora’s box has been opened. It will now be difficult to tame these forces given the obstruction caused by balanced public budgets, the lack of clear positive social changes, the absence of any real fight against inequalities and exclusion, and given the lack of investment in public goods and services, social cohesion, decent work, education and training! Although remedies are available, the political will hasn’t yet been translated into action.

Together for Social Europe

The Social Pillar – decent social safeguards for everyone?

28 April 2016

On 8th March 2016, the European Commission presented its public consultation communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The consultation includes an outline of the Pillar and two working documents: one on key economic, labour market and societal trends, and one on the EU ‘social acquis’. The process of building the Pillar is part of the ongoing “Deepening the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)” and foresees a final proposal for the Pillar early in 2017.

While the European Pillar of Social Rights is targeted at the Eurozone, non-Euro countries are encouraged to join the Pillar. The overarching aim of the Pillar is to re-establish upward social convergence among members of the Eurozone as disparities keep increasing.

The Pillar – establishing new social rights?

Despite its title, the Pillar will not establish new rights for European citizens or legally residing third-country-nationals. Instead, it outlines principles, referring to rights established in the EU Treaty and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It does not include other sources of rights such as the ILO or UN conventions.

SOLIDAR, together with its members, is currently preparing its contribution to the public consultation to express our demands for the establishment of high-level social safeguards for everyone living in the EU – including people arriving from outside the EU.

For more information see our briefing Social safeguards in Europe – Redefining our narrative.
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Building Learning Societies

Education and the social inclusion of migrants

28 April 2016

A recently published briefing note on “Integrating migrants and their children through education” from the European Parliamentary Research Service stresses that migrants are at greater risk of poverty, more likely to leave school early and become NEETs, and they are less likely to have mastered basic skills (literacy, maths and science) by age 15. According to the European Parliament think tank, this scenario is also linked to parents’ income and level of education. Whereas girls seem to do better in school than boys, they also appear to be less ambitious for the future. Educational performance has a direct impact on life chances, which therefore makes it essential to identify obstacles and supports to educational success, so that strategies for integration through education can be developed.

The SOLIDAR Foundation believes that education plays a crucial role in helping migrants and refugees settle in new countries and environments. From language learning to the recognition of qualifications, education is a part of the solution throughout the process of integration. However, contrary to widespread opinion, the role of education is not limited to helping migrants better integrate into society. With regards to the current solidarity crisis that the European Union is going through, education is a valuable instrument that promotes social cohesion, solidarity, tolerance, diversity and human rights within the whole European population. In other words, education can effectively combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, islamophobia and intolerance. Consequently, the role of education is two-fold: helping migrants and refugees to integrate into society, and promoting tolerance and social cohesion amongst Europeans.
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Organising International Solidarity

Earthquake in Ecuador: SOLIDAR members’ operations in the country

25 April 2016

On Saturday 16th April, Ecuador’s Pacific coast was struck by the country’s strongest earthquake in decades: a 7.8-magnitude tremor killing people, flattening buildings and damaging roads. A real tragedy.
SOLIDAR members in the country and in neighbouring countries immediately mobilised, and they have been actively involved in providing humanitarian support and aid to people in Ecuador.
Here you can find an overview of the SOLIDAR member organisations present and active in Ecuador.

Egypt – CSO Statement: the State must protect the constitutional right of peaceful protest

25 April 2016

Over the past four days, the police have arrested at least 100 people in eight governorates, in what appeared to be an attempt to intimidate the public and prevent any demonstrations on April 25th (2016). The police arrested young people in cafes in downtown Cairo, at metro stations, at random police checkpoints and in their homes. Lawyers tracking the arrests say that the number of arrests was expected to increase, given the long list of arrest warrants they saw on prosecutors’ desks.

The policies of the current regime in Egypt have severely curtailed public space in Egypt. Security forces have been given free rein to use excessive force, including live ammunition against demonstrators. The Public Prosecutors and the judges both use prolonged pre-trial detention as a punitive measure. They also trump up charges against demonstrators, and turn a blind eye to torture and killings by security forces. The judiciary has issued excessively harsh sentences against political dissidents. All of these factors have led to the deaths of thousands of citizens with no real accountability for the security forces. Prisons are filled with thousands more dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders, and ordinary people with no political affiliation. This has made participation at any public political action a risky endeavour that may cost citizens their life or freedom.
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Civil society from Niger tell us how to mainstream social protection in the European Development Fund’s programmes

27th April 2016

The EU National Indicative Programme should

• Continue to focus on providing support for provision of social services. There is an urgent need for more funding in health and education, to raise the quality of services and ensure access for all.
• Keep food security as an urgent priority. Other measures to increase income security for those not in the formal economy should also be considered.
• Support the further development of a financing plan for social protection and the mobilisation of domestic sustainable resources to ensure the success of the National Social Protection Policy adopted in 2011.
• Support the creation of a platform for non-state actors to unite and work together to establish a comprehensive national social protection floor in Niger. The EU should support civil society in opening up a formal dialogue with the Government on the revision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Social Protection Policy.
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European Parliament Resolution on Algeria: One Year After

28th April 2016

One year ago, on 30th April 2015, the European Parliament adopted the first resolution on Algeria for over a decade. EuroMed Rights, the FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and SOLIDAR, welcomed the resolution calling on the Algerian authorities “to ensure the safety and security of civil society activists and human rights defenders and their freedom to pursue their legitimate and peaceful activities”.
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Upcoming Events 

• SOLIDAR/ARCI Study visit to Pozzallo (Italy) – 13th of May 2016 – Pozzalo, Italy
• SOLIDAR: Pillar of Social Rights – 26th May 2016 – Brussels, Belgium
• SOLIDAR: Silver Rose Awards – 14th June 2016 – Brussels, Belgium
• SOLIDAR: Annual General Assembly – 15th June 2016 – Brussels, Belgium