The President of the EFAy offered his support at a series of protests organised by Basque nationalist political party Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) this weekend.

The protests were organised to campaign against a Spanish Constituional Court decision to stop a consultation taking place in the Basque Country, asking the electorate two questions related to the future of three of the seven Basque Provinces. The first part of the consultation, which was due to take place, last week (25th October 2008), was intended to ask if people are in favour of a 'negotiated solution' to the ETA conflict if the armed group ended its violence. The second question, which was to be put to a second consultation next year, would ask if all Basque political parties should work toward an agreement on what it calls the Basques 'right to decide their future'.

The consultation, which the Spanish Government insists on calling a referendum, would only take place in the three Basque regions (Álava, Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa), in the state of Spain (that form part of the Basque autonomous community) and not in the autonomous community of Navarre (also in the state of Spain) or the three Basque provinces in the French state (Baxe-Nafarroa, Lapurdi and Zuberoa).

The Spanish Constitutional Court ruled earlier this month however that the consultation was illegal and now the Basque Government are taking their case to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that it is their democratic right to carry out such a consultation. The Basque Government have said that the referendum does not go against the Spanish Constitution, because it is non binding and merely seeks the opinion of the electorate. The Spanish Government have argued though that the consultation is a veiled push towards independence.

The demonstrations - held throughout the length of the Basque Autonomous Community from Gernika/Guernica to Gasteiz/Victoria – called for 'Bai Erabaki' (yes decide) and asked members of the public to sign forms in support of the public consultation. There was also a demonstration in the town of Lizarra/Estella, in the Basque province of Navarre. Lizarra has a symbolic resonance for Basque nationalism, because it was the site of the approval of a joint statute of autonomy for the Basque territories in 1936; a statute that was never honoured.

The President of the EFAy, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, attended the protest in Lizarra, along with members of Gazte Abertzaleak – the youth movement of EA and EFAy members – to support the Basque right to decide.

In a report to Bureau Members, Rhisiart said:

"In a democratic twentieth first century, Governments should be encouraged to consult as closely with the people, on issues that affect their futures, as possible. The Basque Parliament voted to approve the implementation of the consultation in June this year and that right has to be upheld. By seeking a court order to stop the democratic consultation taking place is not only a snub to the Basque Parliament, but also to the Basque people.

It was encouraging to see so many young people at the demonstrations. After all, it is their political and social futures that are at stake and as a representative of the EFAy, it was a pleasure to be in Lizarra to support our member organisation."

Links:

http://www.euskoalkartasuna.org/

http://www.gazteabertzaleak.org/

The President of the EFAy, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, was one of the delegates invited to the Scottish Nationalist Party's (SNP) Conference in Scotland last week.

The Young Scots for Independence (YSI) - the youth group of the SNP - invited the EFAy President to attend as an Observer Delegate to the Conference and its offshoot (Fringe) meetings. Reporting on the Conference to EFAy Bureau members today, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot said:

“EFAy attendance at the annual SNP Conference, on the invite of the YSI, is an important part of the strengthening of relations between the EFAy and one of our most influential political members. Over the past year the EFAy has built up good contact with activists from the YSI and the event was an opportunity to meet face to face and network further.

The EFAy have been represented at a record number of its members' General Assemblies and Conferences over the last Bureau period, which has not only helped us to understand better the aims and aspirations of our members, but has shown us how we can work more closely together in the future. On behalf of the EFAy, I would like to thank YSI for inviting us to the Conference and look forward to further cooperation with the EFAy in the future.”

The 74th Annual SNP Conference was held between 16th and 19th October 2008 at the Concert Hall in the city of Perth in the Scottish city of Perth. Held every autumn, the SNP's annual conference is one of the largest political events in Scotland.

Link:

http://www.snpyouth.org/ysi/

www.snp.org

The EFAy atended the European Youth Forum (EYF) event in Kiev last week (8-11 October 2008) as an International Non Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYO) observer member of the Forum.

The event was an opportunity for the EFAy to network with other European youth organisations, ahead of the EYF meeting with the European Ministers of Youth. These events are organised regularly by the EYF and this time the EFAy was represented by its Coordinator, Lucy Collyer.

During her stay in Kiev, Lucy met with EFAy 'Friend' and President of the Youth Association for Human Rights (Ukraine), Eugene A. Kovalenko.

'Portrait de Jeunes' is a series of interviews that are being conducted by the Jeunes de l'Union Démocratique Bretonne (Youth of UDB) for readers of their blog site.

The interviews are intended to highlight the role and work undertaken by young people involved in politics in Europe. The first interview, the link to which can be found below, was with the President of the European Free Alliance Youth (EFAy), Rhisiart Tal-e-bot.

http://jeunes.udb.over-blog.fr/article-23280191.html

The European Commission (EC) has replied to the EFAy regarding the concerns the organisation made about the use of the Mosquito youth device.

The EFAy asked the EC to start an investigation into the safety and human rights implications of the use of such a device. The EC said that “it is the Member States who are responsible for ensuring that safe products are placed on the market, that an independent test report was conducted with respect to this equipment and that the Commission is unable to intervene for alleged breach of fundamental rights, because there is no link with Community law.”

The letter also says that the matter was also raised in the European Parliament(the reply for which is given in the link in the letter).

The original letter sent to the European Commission by the EFAy can be found here and their reply here.

See related EFAy news item here.

EFA is seeking to hire a STAGIAIRE (trainee) for its office in Brussels. The person will be in charge of a project currently running or planned within EFA to be decided in accordance with his/her abilities and skills. Primary responsibilities will be the daily management of the chosen project as well as punctual help in the daily management of the EFA office.

The trainee will be based in Brussels, Belgium. The person will work both in the EFA party headquarters and/or in the Bureau of an EFA MEP in the European Parliament. The EFA stagiaire will be assisted by the EFA staff and EFA assistants, which will orientate him/her in the daily tasks. There will also be structural contacts with the EFAy -co-ordinator and the new Political Foundation CMC —Centrum Maurits Coppieters-.

The selected candidate will be interested in EU knowledge and willing to work in an international atmosphere. He/She will have good interpersonal and management skills. Experience in co-ordination will be an asset. The selected candidate will be familiar with the EU structures and policies. The ability to effectively communicate is essential. Familiarity with linguistic rights, regions, nations, minorities and other important issues of the EFA policy is highly desirable.

The stage will be oriented as much as possible to the candidate’s skills.

The stage will last 3 months.

Please, click here to access the complete document of the call for candidates.

EFA website press information