Commentary

Let’s give EU citizenship to the British people who chose Europe

Today, British people are voting on their future inside the EU. They may well decide to leave it.

TNF Editor’s View: Austria’s Presidential Election

In some ways it is wiser for an Editor to wait until after an election result has been announced to pronounce their verdict but rather than wait for the fury or relief that will come with the final numbers, it is better to speak beforehand as the result either way does not reflect well on us.

“We want to create a European public”

With the project ’from hood to hood’ local media in several European cities want to start a civil dialogue across national borders about topics like youth unemployment or asylum policies. In an interview with TheNewFederalist.eu the initiator Adrian Garcia-Landa from the Berlin radio station Kiez.FM explains the process, the goals and talks about opportunities to participate in the project.

Europe Needs A Common Language

This single biggest obstacle to pan-European federalism is the lack of a common secondary language which everyone can easily learn and understand.

This would be a lingua franca which would not actually replace the various native national and regional languages of Europe but would be a common second language which all Europeans could use to speak and write to those who with whom they do not share a national or regional language much as educated Indians use English as a common second language and lingua franca to bridge the many ethnic and linguistic barriers which are present in India.

However although English has de-facto become a type of European lingua franca it is a very poor choice as a pan-European language.

Happy birthday Europe! We believe in you.

A week ago, where was I? Let me tell you:

Sitting on a bench by the historical Town hall of Bremen. Looking at the people around me. Children, teenagers, students, adults and elders. All representing the charming, adventures, old and memorable streets of Bremen. Here I am. A Norwegian, European, Kosovar, young woman. Dreaming about the future of Europe.

Flexible forms of citizenship are the future

Each country has granted its citizenship to a group of people considered members of the state. A citizen has certain rights, such as the right to return to their country after leaving, and responsibilities, such as the obligation to pay taxes, as defined in the law of said country. The concept of citizenship is fundamental to an organised state but that doesn’t mean it cannot be applied in less traditional situations.

Implementation of rules: a test for the EU’s legitimacy

Freedom and solidarity are core principles of the EU. Traditionally, the EU has been associated with soft values like peace and tolerance, but the recent years have shown that no organisation can properly function without a common set of cold, hard rules. The European Union does have a vast collection of treaties, laws and other regulation but simply making a law isn’t enough. Without efficient implementation a law doesn’t mean anything.

Interview: Sir Richard Lambert on Economics and the EU Referendum

With the majority of the UK’s IN campaign arguing the economic benefits of EU membership, we ask renowned British economist, Sir Richard Lambert whether the country’s finances really are as important as campaigners would have us believe.

How to get the Citizens’ Initiative to work?

The concept of a citizens’ initiative is known in several countries as well as in EU legislation. The instrument is, in principle, an excellent measure to provide citizens with an opportunity to take part in the political life. No endorsement by political parties or authorities is needed to (…)

The European Nation

Europeans are bound together by geographical proximity, economic and political interdependence and common values. This requires common institutions. In order for them to be democratically legitimate, we have to form a community of equals - something like a nation. But we have to watch out carefully which type of nationalism we choose.

Justified doubts or unjustified self-critic?

Greece crisis, Refugee crisis. Europe in the crisis? How is the situation really for Europe? A view from outside from our Author Nathalie Bockelt from Washington D.C..