A group of MEPs from different national and political backgrounds decided to set up the Club of Members of the European Parliament (previously known as the "Lisbon Club"). The Club falls within the scope of activities of the association Confrontations Europe, which these MEPs sponsor, and creates a link between the association and the activities of the European Parliament. The Club aims to contribute to re-establishing and re-invigorating the Lisbon Strategy. The Lisbon Strategy suffers from a lack of legitimacy : citizens are completely unaware of it. Its objectives have not been clarified : the peoples do not agree on the meaning of individual and collective efforts that new growth in Europe under current and future conditions of global competition would imply. Of course, Lisbon also suffers from a lack of effectiveness; rival Member States consequently deny it the necessary means and do not shoulder the joint reponsibility which the set objectives require. Therefore, above all, the Club wants to contribute to making civil society participate in debate and in evaluation of the most sensitive EU policies, for the success of the Lisbon Strategy. It shares the Strategy’s general objectives – growth, sustainable development, full employment, cohesion, competitiveness - but it desires an in-depth debate both within the Member States and between them, to avoid these objectives remaining hollow. The meaning of these reforms both for individuals’ lives and in connection with society must be clarified, as well as the nature of the responsibilities to be shared. To achieve this goal, we stand by two principles. The first is the interweaving of social and economic aspects on every agenda and EU policies. Each people, and all peoples together, must work towards a new social compromise, with new choices for society, without which there will not be the necessary acceptance and motivation to achieve new growth. The second principle consists of better understanding and respecting national differences, while all the time seeking to create a common wealth through much greater cooperation and solidarity than we have today. In order to do this, a crucial issue is to calmly discuss the type of capitalism that we want. Member States have very different structures and economic cultures and one single dogmatic model should not be imposed upon them. However, cooperation is essential for effectiveness and complementarity of structural choices, without which there will never be a true economic Union and Europe will start to decline. There are several priority subjects for us : 1. Reform of the labour markets and training. For many Europeans, these reforms mean greater precariousness. For others, it is a positive move towards better jobs and better training. This is the right approach, and needs to be addressed in more depth : a new perspective for working life, where the economy calls for the development of human potential. 2. Reform of the services of general interest. Faced with new needs and new technological tools, Europe must set out its policy for services. Greater competitiveness is necessary, but better accessibility for everyone and better cohesion in areas deemed to be of general interest is just as important. Each country must redefine its choices, but together we must rapidly define perspectives, regulations and sometimes joint achievements. 3. New industrial policies. Nobody wants to reproduce state policies of the past, but if we content ourselves with accompanying European companies in their globalisation strategies, we run the risk of widespread deindustrialisation. It should be the joint responsibility of public institutions and companies to build a knowledge economy, but also to take care of locating research and production in the European Union. 4. Financial and macro-economic policies. Europe has a lot of money but does not invest much at home. Building an integrated financial market is necessary but we cannot, nor do we want to reproduce the American model. Europe has to debate its choices regarding the financing structure in order to achieve Lisbon. The Stability Pact and the Budget must be conceived of as a function of the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. Furthermore, these are themselves empty rhetoric. They need to be restored to favour and this is only possible with intensive interactive deliberation between national parliaments and the European Parliament. We intend to explore these four subjects, leaning as much as possible on the Constitutional Treaty which is in the process of being ratified. As a function of these objectives, the Lisbon Club has organised itself as follows : 1. A bureau comprising of MEPs (former MEPs may also be included). Trainees will be in charge of the secretariat. 2. Monitoring of the parliamentary committees that are most involved with the Lisbon Strategy is undertaken (with minutes and comments which are circulated) by the researchers from Confrontations Europe and with collaborators and MEPs. 3. Monthly meetings are organised in the association’s Brussels Office, bringing together representatives from civil society and the Lisbon Club, with participation from cadres of the European Commission. 4. Confrontations Europe’s monthly bulletin "Interface" reports back on this work. 5. Public initiatives are organised in the EP to promote debate and make our contribution to the major community dossiers that are currently underway (3 per year). 6. Dinners bringing together members of the Club with public, private and not-for-profit managers (2 per year). Members of the Lisbon Club BERES Pervenche (PSE, France) BENOVA Monika (PSE, Slovaquie) BERSANI Pier Luigi (PSE, Italie) BECSEY Zsolt László (PPE, Hongrie) BRESSO Mercedes (PSE, Italie) BOBOSIKOVA Jana (NI, République Tchèque) BOURLANGES Jean-Louis (ADLE, France) BUSQUIN Philippe (PSE, Belgique) BULLMANN Udo (PSE, Allemagne) COHN BENDIT Daniel (Verts, Allemagne) FALBR Richard (PSE, République Tchèque) FERREIRA Elisa (PSE, Portugal) FONTAINE Nicole (PPE-DE, France) GAUZES Jean-Paul (PPE-DE, France) GEBHARDT Evelyne (PSE, Allemagne) GERINGER DE OEDENBERG Lidia Joanna (PSE, Pologne) GIEREK Adam (PSE, Pologne) GRABOWSKA Genowefa (PSE, Pologne) GUY-QUINT Catherine (PSE, France) HASSI Satu (Verts, Finlande) HERCZOG Edit (PSE, Hongrie) HUGHES Stephen (PSE, Grande-Bretagne) JANOWSKI Mieczyslaw (UEN , Pologne) JONCKHEER Pierre (Verts, Belgique) KOHLICEK Jaromir (GUE, République Tchèque) KOSANE KOVACS Magda (PSE, Hongrie) LAMASSOURE Alain (PPE-DE, France) LAMBERT Jean (Verts, Grande-Bretagne) LEINEN Jo (PSE, Allemagne) MANN Erika (PSE, Allemagne) MOSCOVICI Pierre (PSE, France) OLBRYCHT Jan Marian (PPE-DE, Pologne) POIGNANT Bernard (PSE, France) ROCARD Michel (PSE, France) ROSATI Dariusz (PSE , Pologne) SKINNER Peter (PSE, Grande-Bretagne) TOUBON Jacques (PPE-DE, France) TURMES Claude (Verts , France) VAN DEN BURG Ieke (PSE, Pays-Bas) VAN LANCKER Anne (PSE, Belgique) WEBER Henri (PSE, France) WURTZ Francis (GUE, France) ZVERINA Jaroslav (PPE, République Tchèque) Anciens députés HERZOG Philippe (president de Confrontations Europe, France) LINKHOR Rolf (Allemagne) RANDZIO PLATH Christa (Allemagne) ZRIHEN Olga (senateur coopté, Belgique)
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