Creating a EUROPE's PEOPLES' FORUM

I am actively involved in the start of a Europe-wide EUROPE's PEOPLES' FORUM. It will make Europeans meet on the web and also physically to discuss and make concrete suggestions on what Europe should do next. 
If you are interested in getting involved, please let me know:  niels4europe@gmail.com  

Engaging Europe's Young People in what to do next

It is an undeniable fact that the future belongs to the young people. Also Europe's future. Therefore, it is very positive - to take a concrete example -  that the large majority of young voters were and are in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.   But the problem often is that the young generation is not very active in elections.  Initiatives must be taken to involve them directly in the development of Europe.

There are at least 4 very interesting and promising initiatives on the table right now:

1. European Youth Event - a big conference of 700 young Europeans in May 2016 and again
    in February 2017

2. President Juncker's initiative for a "European Solidarity Corps"

3. The initiative ALLIANCE 4 YOUth  - engaging business in finding jobs for young people

4. The European Parliament proposal to give a free Interail card to all 18 year old Europeans
    as a birthday present  - to make them know Europe.

All four initiative should be strongly supported and promoted.

Save Europe: Learn from the 3 Baltic States

SAVE EUROPE: In September 2016 it was exactly 25 years ago that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became independent. The Russians accepted it reluctantly on Sept. 6, 1991. I was there with the first official EU delegation from Sept. 7 to show our support. This was HIGHLY appreciated. Now all three countries are active members of EU - with Schengen, the Euro, etc. If you want to read my report on our visit in 1991, just let me know.

Europe can learn a lot from the way the Baltic countries are using their EU-membership. And they do not want a weaker Europe.  They want a stronger Europe to the benefit of everybody.

More responsible media, please !

It is very difficult these days to open a newspaper or to see TV news without being told that once again that terrorists have killed innocent people somewhere. This is, of course, very sad and should be prevented or punished according to the law.

But, but, but...    We all know that many people - alas - are killed every day around the world. We also know that some terrorist groups like ISIL very quickly claim responsibility for such killings, also when they are not involved.

I strongly believe that the permanent, intensive and often detailed coverage by most media of these crimes - whatever the background - often is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It inspires stupid and vicious people to try something similar.

This is not to say that media should be part of a cover-up of these crimes. On the contrary. But it is an appeal to responsible media, incl. public service media, to think twice before they blow-up these events. And to think about new and less dramatic ways to cover them.  Some media show that this certainly is possible!

Europe's way forward: Killing a misunderstanding

Most people and countries agree that the European Union has to concentrate its efforts on doing what is necessary to do, but which each member state cannot do alone. That is also one of the reasons why the number of proposals from the Commission has decreased significantly since 2014.

Doing what is necessary to do together and leaving other matters to national or regional decisions. This is the essence of federalism.   And this is also the way many federal states function.  That is, of course, why they often are called federal.  Germany, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Canada, Switzerland, etc.

Many anti-Europe people have over the years managed to give the impression that federalism means centralism.  It means the opposite !    So let us kill that important misunderstanding - created by some on purpose or because of simple ignorance.

Get better organised on refugees and on economic migrants

Every responsible person in Europe agrees that refugees from war zones have the RIGHT to asylum in Europe or elsewhere.  Therefore, almost all Syrian citizens get asylum. But migrants who try to come to the EU to get a better life economically do not have that right. That is why almost no migrants from the Western Balkans get access. These countries are considered to be safe countries. This is logical.  Still there is a lot of discussions about which other countries are safe countries. It is top urgent to make a list of those countries. And to publish it everywhere, so that citizens from those countries know that it is not worth trying to get into Europe.  And if they still try, they should be sent back right away in an orderly way - paid by themselves or by the country they come from.

This may sound to be tough. But it will be clear and transparent.  And not messy and inhuman as it seems to be today.  And it will be more difficult for the populists in Europe to exploit the uncertain situation.

Showing EU's results - great! But more is needed !

It is very good news that the Danish liberal party, the party of the present government, has now decided to make a campaign to present the EU with all the positive results it brings every day. The campaign will start this coming autumn. Better late than never - after 43 years of membership.
But more is needed. Much more. Where are the proposals for what the EU should do next? Concrete operational proposals. On making the external borders better? On a close cooperation on receiving and integrating refugees? On getting back to Schengen? On making us less dependent on Putin? On the fight against cross-border crimes?  And at the same time the political courage to fight for it.

Our assistance to the world's refugees in the future

According to the UN there are more refugees in the world than ever since World War II.  Fortunately almost all countries in the world (except North Korea and Belarus) have signed international conventions to help refugees, to protect human rights, to assist stateless persons and to help people who have experienced torture.

What we now see in some countries, also in Europe, are political movements - normally on the far right side of politics - which want to change these conventions or perhaps leave them altogether.

What sort of attitude to people in great need of help is that?!  Let us expose these extremists widely and loudly.  I am sure that the large majority of citizens wants to help - wants to do all they can to assist. What is lacking is that leaders of the mainstream political parties come out with a strong defense of our legal and not least moral duty to help!

Yes, it is probably true that the conventions need to be updated. That has happened many times before over the years.  But they have to be updated in such a way that our assistance to people in need will be even more efficient, faster and - more human!  That is what is needed!!

Increase the fight against cross-border crime

Serious crime does not know any borders. And it is certainly not old-fashioned border controls that stop it. This requires a close and systematic cooperation between national police forces. EUROPOL is the EU agency, which ensures a very close and intensive police cooperation between all 28 EU-member states. It was created in 1993, has its headquarters in The Hague and has today about 900 staff.  It launches around 18.000 cross-border investigations every year.
From May 2017 this agency will be further strengthened by becoming a full part of EU jurisdiction.

A former leading Danish intelligence officer said recently that national agencies would never dream of giving names of suspects to the police in other countries. First of all, I think he is wrong. And secondly, if he were right, the national agencies better dream differenly!   Otherwise, it is only the serious criminals who profit!

Getting our borders and our reception of refugees right

Our external borders  to be efficiently safeguarded here and now by common actions such as the agreed European Border and Coast Guard   (to be in place in August). EU's total coastline is about 66.000 km. It is evident that only a joint and coordinated effort to guard it will be efficient.

Our reception of refugees and other migrants  to be taken over by state-of-the-art  Welcome Centres.   With staff and equipment to treat everybody properly and very fast, incl. sending rejected migrants home right away.   These centres to be placed in as many European countries as possible  (in regional development areas). And some of the the funding to come from European funds, incl. funds foreseen for those member states, which are not willing to receive refugees.

Of course, we should not and cannot receive everybody, who wants to settle in Europe. But those who come must be treated in a humane and proper way.  As Europe also did for Hungarians during their revolution in 1956 and for Polish refugees in 1956 and 1968. Did the two countries forget that?!

Why working closely together

We in Europe have a fantastic potential

We have a lot of possibilities, if we use them

We have a fundamental interest in working together, in    

           promoting and defending our common values such as

           peace, democracy, freedom, solidarity, prosperity,

           protection of minorities and much more

We have a range of important common challenges in front of us

We profit more from it all, if we act together

Looking for politicians with visions and political courage !

Many people agree that Europe, Denmark, all European countries - and also the US these days - are in serious trouble.  Problems and crisis situations everywhere.  This is an ideal situation for populists, propagandists and people with a very narrow and shortsighted view.  It is not only regrettable. It is highly dangerous for our democracies, for our welfare, for our daily lives.

The REAL problem is that we need politicians with visions and with political courage to implement these visions.

We have to find them. We have to support them. We have to mobilise the big, silent majority for that cause.

This is the main challenge in the months and years to come.

Contribute with 3 concrete suggestions on how we best move ahead.