European left discusses globalisation
By Margaret Allan
COPENHAGEN — The 14th meeting of the New European Left Forum was held here June 19-21. Those attending came from 17 countries in Europe, including the Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany), the United Left (Spain), Hungarian Socialist Party, the Socialist Left Party of Norway, the Democratic Left of Ireland and the Left Party of Sweden. Representatives from Australia and the US attended as guests.
Hosted by the Socialist People's Party of Denmark, the meeting focused mainly on the European Union and the left's response.
A joint statement on current European developments was adopted, noting the increase in social problems such as unemployment, social exclusion and attacks on welfare.
The statement recognised the contradiction between the rise of social movements in Europe and the increase in racist, far right movements, and stated concern about the outcome of the EU meeting in Cardiff on June 15-16. It called for a social united Europe with the emphasis on the struggle against unemployment, and for European cooperation on the issues of concern, both within and outside of the EU.
Another statement adopted called for a peaceful, non-military solution to the crisis in Kosovo.
The European Network of Democratic Young Left (ENDYL), whose member organisations include the Socialist Youth (Norway), Graffiti (Belgium), Left Youth League (Greece) and the Finnish Democratic Youth sent greetings to the meeting. Other member youth organisations are from Germany, Catalonia, Spain and Denmark.
The new focus for ENDYL will be a campaign against social exclusion, including unemployment, racism and the growing gap between rich and poor.
Preceding the NELF meeting was the fourth meeting of its Women's Network. A statement calling for all NELF parties to include the declaration of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 1995 was presented.
The statement also supported a call for the designation of a European Year Against Violence Against Women, and argued that particular emphasis should be placed on the situation of women in war and in refugee situations, and on the need to ensure that persecution on the basis of gender is a reason for granting political asylum.
The next NELF meeting will take place in December in Athens.