- Manifesto 20^th February 2004 Rome -

Over February 20^th to 22^nd the European Federation of Green Parties will turn itself into the European Green Party. This is another big step for the green movement in its Europe-wide co-operation. The new EGP/EFGP will have the first common election campaign for the European parliament elections and united they will fight for a green future in Europe, despite differences within the various parties.

The Federation of Young European Greens has a network all over Europe and is growing together in terms of co-operation and exchange. The number of multinational activities within the FYEG network has increased enormously.

We are standing in an observer’s position towards the EFGP/EGP. The process of growing together of the European Green Parties also opens new dimensions to us.

The Federation of Young European Greens defines itself as the one young green organisation in Europe that is staying close to the European Green Party / European Federation of Green Parties without losing its independence and critical point of view towards green politics. We want to raise the influence of young people within the EGP for instance by promoting young candidates, supporting youth topics in election campaigns and reminding the old greens of our interests and the interests of the FYEG Member Organisations. We will be present at EGP/EFGP meetings to stress our aims according to the political platform discussed by the General Assembly every year.

The Greens in Europe are facing the problem of getting older – the young greens of the past are sitting in parliaments and party boards and are no longer the youth movement that it has been in some countries. The Greens in Europe have to take care that they won’t end up as a single-generation party. New young people are needed to continue the struggle for a greener Europe and world. Therefore the green parties have to implement a number of measures to encourage young people to join the greens and stay with them.

The green parties shall provide young newcomers with the knowledge about how a party structure works and how they can take part in any level of the party. Young greens should have the oppurtunity to visit seminars that support their organisational, rhetorical and leadership skills. Mentoring programs are a good method to prepare young newcomers, especially young women for possible future responsibilities. Internships in party offices or parliamentary offices give a look inside green politics and can be helpful for young people who would like to join the greens.

The Green Parties should carry out membership campaigns for young people to show that the greens really are interested in young people’s opinions and are open to new ideas. Once a young person enters the green party, the “old” ones should do their best to retain them. This means: closed groups which don’t leave any space for young people with new ideas aren’t very helpful. Daylong discussions about statute changes and “power politics” are less attractive to young women and men. Young people need help and motivation to feel at home in those groups and to start taking responsibility.

Young greens have visions and are ready to take responsibilities – good places on election lists shouldn’t be reserved for yearlong party workers who took their way through every political level. Young people bring fresh air into dusty parliaments and are respresenting a large part of voters and the future leading generation.

Most green parties in Europe already have a youth organisation; sometimes as part of the party and sometimes very independent. Those organisations need support of their mother parties, be it financial support or just by showing them how important they are for the “old” greens. And they are very important! Young Green organisations build the future basis of green parties and take a lot of the tasks concerning distributing knowledge about green party structures and leadership skills and promote green values within the youth. The Green Parties should value their young blood!

The Federation of Young European Greens and its member organisations are trying their best to make the young green voice heard within the parties. We want to work more closely together with the EGP/EFGP. Therefore we’re going to be represented at EGP/EFGP meetings to present our activities and promote our standpoints by tabling amendments. We will continue to stand in a critical dialogue with the green parties and encourage our MOs to do so as well. FYEG will go on to raise its voice for young candidates. (how? à workshop results)

The future of the greens in Europe is our future! FYEG will continue its struggle for a greener world. Therefore we intend to strengthen our Europe-wide network and continue to work on our policies. We will implement further campaigns as our ongoing migration campaign and together strive for a green Europe and a greener world!