Welsh gains co-official status in the European Union

Read about it here.

International day of women for peace

Today we celebrate the international day of women for peace. The 24th of May is a day to recall that women play an important part in transforming global conflicts; by searching for solutions to end violence, by looking for opportunities for the growth and development of societies, and by contributing in the resolution of political differences.

We want to send the message today to affirm that we can work together in the campaign for peace, and to encourage that even more women get involved.

We are women from Scotland, Wales, Flanderen, Catalonia, and Euskal Herria, who are involved in the debate on the future of our nations. We believe it is essential to use political incentives in order to overcome the present confrontations and conflict.

The respective political struggles that our nations are undergoing are united in that we are stateless nations aiming towards full recognition on a European and international level. We share the desire to recognise the rights of stateless nations, and form a new political landscape within the United Kingdom, Belgium and Spain.
Our aims as nations will be resolved through dialogue, negotiation and involvement of the people.

Our goal is to achieve peace and political standardisation. We believe in defending our nations in a peaceful and democratic manner, and we condemn all violations of human rights and demand justice and equal rights for all people.

We therefore give our full support to this routemap presented by the Basque Government. It is a legitimate and democratic political initiative, based on dialogue and the will of politicians and citizens. We believe that the aims and policies presented in the routemap are the way forward in solving the Basque political conflict.

Wales disadvantaged yet again!

Today the official proclamation of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights took place in Strasbourg, and the UK Government insisted on opting out of the provisions of the Charter.

The opt out puts Wales at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the European Union and proves the need for Wales to have its own voice in Europe. The UK is opting out from the Charter whilst the Polish government has indicated that it intends to drop its opt out, leaving the UK as the only member state not to sign up.

Nothing highlights our disadvantage in Europe more than watching everyone except Britain and possibly Poland sign up to the Charter of Fundamental Rights. We have called for many years for a written charter of rights. Now the EU has it but we in Wales don’t. Our human and social rights are less protected.

This charter is an instrument for political action on social rights, the environment, workers rights, equality of men and women, rights for children and the elderly. Members of parliament stood and cheered as the charter was signed. Those of us who are denied the protection of the charter could only stand on the sidelines.

The lesson for today is that Wales can not afford to be on the sidelines and needs to have its own voice in Europe.

The European Charter of Fundamental Rights was signed at a special proclamation ceremony in Strasbourg by Hans-Gert Pöttering, European Parliament President, José Manuel Barroso, Commission President, and José Sócrates, Portuguese Prime Minister and President-in-office of the EU Council.

The event was designed to publicise the Charter and give a legal basis article which refers to the Charter in the EU Reform Treaty (the Lisbon Treaty). The United Kingdom has an opt out from this part of Treaty and the UK Prime Minister will not be present in Lisbon for the joint signing ceremony which takes place tomorrow.