The interest of citizens of Lithuania and other EU Member States in the elections to the European Parliament (EP) is quite low, although it was the first time when new European political parties nominated their candidates. They run for campaigns in the EU Parliament in several EU Member States simultaneously, but are not involved in politics. These parties prepared programs for the EU reforms, but they don’t speak about the role and place of specific countries in Europe.

The most famous among the above parties are „Libertas“, Newropeans, E.D.E. (Europe –Democracy –Esperanto) and Europe United. Electoral EP regulations differ from country to country, therefore these parties will not take part in the elections of all countries (for instance, in Lithuania candidates can be promoted only by parties registered in Lithuania).

„Libertas“ is the youngest, richest and most dynamic Euro party. It was founded in 2008 in Ireland as a civil movement against ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The party seeks democracy, transparency and liability in the EU, as well as more substantial legal background of the EU than that stipulated in the Lisbon Treaty.

D.Ganley, the leader and founder of „Libertas“ was Euro enthusiast, but after reading a draft EU Constitution in 2004, he realized „that project regulations have alienated from democracy ideals“. According to him, the Lisbon Treaty was rejected by the majority of Europeans, therefore leaders of the EU Member States cannot accept the formerly rejected treaty. The European movement was founded specifically against the above actions.

Thus, if the Lisbon Treaty is rejected, the EU idea is also rejected. But then, it is not clear: why to reform Europe instead of destroying?

Certain Euro parliamentarians have already joined „Libertas“: the French Euro skeptical Philippe de Viliers, a Gaullist Paul-Marie Coûteaux, and the Polish nationalist C. Gutkowski. In Poland „Libertas“ “has taken over“  certain activists of the party „Tvarka ir teisingumas“ (Order and Justice) and the Nationalist Family League (in Lithuania „Libertas“ tries to bind with “Tautos prisikėlimo partija” (National Resurrection Party). However, „Libertas“ did not manage to nominate candidate lists in any of the EU Member States.

Another party – Newropeans – cannot boast about famous people as „Libertas“; it lacks funds for the election campaign, but has „the right“ to be referred to as the first European political movement.

Newropeans started preparing their program in 2002.  The founder of the party is the French F.Biancheri, the initiator of the student movement AEGEE and one of the authors of the program „Erasmus“. However, Newropeans did not manage to become a well-known political power: in many countries they have few members, and not a single member in the Baltic States.

Specific election program is one of the strengths of Newropeans. According to them, only the EP should be given the right to issue legal acts and other regulatory enactments. They want an elected Union government. Moreover, according to them, key decisions should be adopted via the European referendum. The Program of Newropeans stipulates a common EU foreign policy, strategic partnership with the United States, Russia,China, India and Turkey, common energy and defense policy and closer economic co-operation.

The program of Newropeans was elaborated by all members: discussions were held via Internet and during general meetings of various EU Member States (they refer to it as „a new laboratory of internet democracy“). Although Newropeans sought participation in all EU Member States, candidates were nominated only in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

The Movement E.D.E. calls for increased democratization in the EU, but highlights the language policy in its program. According to E.D.E., the EU is not capable of ensuring freedom of speech, non-English speaking people are discriminated. Usually meetings in the EU governing bodies are held in English, thus, the privilege is given to one nation. Non-English speaking countries shall invest into development of language skills of their citizens, therefore E.D.E. suggests using a neutral and easily mastered Esperanto language. But this does not mean that Esperanto should replace other languages: E.D.E. also requires guarantees for existence of other EU Member States‘ languages, including the national and ethnic minorities.

E.D.E. is also for the development of the EU as a union of citizens, as well as for tolerance, peace and social welfare.

In 2004, E.D.E. participated in the European Parliament elections in France. This year it aims to run for campaigns in France and Germany, and has members in 15 countries. J.Bartaskiene (connoisseur in Esperanto) represents the party in Lithuania.

The Pirate Party with its candidates in Sweden and Germany is also an interesting political party. Its goal is to give free access of citizens to information and creative work. The party strives to reform laws regarding copyright and patents. Its agenda also includes support for strengthening of the right to privacy and restriction of the state control measures (including video cameras).

The Pirate Party first of all seeks implementation of these goals at the national (not the EU) level. The party does not have a specific „center“ and its agenda might vary from state to state. Therefore it shouldn’t be referred to as a European, it is more a developing international movement. The Pirate Party functions outside the EU as well: in Russia and the United States.

Participation of the above parties in the elections demonstrates that the EU community has powers which realize that the EP is a body providing for competition not among the states but among opinions on the EU’s future. New movements will not conquer the European Parliament, but if these people are able to attract attention of politicians to problems mentioned in their programs, a new period in the history of the European policy might commence in the near future.

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