Jacqueline Cremers Secretary General, European Green Party

French Summer Study Days

Last weekend I arrived in Nantes for the French Green Summer Study Days. I was invited to speak in a workshop about the Future of the EGP and to assist in a plenary debate concerning the future of Global ecology. Nantes surprised me, for more than one reason.

The city is clean, the public transport is clean, fast and has priority all over the city! At Saturday evening we had a party at the Island in the Loire and had a chance to watch an exhibition on http://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/. A reference to Jules Verne, a makeable future and a good way to start a festive evening.

The atmosphere at the Nantes University itself was great and I felt at home with more than 2000 French Greens. I was  deeply impressed by the  support and respect for the non European Green representatives and moreover of the real activism that radiated from the French greens. Huge media attention! This is a party you want to be part of! I confess I have thought different on this in the past!

And no problem whatsoever for more than 1000 people to stay 4,5 hours, 2 hours longer than expected, in a very hot auditorium to watch the debates. Coming from the GroenLinks culture where everything is timed carefully and to finish at 5 PM means finish at 5PM and no later, this was a culture shock!

Up for discussion many issues, easy, nice, non controversial ones, but also the more difficult ones, on social security on migration, on unemployment benefits. It is the French Greens who dare to say that there are more creative ways to think on pensions than a lower pension age for all! Courageous, when you take the French system into account.

The hot issue on the table was the future of the French Greens. How they are to continue after the big electoral successes of the European and regional elections. And I am happy to report back that there is a large majority who supports the future cooperation in a more formal and structured way between the ecologist and the old French Green party members.

A survey among the  participants revealed that most people saw this process as a challenge to think of new ways to organise party  democracy and  asked the leadership to come up with experiments for  new and attractive ways of more direct involvement and democrac.y The respondents asked for  recognition within the new structure of the activist nature of green politics and people.

The French Summer days inspired me  and I have learned a lot. I will use my experience at our coming Council meetings and for our common future project. For now Chapeau for the French Greens who seem to be able to manage a very difficult process and come out stronger and more creative and inventive in the end.

You want to know more? http://www.journeesdete.fr/3935-les-journees-d-ete/