I want my flag back!!!

JEF Public Action for the signing of the Reform Treaty

On the weekend of the 13th December the

European Council will convene for the official signing of the Reform

Treaty!

To mark this occasion and raise awareness about the RT and the

European Council meeting, JEF Europe proposes to get Jeffers back on the

streets in a public street action giving a strong message to European leaders

“ I WANT MY FLAG BACK!!!”.

Why?

•Although the Reform Treaty does bring institutional advancements for the efficient functioning of the EU, the role of the citizen has been sidelined and the symbols of European unity have been crushed. That, as federalists  we cannot accept!

Why?

• Europe still retains its symbols, but they have been purposefully taken out this Reform Treaty.

• We condemn the lack of leadership of European leaders who keep giving in to eurosceptic voices and fears.

• We ask that European citizens become central to the construction of Europe and that European symbols that unite our peoples are made visible!

• Europe will not be united by legal treaties alone!

Why?

• We have seen from the past how effective pan European actions can be in getting a specific message across.

• They show that throughout our continent there are young people who care about the European affairs and the political unity of Europe!

• It unites our organisation and allows us to work with others who share our concerns.

Do we really want a black and white Europe? A Europe of legal & complex texts? What

happened to those simple symbols that unite all Europeans and that citizens can identify with?  Are European leaders so afraid of an

anthem and a flag?!!

J-C. Friedrich von Schiler Ludwig van Beethoven

Why?

• Raise general public awareness about the European Council and the Reform Treaty  and the impact it will have on Europe and its citizens

• Raise awareness that the European symbols that were present in the Constitution have been stripped in this text. Europe is now only brought together only by Treaties and legal texts while its values have been thrown out the window!

• Concentrate on the fact that what is needed is a Europe of citizens! A Europe with values, a Europe that involves its citizens!

• Organise the action is as many cities in your section as possible. The success of the action will be based on the overall picture i.e. the amount of cities that take part.

The aims of our Action:

Non EU sections?• The action is relevant not only to EU Member States

but also to non EU Member States:

- It shows that non EU countries who aspire to become part of the EU are particularly concerned by these issues and wish to contribute to the shaping of Europe.

- It gives non EU member sections the opportunity to raise awareness about the EU in their countries using the event as a ‘Yes to Europe action’ informing citizens about EU matters that they otherwise may be unaware of.

- It increases the visibility of the section

•As Margaret Thatcher demanded her money back in 1979, we now demand our flag back!!!

SLOGAN

SLOGAN• “I want my flag back” is very catchy and media

attractive as it resembles the “I want my money back” of Margaret Thatcher. It would be very ironic for us Federalists to use it in such a way!

• For those who fear that the slogan is too Reform Treaty unfriendly, then you could change the slogan to “This is my flag” or “These are my flags”, waving both the EU and your national flags. Although these slogans are not as catchy, they still give the same message – Europe has symbols and they MUST be acknowledged!

• It is up to you to decide which slogan to use, though “I want my flag back” is recommended!

Where?

Description of the Action:

The action will take place throughout Europe in as many JEF local and regional sections as possible on 13th December (or earlier if the date is inconvenient). JEF national sections should contact their working partners and encourage them to take part.

How ?

Description of the Action:

1. Get a hold of a few EU flags – if you don’t have any you can use paper flags or to be more effective  paint your own EU flags on large A3 paper or bigger

How ?

Description of the Action:

2. Above the flag or on a separate banner – write – “I WANT MY FLAG BACK!!!”  in your own language (or in English if you think it sounds better). Make the words visible.

How ?

Description of the Action:

3. Place the sign(s) around your cities – on municipal / governmental buildings; on statues; around parks; on major entrances; on any visible part of your city!! Put the flags in some ‘bizarre’ places – where you wouldn’t usually expect them to be, in order to get more attention! Be creative!  

How ?

Description of the Action:

4. Or even better:Dress in European flags! If your flags are big enough, you should be able to wear the EU flags  - be imaginative!  Wear them as a skirt, (or in my case as a kilt) around your back like a cape, or simply fly the flag.  Use EU umbrellas, EU tshirts, etc.

How ?

Description of the Action:

5. Paint your faces in EU colours if possible. Its also a good idea to take your face painting on the streets so that you can paint the faces of young children – its good to be in contact with the people!

How ?

Description of the Action:

6. Hold out a banner saying

“I WANT MY FLAG BACK!!!”

How ?

Description of the Action:

7. Do this standing outside a local/regional/national governmental or parliamentary building! Or in any visible part of the city/town.

How ?

Description of the Action:

8. You may also wish to hold your national flags alongside the European flag if your section finds this necessary.

9. To make this action  really effective  you should gather a group of at least 4 – 5 people but the more people the better!

• How ?Description of the Action:

JEF Europe will send out a PR before the 13th Dec. on the signing of the RT and one on the 14th following the Action.

Media

For this action to be effective you should contact your local press and inform them of the action. Send out a PR both at national and regional level to get attention!

Media

Send JEF Europe pictures of the action immediately so that we can send them off to the media and put them on our website.

Don’t forget to stick on the JEF logo on your campaign material and banners.

  During your action you could have a stall – small table and give out flyers - it can be on the RT, on the Constitution,  or simply on JEF and your sections. The European Parliament and Commission offices can provide material and paper flags. Also, European Movement offices can provide assistance. Contact the JEF secretariat if your section requires material.

http://ec.europa.eu/publications/posters/index_en.htm

Material

The most creative and original activist photographed will win a prize from this website: http://www.oiw.it/

Courtesy of JEF Naples &Officine Italiane Wrist Watch.

The winner will be decided by the EB, the chairs of the Working Groups & Political Commissions and Eliana Capretti, secretary of JEF Naples.

Only condition: the activist must be a member of JEF.

Competition

Communication

National sections should pass this info to their regional and local contacts to ensure an efficient

flow of information!

For non JEF sections and organisations, contact

toni.giugliano@jef.eu for more info and if you wish to take part!

This is not only designed to raise awareness about the European Council/ RT but is a good opportunity for both EU and non EU sections to recruit members.

As a youth organisation its also a great opportunity for us to do some grassroot work and have direct contact with young people and the general public!!

Finally

Lets get out there and show them the real face of

Europe!!!