The Annual General Meeting of TEAM in Copenhagen September 2, 2017, elected this Board:

Bengt-Åke Berg (Co-ordinator)

The People’s Movement No to EU, Sweden

berg.bengtake@gmail.com

Lave Broch (Treasurer)

People’s Movement Against the EU, Denmark

lave@folkebevaegelsen.dk

Dora Debeljak

June List, Slovenia

Erna Bjarnadóttir

Heimssyn, Iceland

eb@bondi.is

Helle Hagenau

No to EU, Norway

hhagenau@online.no

Luise Hemmer Pihl

People’s Movement Against the EU, Denmark

Patricia McKenna

People’s Movement, Ireland

pmmckenna@eircom.net

Paul Ruppen

Forum for Direct Democracy, Switzerland

forum@europa-magazin.ch

Members from the UK and Greece will be co-opted to the Board at a later date.

• 1) Opening: Election of Chair (Lave Broch) and Secretary (Helle Hagenau).

  In attendance: Anthony Coughlan (National Platform, Ireland), Lave Broch, Luise Hemmer Pihl and Jesper Morville (People’s Movement against the EU, Denmark), Helle Hagenau and Jonas Wenberg (No to EU, Norway), Bengt-Åke Berg (No to EU, Sweden), Peter Raben (Red-Green Alliance, Denmark), Morten Dam (Bruges Group, UK), Anthony Ragusis (EPAM, Greece)

  Apologies: Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIB), Democracy Movement, Labour Euro-Safeguards Campaign, John Boyd and Campaign Against Euro-Federalism, Great Britain; Forum for Direct Democracy, Switzerland; Heimssyn, Iceland; People’s Movement and Patricia McKenna, Ireland; The Red Party and Youth against the EU; Norway; Dora Debeljak, Slovenia;

• 2) Annual report 2015-17
  The last AGM was held in 2014. Due to the Danish referendum on the opt-out (Justice and Home Affairs) in 2015 and the British referendum in 2016, no AGMs were organised either of these years. However, TEAM did organise two big events in London in support of the British organisations during the referendum campaign. One in November 2015 and another in June 2016.

  Tom Voller has been working as part-time secretary for some time but he left when he found full-time employment.

  A number of TEAM affiliated organisations did a lot of work in the British campaign both at home and in support of the various British organisations.

• 3) Financial report 2015-17
  Luise Hemmer Pihl presented the TEAM accounts for 2016. The new Board will have a look at the finances and go through the accounts. A number of affiliated organisations have paid their membership fees these past years. The accounts for 2016 were approved.
• 4) Endorsement of new affiliates
  EPAM (United Popular Front) from Greece has applied for membership. The organisation has more than 500 cells in Greece and abroad, each comprising of at least five people. EPAM is self-funded and elects a board at its AGM. It has around 4,500 members. EPAM was accepted as members of TEAM.
• 5) Work Plan 2017-2018
  All organisations in attendance presented their ideas of how TEAM could move forward. Following a general discussion, the following areas of work for the new Board were identified:
  • Re-establish/revitalise TEAM
  • Improve website and Facebook page
  • Develop a contact network
  • Review of affiliated organisations
  • Public meeting in connection with the next AGM
  • Articles in English on the web site
  • Revision of TEAM Constitution
  • Brexit people in Britain need support
  • Follow the situation regarding the European Democracy Conference planned in February 2018 in London
• 6) Budget 2017-18
  The new Board was allocated the task of making a budget.
• 7) Motions from member organizations:
  None
• 8) Election of the board: Election of coordinator:
  The following were unanimously elected to the Board:

  Slovenia: Dora Debeljak

  Ireland: Patricia McKenna

  Denmark: Lave Broch and Luise Hemmer Pihl

  Switzerland: Paul Ruppen

  Iceland: Erna Bjarnadóttir

  UK: CIB (pending approval of the CIB Committee)

  Norway: Helle Hagenau

  Sweden: Bengt-Åke Berg

  Greece: Anthony Ragusis (pending approval of the EPAM Board)

  No Co-ordinator was elected and the Board will appoint one amongst its members, as well as a Treasurer. Lave Broch agreed to convene the first Board meeting.

• 9) Reports from affiliates and delegates
  All affiliated organisations reported on their activities.

The next TEAM AGM will be in London on 7-8 November. On Saturday 7 November a public event will be held at Friends House, Euston Road opposite Euston Station. This event will consist of several panels of speakers throughout the day as a means of drawing the electorate in Britain to TEAM and EU critical movement during the campaign leading up to a Referendum on Britain's EU membership.

Delegates to the AGM will be invited to take part in the panels. The format of this year's event was used at the inaugural 1992 meeting of TEAM in Edinburgh as an anti-EU summit in support of the Danish Peoples Movement to opt out of the EU's single currency.

Papers and further details will be circulated in good time prior to the 2015 event and AGM. (The AGM on the 8th will be open to TEAM affiliates and observers only)

Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Participants: Anthony Coughlan (Ireland), Lotta Asikainen (Finland), Patricia McKenna (Ireland), Helle Hagenau (Norway), Pål Trautmann Olerud (Norway), Jonas E. Wenberg (Norway), Antoinette Fossdal-Johnsen (Norway), Marcel Domeisen (Switzerland), Marc Wachter (Switzerland), Luise Hemmer Pihl (Denmark), Thomas Voller (UK) , John Boyd (UK), Mikko Korhonen (Finland) and Lave K. Broch (Denmark).

• 1. Opening: John was elected to chair the meeting and Lave was elected to secretary.
• 2. Presentation of participants. Everyone presented themselves.
• 3. Minutes of the TEAM AGM 2013: There have been problems with the minutes from 2013 but we concluded that the minutes are read.
• 4. Annual report: Patricia was telling about the low degree of activity in the board, Lave mentioned the positive TEAM meeting in Copenhagen in February, Patricia and Helle was explaining that there were problems with website. Helle was telling about the Facebook page where she had posted things during the year.
• 5. Financial report: Luise presented the financial report: the 5th of November 2014 we had 23.544,16 DKK. After payments from two Danish organizations and one Austrian we now have around 31.000 DKK (around 3100 UK pounds). We talked about the work to get fees. CAEF (UK), National Platform (Ireland), No to EU (Norway) and People’s Movement (Ireland) told they would pay. The financial report was approved.
• 6. New affiliates: No new affiliates
• 7. Work plan discussions: Lave mentioned the ideas about a new structure with a secretary and a more active board and that we share information and focus on countries which have a referendum or anther special situation – like we did in Latvia in 2013, Tom: is positive to be secretary; Luise we should spend money on a new website and we should move out of our circles; Mikko: does not feel he knows enough about TEAM. It should be more clear what the political framework is and who we want to be affiliated with. He believes TEAM is important and in Finland there is a wish that TEAM would continue. John: We should make TEAM into an information center or network. Not a grand organization but we need to be in contact with each other. Marc: I did not hear about TEAM before I was asked to go to the AGM. I like the idea that TEAM should be an information network. It is good if TEAM can join in if there are big campaigns or conferences if there is a local wish for it. We could use Facebook to make TEAM more famous; Marcel also had never heard about TEAM before. Antoinette: The state TEAM is in happens for many organizations. We have a lot of people who can argue and we should be joining in if there are some important campaigns: Jonas: Last year we had an idea about a newsletter but it did not happen. TEAM should spread information about what is going on nationally. Things we do not hear elsewhere; Pål: We should use social media more - get viral; Helle: we have done almost nothing for many years. We all think TEAM is important but we should not keep TEAM alive just for the sake of TEAM; Patricia: It is a little bit like a dead horse, but perhaps we will have use for that dead horse later. Great idea with Tom as secretary. It has been important to keep EUD alive as well and that is of benefit of TEAM. Identity of TEAM should be kept alive. There could be new groups that would like to join. Like the Greek organization which participated yesterday. We have to be realistic: have Tom as secretary, get a new webpage and new members in the board.
  Anthony: TEAM has been very valuable and has helped with local campaigns before. But TEAM diminished especially because there was no full or part time secretary. There are other groups growing. Anthony passed on e-mails from E.PA.M and their international coordination against the EU and about exit euro. We should have a meeting where we can discuss international cooperation and there might be a spinoff. We need to look at other networks. Antoinette: We have to change the rhetoric and the mental thinking. We have to be positive and say we will do this. Great with a secretary. Mikko: It is important that we are cross political. We need a delicate touch with political parties so that we don’t rule out others. There should be different layers of the activities of TEAM. It should be possible to be active also outside the board. The board work should be narrow and easy and we should work for a larger networking. It would be great if TEAM would make political statements. John: TEAM must still be a place both for those who are against the EU and reformists. Tom: a lot of communication can be used for free. John: If we pull this together we could make it function.
  Helle: In Norway political parties are observers and organizations can be member. Helle has been talking to a representative from E.PA.M. and she told that TEAM was there and suddenly she gets an e-mail that there is an international coordination elsewhere and that three members of TEAM seems to have joined. E.PA.M was invited to the meeting in Copenhagen but could not come. Anthony: Would be great with a meeting if it would be a meeting concerning international coordination of the networks opposing the EU. John: TTIP is very important to focus on. Helle: Today peoples know that there is something called TTIP. No to EU is active about it and have made written materials. Lave: The Danish People’s Movement also focuses on TTIP but for us in Denmark a supranational justice policy in the EU and the banking union are our main two priorities for the next year. I shall mail out news about Eurostat and poverty showing that Iceland is the country with smallest risk of poverty and social exclusion in 31 European countries including all EU countries.
  Mikko and Helle: Informed about the Alter summit. It is more about austerity. Check out altersummit.eu – there is an international network against TTIP. Mikko will mail the information to John. Mikko also mentioned another network of 60 organizations (D1920) and they are having demonstrations. Anthony: Has been contacted by a French group. We need to send simple information to the organizations.John sums up: 1) We need a new website. John wants to be involved with it and can ask a website designer in UK. It has to be simple and we need to keep control of it and the security. There has to be links to all organizations plus information.
  There is a kind of subcommittee: Karoline Runestad former board member from Norway has a suggestion to the front page for the website and wants to help so does Luise. 2) The board is charged to seeking the best ways to turning TEAM into an information center and a network. We should have a closed facebook group that only is for affiliates. Where affiliates can contribute. 3) We should try to get more funding’s and talk with Tom about the tasks as secretary over time. 4) TEAM board has to look at TTIP and send out information. TTIP section is needed.
• 8. Budget: The new treasurer will make a budget.
• 9. Amendment’s to the TEAM constitution: there are none.
• 10. Motions from member organizations: There was one motion from the CAEF in the UK and seconded by People’s Movement in Ireland concerning TTIP and ISES (Investor State Dispute Settlement) and the Canada EU Comprehensive trade agreement and the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). There were smaller amendments to the motion concerning the level of threat to democracy, that we support trade and cooperation and about deregulation. It was divided into one for external use and one for internal use. Patricia will mail it to the participants.
• 11. Election of the board: Election of coordinator: John Boyd, Election of treasurer later. Lotta Asikainen and Mikko Korhonen (Finland), Luise H. Pihl and Lave K. Broch (Denmark), Young for fun will find a person, Youth against the EU (chairman of the their international committee to start with Pål Trautmann Olerud, Patricia McKenna (Ireland). There will be a contact to No to EU in Norway and they are welcome to send a board member. We will contact Dora Debeljak and hear if she will continue in the board.
• 12. Reports: Lave mentioned the situation with the bankunion and the upcoming referendum on EU supranational justice policy and that we need help from Norway, Switzerland, UK, Ireland and elsewhere about the justice policy. Helle said the Danish People’s Movement should give them a list of wishes.

The Annual General Meeting of TEAM in London, November 16, 2014, elected this Board:

John Boyd (Chairman)

Campaign Against EU Federalism, UK

caef@caef.org.uk

Lave Broch (Treasurer)

Folkebevaegelsen mod EU , Denmark

lave@folkebevaegelsen.dk

Luise Hemmer Pihl

People’s Movement, Denmark

Patricia McKenna

People’s Movement, Ireland

pmmckenna@eircom.net

Per Alexander Fossheim Johansen

UmEU, Norway

per.a@umeu.no

Dora Debeljak

June List, Slovenia

dora.debeljak@gmail.com

Lotta Asikainen

lotta@kehata.fi

Mikko Korhonen

mikko.p.korhonen@helsinki.fi

Thomas Voller (Secretary)

tomvoller@gmail.com

A network defending democracy

TEAM had its annual AGM in London Sunday November 16th between 10 am. and 12.30 pm for affiliated and observer organisations only.
The venue for the AGM Sunday: Hotel Russell, 1-8 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5BE - Library Suite. The AGM was only open for representatives from affiliated organizations.

On Saturday 15th there was a public EUD meeting from 4 pm. to 6 pm. It took place at Hotel Russell, 1-8 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5BE - Library Suite and the theme for that meeting was “The development in the EU and alternatives to the EU”. Everyone was welcome to participate in that meeting.

Programme for the TEAM AGM on Sunday November 16th (affiliated organizations only):

• 1. Opening:
  • - Election of Chair and Secretary
  • - Presentation of participants
  • - Apologies
• 2. Minutes of the 2013 AGM and matters arising
• 3. Annual report 2013-14
• 4. Financial report 2013-14
• 5. Endorsement of new affiliates
• 6. Work Plan 2014-2015
• 7. Budget 2014-15
• 8. Amendments to the TEAM Constitution
• 9. Motions from member organisations
• 10. Election of board
• 11. Reports from affiliates and delegates, discussion on the future operation of TEAM

A network defending democracy

Invitation to the TEAM AGM in London on Sunday November 16th

TEAM will have its annual AGM in London Sunday November 16th from 10 a.m. to 12.30 a.m .If there is need for a longer meeting it will continue at the place we choose to eat lunch.

The venue for the AGM Sunday: Hotel Russell, 1-8 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5BE - Library Suite. The AGM is only open for representatives from affiliated organizations.

There will be a get-together on Friday November 14th at 8 p.m. (20.00) at The Euston Flyer, 83-87 Euston Road near King’s Cross Station.

On Saturday 15th there will a public EUD meeting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will take place at Hotel Russell, 1-8 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5BE - Library Suite and the theme for that meeting is “The development in the EU and alternatives to the EU”. Everyo1ne is welcome to participate in this meeting.

Draft programme for the TEAM AGM on Sunday November 16th (affiliated organizations only):

• 1. Opening
  • - Election of Chair and Secretary
  • - Presentation of participants
  • - Apologies
• 2. Minutes of the 2013 AGM and matters arising
• 3. Annual report 2013-14
• 4. Financial report 2013-14
• 5. Endorsement of new affiliates
• 6. Work Plan 2014-2015
• 7. Budget 2014-15
• 8. Amendments to the TEAM Constitution
• 9. Motions from member organisations
• 10. Election of board
• 11. Reports from affiliates and delegates

Discussion on the future operation of TEAM

The Annual General Meeting of TEAM in Riga, SEptember 20-22, 2013, elected this Board:

Antti Pesonen pesa@japo.fi, Independence Party, Finland

Dora Debeljak, dora.debeljak@gmail.com> June List, Slovenia

Helle Hagenau, hhagenau@online.no, No to EU, Norway

Karoline Runestad runestadkaroline@gmail.com, Youth Against EU, Norway

Lave K. Broch, lave@folkebevaegelsen.DK, The People’s Movement Against the EU, Denmark

Luise Hemmer Pihl, skrodhoj@gmail.com, People’s Movement, Denmark

Normunds Grostins normunds.grostins@gmail.com, Party of Democratic Action, Latvia

Patricia Mary McKenna, pmmckenn@tcd.ie, People’s Movement, Ireland/Eire

We will start on Friday 20th September in the evening with a social get-together at the wine bar Check Point (Jeruzalemes iela 10, Central Riga).
It is a beautifully decorated and stylish bar situated in the district of Art nouveau (or Jugendstil) architecture.
On Saturday 21st September the EUDemocrats is organising a public meeting from 1 to 4 pm at the Valdo conference centre (www.valdo.lv).
On Sunday 22nd we will meet for Annual General Meeting of TEAM.
The meeting will last from 10 am to 3 pm and take place at the Valdo conference centre. Draft agenda

TEAM AGM 2013

• 1) Opening - Election of Chair and Secretary - Presentation of participants - Apologies
• 2) Minutes of the 2012 AGM and matters arising
• 3) Annual report 2012-13
• 4) Financial report 2012-13
• 5) Endorsement of new affiliates
• 6) Work Plan 2013-2014
• 7) Budget 2013-14
• 8) Amendments to the TEAM Constitution
• 9) Motions from member organisations
• 10) Election of board
• 11) Reports from affiliates and delegates
• 12) Discussion on the future operation of TEAM

The documents to be discussed will be sent out to TEAM member organizations late August.
As you will notice, we will conclude with a debate on the future operation of TEAM.
If you have any thoughts on this issue, we would appreciate if you could pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and send it to the undersigned.
who will then circulate it to all affiliated organisations.
If you have any questions, comments and remarks, do not hesitate to contact Patricia McKenna, for general questions about TEAM and the EUD public meeting Normunds Grostins, for questions about Riga, hotel etc.
Lave Broch, for questions concerning membership fees and the TEAM finances Helle Hagenau, for general questions about TEAM.

Friday the 21st of September

From 18.00 – Get-together at the People’s Movement against the EU office (Tordenskjoldsgade 21, st.th. – close to Kongens Nytorv metro station).

Saturday the 22nd of September

12.30-16.00 – Euro crisis and alternatives for a better European cooperation

TEAM and EUD public meeting at Drop Inn, Kompagnistræde 34 in central Copenhagen.

12.30-12.40 Welcome by Patricia McKenna, coordinator of TEAM (Ireland) and president of the EUD

12.40-12.50 Welcome by Jesper Morville, chairman for the international committee of the People’s Movement against the EU (Denmark)

12.50-13.10 Will Britain have a referendum on the EU membership? Speaker: Representative from People’s Pledge.

13.10-13.40 Questions

13.40-14.00 Break

14.00-14.45 The euro crises and how European cooperation be built without the European Union

Kjell Dahle, former Secretary general of the Centre Party (Norway) (confirmed) Søren Søndergaard, Member of the EU Parliament for the Danish People’s Movement against the EU (to be confirmed). Another speaker from an EU country (to be confirmed).

14.45-15.35 Debate and questions

15.35- 15.50 Update on current situation regarding Art. 136 Amendment and position of ECJ and status of ESM Treaty (Anthony Coughlan, National Platform - tbc)

15.50-16.00 Closing words by Patricia McKenna, coordinator of TEAM (Ireland) and president of the EUD

City walk in Copenhagen from 16.15 to 18.15 – for those who do not need a rest – we will walk and look at different sights in Copenhagen.

From 18.30 – Dinner at a restaurant in central Copenhagen

9.00-14.00 TEAM AGM probably in the Red Green Alliance office in central Copenhagen (to be confirmed) Only for TEAM affiliated organizations.

Agenda: 1: Apologies 2: Minutes of 2011 AGM and matters arising 3: Financial report 4: Report of work over the past year 5: Endorsement of new affiliates to TEAM 6: Programme of work for 2012/13 7: Report of Nominations Committee - recommendations for board-members and coordinator (chairman) 8: Election of board, treasurer and coordinator 9: Amendments to TEAM-constitution (suggestion to stop having a nomination committee) 10: Election of Nominations Committee 11: Discussion on future operation of TEAM and TEAM board 12: written reports from affiliates and delegates

13.00-14.00 Lunch

Minutes of the 2011 Annual General Meeting of TEAM held in Overseas House, Royal Overseas League,  Park Place, St James’s Street, London SWlA ILR on Saturday 1 October 2011.

Guests:  Jan A. Johannsson, Sweden; David Wilkinson,  UK Apologies:  Dora Debeljak, Slovenia; Johannes Rindal, Senterungdommen, Norway; Kjell Dahle, Senterpartiet, Norway; John Mills, Secretary, Labour Euro-Safeguards Campaign, UK; Hans Lindqvist, EU-kritiska Centernetvarket, Sweden; Normunds Grostins, Latvia;Poul Ruppen, Europa Magazin, Switzerland; Max Andersson, Miljöpartiet, Sweden; Gorazd Drevensek, Slovenia;  Helle Hagenau, Norway; Antti Pesonen, Finland; Mauri Nygaard, Finland.

Coordinator: Patricia McKenna, Ireland The minutes of the last meeting held in 2010 were read.  Muriel Saidlear, Ireland, agreed to take the minutes for this year’s AGM. It was agreed that minutes giving such lengthy details of discussions and speakers would not be required in future.

Financial Report Lave Broch, Denmark,  gave his comments in addition to the report. Under the heading Income/expenditure An entry under Isafold, Iceland: reading  l SEK is set to 1,3438 DKK, was corrected to read l DKK is set to l,3438 SEK After this  correction was made  the Financial Report was passed and the meeting thanked Lave Broch for his work as Treasurer.

• Report of work over the past year TEAM helped in relation to the campaign for a referendum on Eurozone membership in Estonia by organizing meetings, opinion polls and data which could be used in the future.  This work was recognized as being very useful by the Estonian campaign. It was pointed out that keeping up-to-date lists of  TEAM membership was very time-consuming and onerous and it was suggested that one member of the incoming Board should be appointed to take responsibility for this task. The length of time in which to pursue subscriptions in the case of non-payment was decided to be one year after which, having given the affiliate notice, TEAM membership would terminate. UKIP has not paid its subscription for the year 2010-11.  It was therefore decided to allow UKIP’s membership to lapse. The TEAM webpage, which Luise Hemmer-Pihl, Denmark, had agreed to operate for the year 2010-11 to replace the Slovenian operator who had stood down, was functioning but not to its full potential. It needed to be up-dated every day if possible to attract a wide audience. It was decided that a website consisting of information from Open Europe, EU Observer, and reports from different affiliates should be posted  perhaps in the form of a newsletter which would be controlled and under the auspices of TEAM. The Link with Facebook,Twitter, etc. which would give immediate access with photographic input etc. could be used as a backup but without TEAM being responsible.  This latter would be organized and operated by the young Norwegian members.  A deadline should be set for entries to this website link inputs.
• Work Programme for 2011-12 This overlapped to some extent with Item No.4 on the Agenda, Report on work over the past year. Regarding the website discussion, John Boyd, UK, said he would be willing to help in a small way.  The Norwegian Youth group offered to help to operate the Link aspect of the website and in this context it was decided that they should be invited to become members of the Board irrespective of the fact that Norway would have the largest national group on the board. Lave Broch gave a report from the People’s Movement in Denmark on the upcoming Danish referendum. There will be a referendum in 2012 on EU justice policy and EU military policy – the exact date is not yet fixed. There is a Danish court case due to start on 26 March 2012 dealing with the validity of the Danish ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The presidency of the EU will be held by Denmark in the first part of 2012. It was agreed that TEAM should help in every way possible in Denmark’s referendum and in Iceland’s referendum on EU membership. The situation in Croatia needed to be handled with care to avoid TEAM becoming involved with extreme racists campaigners in the upcoming referendum on Croatia’s application for EU membership.
• 3. Endorsement of new TEAM affiliates There were no new affiliates.
• 4. Nominations Committee It was proposed that this Committee be discontinued.  However, because of TEAM’s Constitution this will have to wait until next year’s AGM when  a formal proposal to amend the constitution to this effect be put forward.  This was agreed.  One member of the incoming Board should be appointed to be responsible for this. It was decided that a date for next year’s AGM should be set as soon as possible by the Board so that it could be broadened out into wider areas for debate and discussion involving organisations concerned with environmental, peace issues and such like.
• 5.  Election of board, treasurer and coordinator The following were elected to the Board: Stuart Coster, UK, Sigrid Heiberg, Norway, Helle Hagenau, Norway, Karoline Runestad. Norway, Dora Debeljak, Slovenia,   Alain Bournazel, France, Ingela Mårtensson, Sweden, Patricia McKenna, Ireland – Coordinator, Lave Knud Broch, Denmark – Treasurer, Luise Hemmer Pihl, Denmark, Olli Salin, Finland

Both the Coordinator and Treasurer agreed to continue in these positions for another year. Lea Launakari, Finland, is not going forward this year.

• 1.  Amendments to TEAM Constitution It was agreed that the Nomination Committee be discontinued forthwith and that the Constitution should be so amended at the next AGM. Thanks were expressed to Jan Johannsson, EU Democrats, for his help in organizing the meetingplace in London.

Reports from affiliates for the different European countries were then given by those present.

Programme

FRIDAY, September 30th

For TEAM Board members only:

16.00-18.00 - Board meeting at the office of People’s Pledge, 83 Victoria Street, London SW1H OHW

For all participants in the TEAM Annual General Meeting:

19.00: We are invited to a celebration of the Jubilee of Get Britain Out, including a buffet supper. The Venue will be in central London and will be announced as soon as possible.

SATURDAY, October 1st

For all TEAM organisation members:

10.00-13.00 - Official TEAM AGM Venue: Overseas House (Royal Overseas League), London, Park Pl, London SW1A 1 LR

Agenda:

• 1. Apologies
• 2. Minutes of 2010 AGM and matters arising
• 3. Financial report
• 4. Report of work over the past year
• 5. Endorsement of new TEAM affiliates
• 6. Work Programme for 2011/12
• 7. Report of the Nominations Committee – recommendations for Board members and coordinator (chairman)
• 8. Election of board, treasurer and coordinator
• 9. Amendments to the TEAM constitution
• 10. Election of the Nominations Committee
• 11. Discussion on the futute operation of TEAM and the TEAM board
• 12. Written reports from affiliates and delegates

13.00-14.00 - Lunch break

PUBLIC MEETING

Venue:Overseas House (Royal Overseas League), Lomdon, Park Pl, London SW1A 1 LR Official organizers : TEAM and EUD (Eudemocrats)

14.15-14.30: Welcome by TEAM coordinator Patricia McKenna

14.30-15.00: THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE EURO Anthony Coughlan, Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Social Policy of Trinity College, Dublin, and a British Trade Unionist – name not confirmed

15.00-15.30: Debate

15.30-16.00 Break

IS THERE A FUTURE OUTSIDE THE EU?

16.00-17.00 Edward Spalton, chair of CIB, and Sigrid Heiberg, board member of No to EU, Norway

18.00-18.15 Closing of the meeting

Dear members, observers and friends of TEAM,

the TEAM Board meeting (on 3rd of March) Board members confirmed the proposal that TEAM AGM 2010 (Annual General Meeting) is to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 8th and 9th of May 2010.

You may start planning your train, bus, boat or plane tickets.

For further details please turn to: Eli van der Eynden from Nei til EU, Norway and Jan-Erik Gustavsson from Nej til EU, Sweden. Program proposals, ideas, wishes are to be sent to “eli_eynden@hotmail.com” or “janerik@bahnhofbredband.se”.

Venue of the AGM will be: ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41, Stockholm.

Please use also Facebook event page.

7th May 2010

20.00: Unofficial get-together at Scandic Malmen Hotel (close to subway station Medborgarplatsen).

Draft programme TEAM public meeting 8th May 2010 ABF-huset, Stockholm

11.30 – 12.30: Press conference

12.00 – 12.30: Registration

12.30 –13.45: The euro and the EU financial and economic crisis

Speaker one, 25 minutes (Stefan de Vylder, Sweden)

Speaker two, 25 minutes (Hallgrimur Arnasson, Isafold, Iceland)

Discussion, 25 minutes

Swedish moderator (Hans Lindqvist to confirm)

13.45 – 14.15: coffee and small talk

14.15 – 15.00: The Lisbon Treaty

Speaker, 25 minutes (Patricia McKenna, People’s Movement Ireland)

Discussion, 20 minutes

Swedish moderator (Jan-Erik Gustafsson, Folkrörelsen Nej till EU)

15.00 -15.15: coffee talk

Speaker one, 25 minutes (Lee Rotherham, UK)

Speaker two, 25 minutes (Tomas Larsson, Sweden)

Discussion, 25 minutes

Swedish moderator (Max Andersson MP)

16.30 – 16.40: Conclusion of the day

18.30: Gathering, Kungsgatan 84

9th May 2010

1.00 to 15.00: TEAM AGM closed session at ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41

Stockholm Metro (T-bana) map (nearest stops to the venue: Rädmansgarten or Hötorget, both on the Green Line)

Details in English about using the Stockholm public transport, including the Metro, plus journey plannero (T-bana) map 

Dear members, observers and friends of TEAM,

TEAM Board meeting (on 21st of January) Board members accepted the proposal that TEAM AGM 2009 (Annual General Meeting) will take place in connection to the planned CIB AGM in London, UK.

Friday April 3rd:

from 17:00: Get-together and registration.

Venue: “Euston Flyer”, 83 Euston Road (between King’s Cross and Euston stations).

Saturday April 4th:

14:00-17:00: Public Meeting - we are invited to attend the public meeting of Campaign for an Independent Britain, CIB

Venue: Friends House, Euston Road, London (opposite Euston station)

Sunday April 5th::

11:00-16:00…….Official TEAM AGM

Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square (Fenner Brockway Room), close to Holbourn station, a couple of tube stations from King’s Cross)

Please mark the days from Friday, April 3rd ‘till Sunday, April 5th on your calendars and try your best to meet us there.

ACCOMMODATION:

There is a budget hotel in the Euston and Kings Cross area. It is an old fashioned hotel and is very similar in price to Bed and Breakfast places. Check out the County Hotel for yourself. Through the same link you can find alternative places as well.

Also check out these fine B&Bs close to our venue.

Special announcement!

Get-together and registration at The People´s Movement (Folkebevaegelsen mod EU) Tordenskjoldsgade 21, Copenhagen K (Centre), close to the Kings New Market (Kongens Nytorv) and The Royal Theatre.

The TEAM Annual General Meeting will be held on 25 March, 2007 at “Zum Turm”, Wil (close to Zurich) in Switzerland. The day before, 24 March, the Swiss organisation Young4FUN are holding what is being described as ‘the largest EU-critical conference that Switzerland has ever had.’

Growing opposition to rejected EU Constitution

“TEAM can show the people in Finland and elsewhere that the opponents of the EU Constitution are neither isolated nor isolationists,” says newly elected TEAM Co-ordinator Jesper Morville, on TEAM’s planned activities in Finland. This follows the Finnish government’s manifest intentions to ratify the EU Constitution before Finland takes over the EU Council Presidency next July.

Austria is currently presiding over the EU Council. Meanwhile, cherry picking of the rejected EU Constitution goes on, an EUarmy is being assembled to go into the Congo, and a mass movement of labour is taking place from east to west within the EU, causing ‘social dumping’ and a ‘race to the bottom’ in working conditions and wages.

On Saturday 9th April hundreds of political activists from across the party-political divide met in London to launch a new campaign called “Europeans for Diversity - No the EU Constitution”. They rallied for a Europe of democratic nation states that trade, enjoy cultural exchange and inter-governmental co-operation. The aim is to reach millions of voters in Britain and other EU countries. On Sunday 10th April, TEAM’s Annual General Meeting was held as usual. Read more below.

Programme for the international rally

TEAM Working Programme 2005-2006

Report and photo diary from the rally “Europeans for Diversity - No the EU Constitution”. See the Democracy Movement’s web-page.

This programme gives an outline of the general political priorities and tasks which the AGM recommends to the alliance of TEAM for 2005-2006. The programme will act as guidelines for the TEAM Board over the same period. Affiliated organisations may use the programme as a whole or elements of the programme as inspiration for their own work at national, regional and local levels.

The Board arranges mainly one meeting for the TEAM affiliates and others interested during a working year: The Annual General Meeting (AGM). An internal face-to-face meeting is also arranged every year. Besides these meetings TEAM arranges conferences and seminars.

AGM in London, United Kingdom, 9-10 April 2005

AGM in Copenhagen, Denmark, 28-29 February 2004

AGM in Tallinn, Estonia, 29-30 March 2003

AGM in Prague, Czech Republic, 9-10 March 2002

AGM in Stockholm, Sweden, 24-25 March 2001

Saturday 9th April at the Conway Hall, London, will see the coming together of hundreds of political activists from across the party-political divide to launch a new campaign called “Europeans for Diversity - No the EU Constitution”. The rally will call for a Europe of democratic nation states that trade, enjoy cultural exchange and inter-governmental co-operation. The aim will be to reach millions of voters in Britain and other EU countries. On Sunday 10th April, TEAM’s Annual General Meeting will be held.

AGM 2004 - Working Programme 2004-2005

The TEAM Working Programme outlines the general political priorities and tasks which this Annual General Meeting will recommend to the TEAM network for the coming year. The programme functions as guidelines for the TEAM Board. The affiliated organisations may use the programme or parts of it as inspiration for their own work.

EU Constitution and Charter of Fundamental Rights

Further develop the broad political alliance, across the continent of Europe, against the planned EU Constitution and Charter of Fundamental Rights. Support the No-side in the coming referendums on the EU Constitution.

Encourage TEAM affiliates to support the petition, through the gathering of signatures, demanding national referendums on the EU Constitution.

AGM 2004 - Working Programme 2004-2005

Support demands for fair referendums to prevent a repeat of the largely unfair and undemocratic practice used in the Applicant Countries.

Provide high quality material on the draft Constitution and current EU-issues which can be easily used by organisations and campaigns.

Alternatives to the EU State

Stimulate a debate on alternatives to a centralized EU State.

Elections to the European Parliament in 2004

Provide support for candidates to the European Parliament elections, nominated by organisations affiliated to TEAM, as the affiliates in each country may see fit.

Single Currency

Support the No-side in the British referendum on the euro, if it should be held during 2004 and 2005, with information and international contacts.

Provide information about the consequences of the single currency in those EU States which have adopted the euro.

AGM 2004 - Report

This report is presented to TEAM’s Eight Annual General Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 28-29, 2004, following the AGM in Tallinn, Estonia, March 29-30, 2003, and the meeting of the TEAM Board in Brussels October 11-12, 2003

The number of TEAM affiliates increases

TEAM at present has 53 affiliated organisations in 20 countries across Europe: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

At the AGM in Tallinn the following new affiliates were agreed to. As TEAM Members: Heimssýn (Iceland), Equal in Europe (Ireland), Movement for Independence (Latvia), Europa Nostra 2000 (Slovakia) and Young 4 FUN (Switzerland). As TEAM Observers: Research Centre Free Europe (Estonia), Polish Alliance (Poland) and Agora (Slovakia).

On 23 April the Board recommended unanimously to TEAM’s current affiliates that the European Foundation, a leading UK-based think-tank, should be admitted into affiliation as an observer organisation with TEAM. This recommendation was accepted by TEAM’s affiliates without objection.

Five of TEAM’s affiliates are represented in the European Parliament. The Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party of Sweden belong to the Green Group. The UK Independence Party and the June Movement, Denmark, belong to the EDD (Europe of Democracies and Diversities) Group. The People’s Movement against the EU, Denmark, belongs to the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL).

Change of TEAM Coordinator

Sharon Ellul Bonici (Malta) was elected TEAM Coordinator at the AGM in Tallinn 2003. Due to the circumstances of her candidacy for the Malta Labour Party in the European Parliament elections, she felt compelled to resign as Coordinator. On 26 November the Board elected John Boyd as Acting Coordinator in her place. Full members of the Board have been: Jean-Paul Bled (France) as Treasurer, Hans Lindqvist (Sweden), Gorazd Drevensek (Slovenia), Helle Hagenau (Norway), Sharon Bonici (Malta) and Uno Silberg (Estonia). Substitute members have been: Alberto Carosa (Italy), Pelle Geertsen (Denmark) and Normunds Grostins (Latvia).

TEAM Board Meetings

The Board had its first meeting on Sunday March 30, 2003, after the AGM. Since then the Board has had 12 meetings in all, ten of which have been phone conferences. A face-to-face meeting was held in Brussels on October 11-12, 2003, when the draft EU Constitution and TEAM’s campaign against it were discussed.

Unfair accession referendums

Seven EU accession referendums were held from April to September 2003:
Country	Date	In favour	Against	Turnout
Hungary	12 April	83.76 %	16.24 %	45.62 %
Lithuania	10-11May	91.04 %	8.96 %	63.3 %
Slovakia	16-17 May	92.46 %	6.20%	52.15 %
Poland	7-8 June	77.45 %	22.25 %	58.85 %
Czech Rep.	13-14 June	77.33 %	22.67 %	55.21 %
Estonia	14 Sept	66.92 %	33.08 %	64.0 %
Latvia	20 Sept	67.0 %	32.20 %	72.53 %

The figures shows that Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic and Poland have the largest EU-scepticism among its populations. Malta, which was mentioned in the AGM report 2002-2003, had the strongest No-vote among the accession countries. On 8 March 46.35 % voted against EU membership, 53.65 in favour, on a turnout of 91 %. The referendum in Slovenia on 23 March had a different character: 89.91 % in favour, 10.39 % against, on a turnout of 60,29 %.

Voter turnouts were generally low in the accession referendums, but the members of the electorate who did vote generally cast a Yes-ballot. The No-campaigners in the Accession countries not only had to fight against voter apathy and disillusionment, but also against the Yes-side’s huge resources in terms of finances and political backing from parties and media. In some countries also there was significant interference by the EU Commission, by office-holders of the European Parliament, which some legal opinion considers in breach of EU law, and by foreign governments. For these reasons most of the EU Accession referendums cannot be considered to have been fair and democratic.

TEAM questioned the Commission’s financial involvement in the accession referendums, and argued that this was in breach of the relevant Accession treaties, for the Commission is not a party to the treaties and therefore has no proper role in ratifying them. Complaints were sent to the EU Ombudsman, the Commission and the European Parliament. The latter two institutions claimed that no violations had occurred, and that the EU only disseminated “information” in the accession referendum campaigns. Such “information”, financed by EU taxpayers’ money, inevitably affected voter choices and was designed to do so. TEAM’s expressions of concern got good press coverage in the Brussels media.

The TEAM Board has continued the advance the demand for free and fair referendums, based on the criteria which it adopted in early 2003. TEAM took part in initiating and developing the “Referendum Monitoring Project”, which is run by the Initiative and Referendum Institute, Amsterdam. The EU accession referendums were monitored at workshops in Bratislava, Slovakia, in June 2003, and in Tartu, Estonia, in September 2003, in which TEAM Board Members and some of TEAM’s affiliated organisations participated. A “TEAM Referendum Monitoring Report”, which analyses the ten EU referendums during 2003, based on the criteria for fair referendums, was presented at these workshops.

Overwhelming Swedish No to the euro

On 14 September the Swedes electorate voted “Nej” (“No”) to scrapping the krona and adopting the euro by a strong majority: 55.9 % No, 42 % Yes and 2 % blank votes. Voter turnout was high at 82.6 %. This result shows that the Swedes made up their mind independently of the heavy imbalance of propaganda from the major parties, the trade unions, big business and their lobbyists on behalf of a Yes vote. The voters took an informed and rational decision in a dramatic and traumatic moment in Swedish politics. Foreign Minister Anna Lindh had been brutally assassinated just three days before the referendum, which led to a suspension of active campaigning in that time coming up to the poll.

The No-victory was achieved by a politically broad alliance ranging from left to right, which was coordinated in a loose way. The two main reasons for the No-result was that the Social Democratic Party failed to convince their own voters, among whom women constituted a key group. Neither did the centre-right parties manage to convince their voters that the euro was needed to boost economic growth in Sweden or for that country to be a “full” member of the EU. Many of these voters had voted Yes to EU-membership in 1994.

The Swedish “Nej” to the euro reveals an increase in the opposition to the centralising structures of the EU, and a reaction against the notion that an EU Member State has to accept all aspects of EU integration. A further indication of growing EU-critical sentiment in Sweden has been the emergence of a new party, The June List, which will stand for elections in the European Parliament on 13 June 2004. TEAM supported the Swedish No-campaign in various ways. Its Swedish affiliates were very active during the campaign. They were also supported by activists from TEAM affiliates in other countries, such as Denmark, Norway and Ireland.

TEAM’s campaign against an EU Constitution

The Summit meeting in Thessaloniki in June 2003 concluded that “the Draft Constitutional Treaty is a good basis for starting in the Intergovernmental Conference”. But it did not prove to be such a “good basis” for further discussions. Quite soon it became clear that Spain and Poland did not want to lose the voting strength in the Council which the Nice Treaty had guaranteed them. Consequently, the Summit in Brussels in December failed to reach an agreement on the Constitution. In media reports Poland and Spain were blamed for the Summit’s failure, but France’s objections to the Constitution - which shifts voting strength in the EU against Paris and towards Berlin may also have been a factor.

The conference “Visions for a Democratic Europe” in Brussels 11-12 December 2003, was organised by the TEAM secretariat together with several other European NGOs (Europe 2020 in Paris, IRI Europe in Amsterdam, European Referendum Campaign in Frankfurt and More Democracy in Berlin). At a press conference at this event TEAM’s campaign against the EU Constitution was launched. The campaign slogan “No to the EU State Constitution - Yes to Democracy” was presented, along with a campaign folder outlining the main arguments against the Draft EU Constitution. The TEAM website has been rearranged and redesigned since to fit in with this campaign.

The TEAM secretariat will continue to produce campaign material on the EU Constitution. A number of factsheets drawing on research by various legal experts and other authorities have been produced on particular key issues. Two major TEAM Working Papers on the Constitution have been written and are available on the website: “The shaping of a new EU State Constitution - with alternatives for a “Europe of Democracies”, by Jens-Peter Bonde MEP, and “A critical analysis of the EU draft Constitution”, by Anthony Coughlan.

The draft Constitution reveals the true nature of the EU-integration project: it lays the constitutional basis for a highly centralised and undemocratic “EU State” under the political hegemony of the bigger EU members. This fact has sparked a growing EU-critique across Europe in both old and new EU Member States. Independently of political colour or view of the EU-project, many parties and NGOs agree that the Constitution cannot be the basis for an equal and democratic European cooperation. This growing opposition will be visible in the upcoming referendums on the EU Constitution, assuming that this is agreed by the 25 Member State governments.

At present it is clear that Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and the Czech Republic will hold referendums for purposes of ratifying the EU Constitution, once that is signed. More countries are likely to follow. The growing opposition against the “EU State” or “State-in-the-making” and the number of referendums on the EU Constitution, create new possibilities for the EU-critical movement across Europe. TEAM and its affiliated organisations will use this momentum to defend the principles of democracy and argue that the people should have a say on the future of Europe.

The TEAM Board would like to thank all TEAM members, observers and supporters for a fruitful cooperation during the past year. We hope for a significant expansion in the number of organisations affiliated to TEAM during the coming year and for a politically successful 2004-2005 in our struggle to defend democracy in face of the EU.

Henrik Dahlsson Secretary General TEAM

Meetings - TEAM AGM 2004

The European Alliance of EU-critical Movements (TEAM) held its 8th Annual General Meeting on Friday - Sunday, 27-29 February 2004, at the Jord och Betonarbejdernes Fagforening, Hestemøllestræde 5, Copenhagen, Denmark.

A key theme of the AGM was civil liberties and how they are threatened by the EU’s participation in the current international “war on terror”. Professor Thomas Mathiesen of Oslo University was the keynote speaker on this topic. Professor Mathiesen has lectured and published widely in this area over recent decades and is an internationally recognised authority in the field of human rights and civil liberties.

The other key topic was the EU Draft Constitution. The meeting discussed why the talks failed at the Brussels Summit last December, what is likely to happen next and what the international EU-critical movement might do to defeat this EU Constitution during 2004.

The debate on the Constitution was also covered by some of the leading EU-critical candidates in Denmark’s elections to the European Parliament in June. Key aspects of the Constitution were also examined by AGM participants in workshops.

The AGM discussed TEAM’s campaign against the EU Constitution and ideas on “How to run a successful campaign”. The gathering in Copenhagen was seen as a good opportunity to exchange ideas on strategy and campaigning across Europe for the coming year.

The AGM approved five new observers of TEAM: The Confederation of Social Associations (Hungary), Free Europe (Netherlands), Another Democracy is Possible (Spain), Attac (Romania) and European Foundation (UK). Find their addresses, e-mails and websites here.

The European Alliance of EU-critical Movements (TEAM) is holding its 8th Annual General Meeting on Friday - Sunday, 27-29 February 2004, at the Jord och Betonarbejdernes Fagforening, Hestemøllestræde 5, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The other key topic that will be discussed is the EU Draft Constitution - why the talks failed at the Brussels Summit last December, what is likely to happen next and what the international EU-critical movement might do to defeat this EU Constitution during 2004.

The debate on the Constitution will also be covered by some of the leading EU-critical candidates in Denmark’s elections to the European Parliament in June. Key aspects of the Constitution will also be examined by AGM participants in workshops.

The AGM will discuss TEAM’s campaign against the EU Constitution and ideas on “How to run a successful campaign.” Our gathering in Copenhagen is a good opportunity to exchange ideas on strategy and campaigning across Europe for the coming year.

The AGM draft programme follows: Programme for TEAM’s 8th Annual General Meeting

Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday-Sunday, 27-29 February 2004 Venue: Jord- och Betonarbejdernes Fagforening, Hestemøllestræde 5, Copenhagen.

Friday 27 February From 18.00: Social get-together at the Red-Green Alliance’s office, Studiestræde 24, Copenhagen

Saturday 28 February 09.30: Coffee 10.00: Welcome 10.10: The Attack on Civil Liberties after September 11 • Thomas Mathiesen, Professor of Sociology of Law at Oslo University, Norway 10.30: Comment: Civil Liberties and the EU Constitution • Ole Krarup MEP, Peoples’ Movement against the EU, Professor of Law at Copenhagen University Followed by discussion 11.10: The Collapse of the EU Constitution and the road ahead • Jens-Peter Bonde MEP, June Movement, President of the EDD Group in the European Parliament 11.30 Comment: A British Perspective on the EU Constitution • Nigel Farage MEP, U.K. Independence Party 11.50: Panel discussion: The EU Constitution and the coming Danish Referendum • Jens-Peter Bonde, June Movement • Hanne Dahl, June Movement • Rune Lund, Red-Green Alliance • Ditte Staun, Peoples’ Movement against the EU 12.30: Lunch 13.30: Workshops: 1) How to run a successful campaign/TEAM’s campaign “No to the EU State Constitution - Yes to Democracy” 2) EU Constitution 3) EU Enlargement 4) Alternatives to the EU 5) Reforming the EU 15.00: Coffee 15.30: Workshops continue 17.30: Reports and conclusion from workshops 18.00: End of program 20.00: Dinner

Sunday 29 February 09.30: Coffee 10.00: AGM Report 10.15: TEAM Treasurer’s Report 10.30: Proposal for changes to TEAM’s Constitution 11.00: Affiliation of new member and observer organizations 11.30: Proposal for TEAM Working Program 2004-2005 12.00: Election of TEAM Coordinator and Board 12.30: Lunch 13.30: Country reports 14.30: End of program 15.00: Guided walking tour of Copenhagen city-centre

If you have any questions regarding the AGM, please contact Henrik Dahlsson at the TEAM Secretariat on:

+32 2 284 65 67

hdahlsson@europarl.eu.int

The TEAM Working Programme for 2003-2004 outlines the general political priorities and tasks which this Annual General Meeting will recommend to the TEAM network for the coming year. The programme functions as guidelines for the TEAM Board. The affiliated organisations may use the programme or parts of it as inspiration for their own work.

EU-related referendums

Support EU-critics and opponents in the Applicant Countries through information, international support and funding where their referendums are unbalanced and unfair.

Demand “fair” EU referendums, based on the TEAM statement “International best practice for fair EU referendums” and support similar initiatives by others.

File complaints to the European Ombudsman when relevant, support and encourage legal action concerning the Commission’s improper intervention in national referendum processes.

Support the No-side in the Swedish referendum on the euro with information and international contacts.

Support the No-side in the British referendum on the euro, if it should be held during 2003 and 2004, with information and international contacts.

Constitutional Convention and EU Constitution

Encourage the formation of a broad political alliance, in the EU Member States and Applicant Countries, against the planned EU Constitution/Constitutional Treaty.

Expose the threat to national democracy and an equal and democratic European cooperation.

Demand national referendums on the outcome of the Convention and support initiatives like the European Referendum Campaign.

Alternatives to the EU State

Stimulate a debate on alternatives to a centralized EU State.

Elections to the European Parliament in 2004

Provide support for candidates to the European Parliament elections, running for organisations affiliated to TEAM, as the affiliates in each country may see fit.

Adopted at TEAM’s AGM in Tallinn, Estonia, on 30 March 2003.

The 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, 28-30 March 2003. The conference on Saturday dealt with the EU accession referendums in Malta and Slovenia and the need for “fair” EU referendums. Workshops were also held on the following topics: campaign planning, TEAM strategy, and visions for another Europe.

A paneldiscussion was held on the work of the Convention and the planned EU State Constitution. The Iraq war and its consequences on the EU’s plans for a Common Foreign and Security Policy was also discussed

AGM Report 2002-2003 Working Programme 2003-2004

This report was presented to TEAM’s Seventh Annual General Meeting in Tallinn, following the AGM in Prague March 9-10 2002, the face-to-face meeting of the TEAM Board in Brussels October 26-27, and the TEAM Council Meeting in Copenhagen on December 15, 2002.

TEAM’s Sixth Annual General Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, March 9-10, 2002.

This report was presented at TEAM’s Sixth Annual General Meeting in Prague, following the AGM in Stockholm March 23-24, 2001, the face-to-face meeting of the TEAM Board in Malta September 15-16, and the Council in Vienna in November 10-11.

TEAM Affiliates

During the year the Board decided to suspend the No to EU organisation in Poland as observer affiliates of TEAM. It came to the Board’s knowledge that the No to EU has a website with racist content, which is a clear violation of the TEAM Constitution. Since the No to EU has not taken any action to close the website or expel those of its members or supporters with connection to extremist movements, the Board decided to recommend to the AGM that the No to EU shall be excluded as observer affiliates of TEAM.

Five of TEAM’s affiliates are represented in the European Parliament: The Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party of Sweden belong to the Green Group; the UK Independence Party, The June Movement and the People´s Movement Against the EU, Denmark, belong to the EDD (Europe of Democracies and Diversities) Group.

TEAM Board

The members of the Board elected at last year´s AGM in Stockholm were Hans Lindqvist (Coordinator, Sweden), Jean-Paul Bled (Treasurer, France), Ulla Klötzer (Finland), Anthony Coughlan (Ireland), Nigel Spearing (Great Britain), Gorazd Drevensek (Slovenia) and Stian Oen (Norway). Helle Hagenau (Denmark) and Lisbeth Kirk (Denmark) were elected as observer members of the Board.

At the 2001 AGM in Stockholm Henrik Dahlsson was appointed Secretary General of TEAM. Henrik Dahlsson took up the post in Brussels on November 5, 2001, one and a half years since Helle Hagenau ended her job at the TEAM Secretariat in the European Parliament. During this time the TEAM Secretary´s work has been carried out by Helle Hagenau, Anthony Coughlan and Henrik Dahlsson, working as part-time volunteers at different periods. This inevitably reduced the effectiveness of TEAM’s work during this time and the services it could render its affiliates, which the Board very much regretted.

TEAM Board Meetings

The Board had a constitutent meeting on Sunday 24 March 2001 after the AGM and has since then had 14 meetings in all, ten of which have been phone conferences.

A face-to-face Board meeting was held in Malta in September 15-16 to support the Campaign for National Independence there. Press conferences and a public meeting were also held in Malta and the Board had its own meeting dealing with international EU-critical activity. A statement on the euro-currency was adopted and issued by the Board, together with a press statement, in Norwegian, by the Board’s Scandinavian members.

The annual meeting of the TEAM Council, required under our Constitution, was held November 10-11 in Perchtoldsdorf, Vienna. It was well-arranged by the host organisation, Aktion EU-Austritt. The meeting covered different aspects of the current development of the EU: enlargement, militarization, the plans for an EU State Constitution. About 200 Austrians came to the ‘Burg’ in Perchtoldsdorf to listen to invited speakers from Western and Central Europe, many of them well-known academics and democratic activists.

Major political events during the year

The major political events during 2001 and 2002 have been the debates on the Treaty of Nice, the EU Enlargement Process, the introduction for the euro currency, the plans for an EU State Constitution and the establishment of the EU Constitutional Convention.

The EU-critical movements across Europe have worked hard to reveal the real reasons behind the Treaty of Nice: a way to strengthen the power of the large Member States of the EU against the small countries and to move the EU away from being a group of at least legally equal States. The key political aim of Nice is to create an inner directorate of EU States under German-French hegemony that would present the rest with continual political and economic faits accomplis under the heading of “enhanced cooperation”.

The Irish No to the Treaty of Nice

The Treaty of Nice was rejected by the Irish people in a referendum in June 2001 after a successful campaign by TEAM’s Irish affiliates, The National Platform, and The Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA), amongst others. When the Irish said No to Nice, the Treaty should have been politically dead. But the ratification process continued in other EU-member countries as if nothing had happened. This shows the lack of respect in EU circles for the will of the people, especially those in small countries.

The Irish No to the Treaty of Nice did not stop the plans for deeper EU integration and further erosion of democracy. The Federalists have sought instead to focus on the major integrationist projects ahead, the introduction of the euro, plans for harmionising indirect taxes in the eurozone, plans for an EU State Constitution and the division of the EU into two or more tiers or classes - “the Union for the enlarged Europe and a Federation for the avant garde”, as former EU Commission President Jacques Delors has put it.

The introduction of the euro

On 1 January 2002, twelve of the 15 EU-member countries replaced their national currencies with the euro. Since the euro was launched signs of inflation has been noted in several countries in the euro-zone. Germany has problems keeping its budget deficit below the 3% figure which the Stability Pact requires, but has through political dealing avioded a warning from the Finance Ministers of the EU Member States.

However, Ireland got a warning last year when in a similar situation. This illustrates the different standards of treatment for large and small EU-Member countries. Analysts suggest that this development has undermined the legitimacy of the Stability Pact and will have significant implications for the whole EMU-project.

The EU Constitutional Convention

It was decided at the EU Summit in Laeken in December 2001 how the Convention, which will propose an EU State Constitution, will be set up. After the European Parliament and the national governments and parliaments in Member and Accession countries have nominated their representatives, it is clear that the Convention lacks both women and EU-critics.

There is also a great risk that the “Civic Forum”, which is supposed to work in parallell with the Convention, will consist only of europhiles and federalists - which would make the whole Convention an exercise in window-dressing for further integration, despite the efforts of the few democrats and EU-critics among the Convention members to champion a more democratic, people-friendly EU.

One important task for the Board and the TEAM affiliates during the coming year will be to follow the work of this Convention and show that there are movements which desire another form of cooperation in Europe than a Federal Superstate dominated by the Big EU Members.

The Board wishes to thank all organisations and people associated with TEAM for their cooperation during 2001-2002. We hope that our work will grow in effectiveness and influence during the coming year.

Henrik Dahlsson Secretary General

On behalf of the TEAM Board:

Hans Lindqvist (Sweden, Coordinator) Jean-Paul Bled (France, Treasurer) Anthony Coughlan (Ireland) Gorazd Drevensek (Slovenia) Ulla Klötzer (Finland) Stian Oen (Norway) Nigel Spearing (UK) Helle Hagenau (Norway, observer) Lisbeth Kirk (Denmark, observer)

The report was accepted by the AGM March 10, 2002.

Meetings - TEAM AGM 2002

The 6th AGM of TEAM was held in Prague 9-10 March 2002 at the Klub Techniku, just by the Charles Bridge in the city centre. About 100 persons, representing 35 organisations and parties from 15 countries, came to Prague for the TEAM conference Saturday and the AGM Sunday.

The AGM appointed Hans Lindqvist, former MEP for the Swedish Centre Party, as the TEAM Coordinator for the third year running. To see the new members and observers of the Board go here.

New members and observers

At the AGM one new member and five observers were appointed. The Campaign for National Independence (Malta) became a member. Aktion EU-Austritt (Austria), The Estonian Movement No to EU (Estonia), The League for Free Finland (Finland), Young Socialists Association (Romania) and the Independent Group Faithful we Remain (Czech Republic) became observers. Now TEAM has 47 members and observers in 18 countries across Europe.

Press report AGM Report 2001-2002

Meetings - TEAM AGM 2001

The 5th Annual General Meeting of TEAM was held on 24-25 March 2001at the school Södra Latin in Stockholm during the EU-Summit hosted by the Swedish precidency. About 50 organisations and parties from 16 countries across Europe were represented.

The deputy prime minister Ms Lena Hjelm-Wallén visited the meeting. Read about that and other things in the article “What was not told at the Stockholm Summit” by Henrik Dahlsson.