The French Mobilisation Committee will organise a meeting open to all organisations and networks in Europe involved in the European Social Forum 2002 and the World Social Forum. The meeting will take place on the 7th and 8th of December 2002, with the aim of agreeing the setting up of a European Steering Committee.
1. Dates for ESF 2003
Opening: Wednesday 12th November 2003
Closure: Sunday 16th November 2003
2. Venues
Paris and Saint-Denis.
We are working on a framework similar to that of Florence. This will involve: Plenary sessions in the mornings, each accommodating around 2000 people, which could take place in Paris or in Saint-Denis Around 40 seminars in the afternoons, shared equally between several sites (if possible, up to a maximum of 4 or 5). A central location (with stalls, a meeting area, a press area, and a certain number of seminars): in the Grande Halle de la Villette. An opening session: in Paris, at the Zénith complex A closing session: in Saint-Denis, at the Stade de France (feasibility still to be confirmed)
3. The elements of a representative structure
The European Social Forum 2003 will be the second held on the European continent. To guarantee its success, we propose to set up structures that are as united as possible to prepare the event. This will allow us to bring together all the social movements, networks, associations and organisations supportive of this proposal, of the project and of the Charter of Principles of the World Social Forum. We are addressing our call to the following social organisations and movements:
– trades unions
– community movements involved in popular education and local development
– international solidarity organisations
– organisations working against social exclusion
– human rights organisations
– organisations of environmentalists and ecologists
– farmers organisations
– economic networks offering social solidarity
– youth organisations
– migrant organisations
– cultural networks
– feminist networks - networks of researchers and lecturers
In order to create the most representative structures possible to carry out the preparations, both at a European and an individual country level, we need to bring together the continental networks of the diverse movements, as well as the National Mobilisation Committees.
4. Proposed structures
We propose to set up 4 bodies, aiming to combine genuine representation with organisational efficiency, and allowing for decision taking processes which are both transparent and democratic.
4.1 A European Steering Committee
The role of the European Steering Committee is to take the major decisions on the programme, the themes for debates, the speakers, etc. It will be composed of representatives of European networks and of the National Mobilisation Committees. Its composition must reflect the balance outlined above (diversity of movements and networks, diversity of representation from countries, particularly Eastern Europe and the Balkans). It should ensure that women are properly represented among the delegates. The Steering Committee is an open structure whose composition will be decided in a transparent manner, and whose membership list will be in the public domain. In order to assure the continuity of its work it is highly desirable, if not indispensable, to seek continuity within the Committee’s membership. The Committee could contain around 100 people. That does not exclude a certain flexibility, as the process of preparation ahead will extend over a year, from autumn 2002 to autumn 2003. The expenses for participating in meetings (travel, accommodation) will normally be the responsibility of the networks, collectives or organisations that send the delegates. We also propose the establishment of a solidarity fund to encourage the participation of organisations that lack financial means, notably the social movements of Eastern Europe and movements of the socially excluded.
4.2 National Mobilisation Committees
Each country will organise as it sees fit, but it seems important to us to encourage the creation of National Mobilisation Committees, which will act as links with the French Mobilisation Committee and the European Steering Committee. These National Committees will be represented on the European Steering Committee. The French Mobilisation Committee is constituted on the basis on a united appeal (a short declaration signed by all of the French organisations committed to this proposal): it remains open so that organisations not present at the launch can join the process later. We must work to ensure that all types of social movements are contacted. The creation of this Committee must encourage the development of initiatives at local level, favouring the creation of regional collectives. These regional collectives will participate in the National Mobilisation Committee.
4.3 The Secretariat
The organisation’s Secretariat will be responsible for all the tasks of preparation, co-ordination (notably with the relevant local councils) and the material organisation of ESF 2003. It will work under the political direction of the European Steering Committee (which will guarantee its functioning), and in close liaison with the French Mobilisation Committee. Its constitution must also reflect a balance between the different social movements. The essential criterion for membership will be the necessary availability for the role (around 1 day per week) so that it can take on the demanding tasks described above. The group could unite with other teams to take on specialised work. Its composition could be around 20 people. 4.4 A financial organisation
It has been decided to set up an organisation to finance ESF 2003. Its sole remit will be to collect funds and to utilise them according to the decisions of the European Steering Committee and the French Mobilisation Committee.