Press release issued by the Spring 2010 group at the end of the alternative and participative summit that took place on March 25th 2010 in the European Parliament (Brussels)

March 25th, 2010, European Parliament

On March 25th-26th 2010, the Spring summit of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union is marking the 10th year of the Lisbon strategy, which frames the policies currently conducted in the Member States so as to “modernise” national research and education systems (primary, secondary and higher education, adult learning).

In the Lisbon strategy, the declared ambition of a “knowledge based society” is reduced to the only capitalistic “knowledge market” whose harmful influence can be seen everywhere. The public research system is being dismantled and the grip of business tightened. Tuition fees are increased. Studying and working conditions are becoming increasingly precarious and citizens are pushed aside from the technical and scientific decisions that affect their lives. Instead of being met, the promise of a 3% of G.D.P investment in research ends up with dire budget cuts.

In our alternative summit today, almost 100 people (most of them representing various European organizations such as unions of higher education and research, students organisations, NGOs and political parties) coming from 13 different European member states have gathered in order to oppose the market-oriented European policy on higher education and research and to promote an alternative project. We believe that knowledge should gain more importance with the objectives to promote education and research as public goods, when it ensures that knowledge is available to all, when it allows citizens to express a rational critical analysis of the scientific and technical choices which are proposed to them and which shape our daily life.

While keeping in mind the challenges our planet and its inhabitants are facing in the 21st century, education (including higher education and lifelong learning) should strengthen citizens’ ability to analyze our society and to participate actively in its further development.

For this purpose, we propose notably : free education for all, better studying conditions, no subordination of public research to business interests, to take more into account social needs, the respect of diversity in science, education and organisation, mobility of students and researchers as a right and not an additional pressure, free public knowledge, professional stability as well as academic freedom and democratic governance of higher education and research institutions.

In a larger context and in contrary to what the European Union proposes again with its “new” vision of Europe 2020, we should free our society from the globalised and generalised competition and financial market, and promote a new organisation of the international exchanges in economy, science, culture etc. based on the values of solidarity and mutual respect.

Spring 2010 group

Official conclusions of the European Council (25th-26th March 2010)

The Heads of State and Government discussed the European Union’s new strategy proposed by the Commission ("Europe 2020") and agreed on it.

Wiertz Street/Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Brussels Room 7C050 10:00-12:30 AM / 2:00-6:00 PM (Arrival from 9:00 AM)

Schedule 1/ Morning (10 :00-12 :30 AM) : Collective assessment of 10 years with the Lisbon Strategy 2/ Afternoon (14 : 00-18 : 00 PM) : Collective elaboration of an alternative project

Morning – Reforms and mobilizations all over Europe

Our exchanges about reforms and/or mobilizations will be organized according to four themes. Each of them is illustrated by the Lisbon Strategy key-words. You may choose one or several axe(s) or key-words and expose how their are embodied in your country or area, giving one or two examples.

 Theme « Universities and research institutions organization » « Lisbon key-words » : Governance, New Public Management, Quality, Academic freedom, Autonomy, academic marketing etc.

 Theme « Funding» « Lisbon key-words »: investments, financial health ( cut), “3% of GDP invested in research”, Tuition fees, Student loans, Tax-credits, Private foundations, Public-Private-Partnership etc…

 Theme « Regional organization» « Lisbon key-words »: Clusters, Kompetenznetze, Excellence clusters, Competitive poles, Excellence networks, Attractiveness, Mobility etc.

 Theme « Jobs» « Lisbon key-words »: Human capital, Long Life Learning, Employability, Flexibility (precarity) …

Afternoon — Alternative project

In order to explore all possibilities towards a democratic and emancipatory Europe of Knowledge, you are invited to propose in an oral or written form 5 precise ideas of political measures, ways of organization, public actions etc.

Every oral contribution is warmly welcome (within the limit of 5-10 minutes).

All written propositions sent before 18 March will be registered in a document available as a medium for the debate.

At the end of the Alternative Summit, we will publish our conclusions in a text on line and a press communiqué which will be widely diffused. In this way, we will oppose our project for Another Europe of Knowledge to the official conclusions of the Spring Council which given out the day after (26 March).

In short:

 Register directly on the website or by en sending the joint table to contact@spring2010.eu eand send your contributions for the morning or the afternoon before 18 March;

 Invite people and register them in the same way ; European, national or local representatives are welcome;

 Share the information as widely as possible.

ANDU / Italie

"La situation actuelle de l’Université en Italie après les reformes néolibérales" Alessandra Ciattini La Sapienza-Roma Associazione Nazionale Docenti Universitari

Réseau Europe

"La marchandisation du savoir: stratégie de Lisbonne et processus de Bologne" Dossier préparé par le Réseau Europe – http://reseau-europe.eu/ – reseau.europe@gmail.com

Réseau Europe

"Pourquoi suis-je concernéE par la stratégie de Lisbonne et le processus de Bologne ?" 4 p. préparé par le réseau Europe. Campagne portée par : Attac Campus, Fédération Sud Etudiant, Fac Verte, Jeunes Alternatifs, Jeunes de l’Union démocratique bretonne, Jeunes Verts, Jeunes Laïcs et Solidaires, NPA Jeunes, SUD Lycéen Manche, Front de lutte pour l’éducation.

APPEL D’ÉTUDIANTS POUR LA RÉFORME DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT DE L’ÉCONOMIE

"Nous sommes des étudiants en master d’Économie de diverses formations souhaitant exprimer notre mécontentement vis-à-vis de l’enseignement de cette discipline dans le supérieur."

"The spirit of the reforms developed in France is the root of the Lisbon strategy."

From Denis Jouan (French national trade union of researchers / SNCS)

"Une autre Europe des savoirs : à propos du sens du travail de la recherche"

Auteurs: Janine Guespin (Espaces Marx/transform!); Marc Delepouve (SNESup); Annick Jacq (Espaces Marx); Jean-Baptiste Combes (Attac, University College Union/UCU); Jean Christophe Piard

Propositions

Henri Houben (ATTAC Bruxelles)

Cinq propositions du PCF

Rédaction : Olivier Gebuhrer

Five ideas

Author: René Hornstein, student from Osnabrück (North Germany)

Five proposals

From the University of Linz

Discussion Input Paper

Ideas for a different education and society. Authors: Günter Hager-Madun, unibrennt Vienna, Nobert Bauer, Werkstatt Frieden & Solidarität, Linz

Uniriot towards Wien

Contribution from the Italien network Uniriot (http://www.uniriot.org/) for the counter-summit in Vienna (11-14 March 2010)

"Europe 2020, a regressive strategy"

Press release from the French trade union of higher education (SNESUP)

"Europe 2020, la fuite en avant"

Communiqué de presse (15/03/2010) du Snesup sur le projet de la Commission disponible en ligne

Ideas from Vienna for Brussels

Ideas jotted down during the workshop on Lisbon-Bologna that took place in Vienna, the 13th of March, during the counter-summit "Bologna burns!"(bolognaburns.org)

"Pour une Europe savante, humaniste, moderne et démocratique"

Auteur: Michel Saint-Jean (membre de SLR)

Preface Proposal (2nd version)

„„As the real Sovereigns of Our Society we vote and work for free education as a basic means for the development of an Eco(logic-co)operative Society. ..." (Author: Günter from Vienna)

Working in Progress Paper

Alternative Summit bolognaburns Vienna 11. - 14. March 2010 "Make Bologna History, make our University!" http://wiki.bolognaburns.org/wiki/i...

SUD Recherche

"Contribution pour une alternative qui soit au service du public et non du profit!"

Sud Recherche

English version

Collective Printemps 2010
 Website : http://spring2010.eu

SPRING ALTERNATIVE SUMMIT

For Another Europe of Knowledge

Thursday 25 March 2010

European Parliament

Wiertz Street/Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Brussels

Room 7C050

 10:00-12:30 AM / 2:00-6:00 PM
 (Arrival from 9:00 AM)

On 25-26 March 2010, the Spring Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union will mark the 10 years of the Lisbon Strategy, which frames the policies currently conducted in the Member States so as to ‘modernise’ the national research and education system (primary, secondary and higher education, lifelong learning). The Council will present an assessment of this Strategy and then project it over the next decade, complying with the agenda “Europe 2020” prepared by the European Commission (see http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_fr.htm)

The declared ambition of a ‘knowledge-based society’ should be encouraged when its objective is to promote education and research as public goods, when it ensures that knowledge is available to all, and when it allows citizens to express a reasoned critical analysis of the scientific and technical choices which are proposed to them.

But the current orientation is different, and reduces this prospect to the creation of a ‘knowledge market’ whose harmful influence can be seen everywhere. Scientific and institutional independence is weakened. The public research system is being dismantled and the grip of business tightened. Tuition fees are increased. Studying and working conditions are becoming increasingly precarious and citizens are pushed aside from the technical and scientific decisions that affect their lives. Instead of being met, the promise of a 3% of G.D.P investment in research ends up with dire budget cuts.

In the past few years, large-scale mobilizations of increasing intensity have been initiated by students, workers in education and research, and by social movements in general, all around Europe. These protests strongly express a demand for a public education and research sector which will not surrender to competitive market forces nor be driven by the utilitarian views imposed by short-sighted policy-makers.

That is why we are organizing an Alternative Summit on 25 March 2010 in the European Parliament in Brussels

You are warmly invited to participate actively in this day of exchanges and debates to build together another project

 AGAINST the marketization of scientific and educative activities,
 AGAINST the reduction of knowledge to technological innovation and mere adaptation to the labour market,
 FOR an emancipatory and democratic service in the field of Higher Education and Research

Schedule
 1/ Morning (10 :00-12 :30 AM) : Collective assessment of 10 years with the Lisbon Strategy

 2/ Afternoon (14 : 00-18 : 00 PM) : Collective elaboration of an alternative project

We need your contributions ! For more information on how to take part see below the registration table (registration is required before the 15 March) and the Agenda.

Registration required before 15 March:

For security reasons, registration with identity information is required for entering into the European Parliament building. Information absolutely need to be communicated 10 days before. That is why you are required to register by sending us the information below (asterisked information are used by organizers only in order to keep in touch with the participants) by March 15

Information to be sent to contact@spring2010.eu before 15 March 2010 :

 Family Name
 First Name
 Address
 Mail address *
 Telephone number*
 Birth date
 Nationality
 Passport number or other valid ID document number (the document is to be presented on 25 March)

Program

`We need your contributions!

Schedule

 1/ Morning (10 :00-12 :30 AM) : Collective assessment of 10 years with the Lisbon Strategy
 2/ Afternoon (14 : 00-18 : 00 PM) : Collective elaboration of an alternative project

Morning – Reforms and mobilizations all over Europe

Our exchanges about reforms and/or mobilizations will be organized according to four themes. Each of them is illustrated by the Lisbon Strategy key-words. You may choose one or several axe(s) or key-words and expose how their are embodied in your country or area, giving one or two examples.
 Theme « Universities and research institutions organization » « Lisbon key-words » : Governance, New Public Management, Quality, Academic freedom, Autonomy, academic marketing etc.
 Theme « Funding» « Lisbon key-words »: investments, financial health ( cut), “3% of GDP invested in research”, Tuition fees, Student loans, Tax-credits, Private foundations, Public-Private-Partnership etc…
 Theme « Regional organization» « Lisbon key-words »: Clusters, Kompetenznetze, Excellence clusters, Competitive poles, Excellence networks, Attractiveness, Mobility etc.
 Theme « Jobs» « Lisbon key-words »: Human capital, Long Life Learning, Employability, Flexibility (precarity) …

Afternoon — Alternative project

In order to explore all possibilities towards a democratic and emancipatory Europe of Knowledge, you are invited to propose in an oral or written form 5 precise ideas of political measures, ways of organization, public actions etc. Every oral contribution is warmly welcome (within the limit of 5-10 minutes). All written propositions sent before 18 March will be registered in a document available as a medium for the debate.

At the end of the Alternative Summit, we will publish our conclusions in a text on line and a press communiqué which will be widely diffused. This way, we will oppose our project for Another Europe of Knowledge to the official conclusions of the Spring Council which given out the day after (26 March).

In short:

• Register directly on the website or by sending the joint table to contact@spring2010.eu and send your contributions for the morning or the afternoon before 18 March;-
• Invite people and register them in the same way ; European, national or local representatives are welcome;
• Share the information as widely as possible.

If you want to participate to the alternative summit in Brussels on 25 March 2010, please send an email with :
 name,
 date of birth,
 nationality
 address
 passport number or any other identity card,

at : contact arobase spring2010.eu

Everything you want to know about our alternative summit and the Lisbon Strategy in education and research is in the the joint Powerpoint presentation (41 slides) !

Click here !

Europe of knowledge is burning.

Italy, Finland, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Greece, etc: for more than two years, a huge wave of protests has raised in higher education and research. All of them reclaim freedom of education and fight against their enslavement by political and economical powers.

It is clear now that the various state policies are imbued with one and same spirit defined at a European level by a mix of the Bologna process and the Lisbon strategy that can be called "Lisbo-logna process".

A first move towards a global European action was taken in April 2009 with the Counter-summit in Leuwen. A second move was the simultaneous protests in a wide variety of countries in october-december 2009, the most conspicuous of which took place in Austria and Germany.

From February to April 2010, from Paris to Madrid through the Vienna and Brussels counter-summits, now is the time for a European spring of global action. Now is the time to build our Europe of free knowledge.

The four steps of the event are described in the attached file

As organizers of the alternative summit in Brussels on the 18th or 25th of March 2010 for the 10th anniversary of Lisbon Strategy, Spring 2010 welcomes with enthusiasm the Vienna initiative.

Together we build a free future for education and research !

http://bolognaburns.org/

This site, still under construction, aims at sharing and publishing information and tools to help building a European resistance against the Lisbon Strategy in higher education and research. Our call for an European counter-summit in March 2010 is already available, so as the list of the signatories through Europe.

Have a nice visit!