Twenty Years of European Greens
1984 - 2004
edited by Arnold Cassola & Per Gahrton
Leo Cox AGALEV (Belgium)
- Coordination Secretary General 1984 - 1993
- EFGP Secretary General 1993 - 1995
Moving from a “coordination” of green parties to a “federation” was a difficult but exciting process for all of those who participated in it. I am not in a position anymore to judge on what would have been the key moments and events of green parties on their way to a common European programme and structure. But perhaps I may permit myself to pay tribute to those persons whom I consider as having been key persons during the whole process.
First of all I hope that the pioneers will not be forgotten. Sara Parkin, Per Gahrton, Dirk Janssens and Bruno Boissière were the first real believers - and in those days perhaps the only ones - in a period when green parties were still fighting for their own existence. The fact that the federation came so rapidly into existence, was mainly due to their efforts to keep green parties marching in one and the same direction.
Secondly, there was Anne de Boer, who initiated the Green East-West Dialogue, which turned out to be an efficient method for debate and cooperation amongst green parties from both sides of Europe. The Federation is now one of the few operational political structures which gathers full member parties from inside as well as outside the European Union. I am still convinced that such a structure is more effective than those that just follow the formal enlargement process of the European Union.
Helmut Lippelt opened up the gate of the Gruenen-Bundnis 90 to all other green parties. Before Lippelt showed up, the German Greens’ policy vis à vis the setting up of a Federation was still not very clear. The political support of, and sometimes even political protection by, the German Greens was the unexpected but final piece for the construction of the Federation.
With Juan Behrend I have had quite a number of differences. But, in spite of his difficult position, he has always supported the Federation in difficult moments as, for instance, when the Green Group in the European Parliament was being formed. Very important for the Federation is the fact that, on the initiative of the Group and Party Secretaries General in the European Parliament, European parties will soon have a statute and a budget which will enable them to act more separately from the Groups in the European Parliament.
And, last but not least, there was the co-secretariat and the secretariat. Without them, the Federation would have existed anyway, but it would have looked quite different. As far as I can see, they all found their way up within the movement and I hope they will do so for many years to come.
Since the very beginning, green parties have been collecting votes mostly from the political centre and they do so from a left wing position. Some have been successful, some have almost disappeared. It is doubtful, in my view, that this position can be maintained. The Greens, as well as all other movements, have under-estimated the immense problems that are showing up after the fall of the Iron Curtain. And since 11 September 2001 all political movements have to re-consider their programmes and their strategic positions. Or they may consider not do so. Such a debate will be more significant for any movement - including the Greens - than a debate on whether to join the Government or not.
