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Activity report

2013

THE SPINELLI GROUP

European Parliament | 01G102 - rue Wiertz 60 | B-1047 Bruxelles [@] secretariat @spinelligroup.eu | [Tel] +32 2 283 15 39 | [Fax] +32 284 95 6

In collaboration with

with the support of

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Spinelli Debates & Forums

Democracy in Europe…………………………………………………………………………

P.04

Spinelli Forum…………………………………………………………………………………….…

P.05

Has the Arab Spring failed? …………………………………………………………….

P.09

Forum in Poland…………………………………………………………………………………..

P.11

Hands off my Erasmus……………………………………………………………………….

P.14

Europe is Back………………………………………………………………………………………

P.15

Steering Group & Shadow European Council

Towards the 2014 European Elections – key proposals…………..

P.17

Meeting conclusions……………………………………………………………………………

P.19

Financial Statement

Overview……………………………………………………………………………………..………… P.23 Detailed book account……………………………………………………………………….

P.24

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Forewords Towards the United States of Europe

The Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Spinelli Group share the same views on the current politicaldebateinEurope.TheEuropeanProject,sincethebeginningoftheEuro-crisis,hasbeenaffectedbyalackof support fromEurope's citizens, coupledwithaweakpolitical involvement, even from the traditionalpro-European decisionmakers. Today the substantial goal of the European Treaties - the “ever closerUnion” - which aims at promoting the European values of solidarity between States and citizens, issystematically attacked by the populist and Eurosceptic trends all over the continent. These ideas,developedsolelyonthebasisofnationalinterestsaregaininginpopularity.

TheBertelsmannStiftungandtheSpinelliGroupareconvincedthat,atatimeofinterdependenceand a globalisedworld, it is high time for Europeans to come forwardwith suggestions about how todecideonanewEuropeanpoliticaloutlook.Furthermore,theEuropeanpolicymakingprocessdeservesafreshlookandhastorenewitsstrategytoinvolveEuropeancitizensinaconcreteEuropeanproject.TheSpinelli Group and the Bertelsmann Stiftung share the conviction that a pragmatic project about the“UnitedStatesofEurope” is oneof theways togetEuropeans involvedwith theEuropean integrationprocess.However,theso-calledEuropeansolutionstoovercomethecrisis,negotiatedinanoldfashioned,technocraticwayandmotivatedbytheprimacyofnational interests,haveproventheir ineffectiveness,and have given Europe's citizens the feeling that the effective solutions remain behind nationalboundaries.TheEuropeanpolicymakershave tobeable togivea soul to thispost-nationalEuropebypromotingandchoosingtheEuropeaninterestabovetheirnationalinterest.Startingoneyearbefore the2014Europeanelections,ourpartnershipexpresses the idea that theonlyway towin public support for the European project is, firstly to renew the European project, both itsinstitutionalaspectsandhowtopromoteEuropeaninterest;andsecondlytoshaperealEuropeanpoliticalanswerstotackletheEurocrisis. Main partnership activities

1. Aims

Throughthispartnership,oneofthemainobjectivesoftheSpinelliGroupandtheBertelsmannStiftungisto develop a sense of European citizenship.Most Europeans are generally aware of their position as acitizen in their own country; they can be involved in their national democratic life with their owninstitutions,which are the result of the national history and cultural particularities.On theother hand,EuropeansseemnottobeinvolvedintheEuropeanprojectanddemocraticlifeataEuropeanlevel.

2. Political issues : Thepartnershipprogramfocuseson topicswhichareofgreat importance forcitizens,andat thesametimes enable a real dialogue between Europeans from different countries, age and social origins andpolitical views. The activity program aimed at debating the following issues at different levels withinsociety and tries to initiate a real transnational debate between European policy makers and citizensreinforcedbytheexpertiseoftheSpinelliGroupmembers–steeringgroupexperts.

Action1:Economicandsocialissues–HowcanEuropetacklethecrisis?

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Action2:Citizenship–TowardsatransnationalEuropeancivilsociety.Action3:ThefutureofEurope–AnewinstitutionalframeworkfortheEuropeanUnion.

3. Means:

A group of Spinelli MEPs: TheSpinelliGroup tries tobuild a federalmajorityon important subjects.Anobviousexample in is thebudgetoftheEuropeanUnion(MFF)wheretheSpinelliMEPsareaskingforownresourcesorthecallforaConventionand thecurrentworkona"FundamentalLaw for theEuropeanUnion"with thehelpof theBertelsmannStiftung.

A group of EU experts

ExpertsforanalternativeEuropeanSummit.TheShadowCouncilsheldbytheSpinelliGrouptrytolaunchproposalsandalternativesolutionsbasedontheinterestoftheentireEuropeanUnionanditscitizens.

NetworkTheSpinelliGroup,incollaborationwiththeBertelsmannStiftung,havedevelopedastrongonlinenetworkbackedbyanactivecommunitypresence(newsletter,livestream,tweet-wall,onlinepolsforeachevent)andrelayedby localpro-Europeanmovements.ThisonlinenetworkcontributestothecreationofarealtransnationalEuropeancivilsocietywhoseobjectiveistodecideonthefutureofEuropeandtoinfluencethepolicymakingprocess.

4. Results:

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Main topics included Spinelli & BST Ressources

Action 1 Economic and social issues

Action 2

EU Citizenship

Action 3

Future of Europe EU citizens

Spinelli MEPs

Steering Group

members

Spinell i Forum

Debate 1: Towards an European Democracy

++

The means for a public EU action and how to face

the rise of populism in

Europe

+++

How to enhance a transnational

democracy (new technologies,

European political parties’

transnational lists…)

+

A new convention for the Future of Europe : the role of the EP - EU

Citizens’ consultation / Pan

EU referendum

400 participants

100 online participants

Pools

Livetweet Tweetwall

Live-blogging

3 Spinelli MEPs

Debate 2: Towards Genuine Social Market Economy in Europe

+++

EU social standard

European industries

The EU model of

development

++

To decide on the best level of efficiency.

The voice of EU citizens matters

+

New EU competences to

be created

400 participants

100 online participants

Livetweet Tweetwall

Live-blogging

1 Spinelli MEP 1 BST representative

Debate 3: After the Euro: the convergence of economies and social models

+++

MFF is a priority

A better coordination /

convergence of the EU

economies

An industry based economy

+

Institutional transparency

needed for citizens’ involvement

++

New model of governance for the Eurozone

TSCG

How to reform the

budgetary procedure?

400 participants

100 online participants

Polls

Livetweet Tweetwall

Live-blogging

3 Spinelli MEPs

Spinell i Debates

Debate 1: Democracy in Europe

++ +++

EU citizens’ desire to live together.

+

Is the Schumann Method still relevant?

Do we need a new Treaty?

2 000 participants

Online video

recording

Newspaper partnership

1 MEP

1 Steering Group

Member

Debate 2: Has the Arab

+++

++

+

380 participants 2 Spinelli MEPs

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Spring failed? Is Europe conspicuously absent?

Economic partnership

The future of the

Barcelona Process: Union

for the Mediterranean

EU’s shared values

Several national public opinion

trends

The institutional role of the EU

High representative for

Foreign affairs

Livetweet Tweetwall

Online video

recording

Debate 3: Forum in Poland The European Civil society – from idea to the News

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The means for the EU public action

+++

How to enhance a transnational democracy

What is the added value of the Polish civil society to the European identity?

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Local / National / European levels. What is the best

level of governance to

promote enhance the European

values

250 participants

40 online

participants

Livetweet Tweetwall

2 Spinelli MEPs

Debate 4: Forum in Poland How to understand the crisis - is the Eurozone ready for joining Poland?

+++

What sort of political

Framework does the Euro require?

Policies of

redistribution and of the social

model in Europe

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The european economic

integration: a new gap between

citizens and elites

++

Is the Eurozone / a federal

monetary Union a new COMECON?

What sort of

political Framework does the Euro require?

250 participants

40 online

participants

Livetweet Tweetwall

2 Spinelli MEPs

Debate 5: Hands off my Erasmus

++

Towards a creativity and

innovation based economy?

Can Knowledge make Europe an attractive centre?

+++

Erasmus and other Lifelong learning

programmes: towards an active

European citizenship.

Is the Erasmus

generation a new real European generation?

+

How MFF affects the Erasmus programme?

200 participants

Livetweet Tweetwall

1 Spinelli MEP 1 Steering group

member

Debate 6: Europe is back

++

A new economic governance

needed to end the crisis

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The need of democratic

accountability

+++

An exhaustive proposal for a new

institutional architecture

A one text treaty

including renewed EU politicy

380 participants

Video

recording

4 Spinelli MEPs

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1. Spinelli Debates and

Spinelli Forums

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Democracy in Europe

Bozar Brussels - 30 January 2013

Participants: 1.800Incollaborationwith: BertelsmannStiftung,KingBaudouinFoundation,DeMorgen,Le

SoirandBozarPanelists: MarioMonti,ItalianPrimeMinister

SylvieGoulardMEP Cohn-BenditMEP BéatriceDelvauxJournalist,LeSoir GuyVerhofstadt,MEP(Introduction) EtieneDavignon,(conclusion)

Debateincluding: videostreaminghttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13rlwk_la-rencontre-avec-mario-monti-au-bozar_news

TheSpinelliGroupandtheBertelsmannStiftungwant to impulseabroad reflectionon the futureofEurope.Themaingoalunderpinningoursharedviewisthe improvementoftheEuropeandemocracy.Thepublicationofthebook“De ladémocratieenEurope”writtenbySylvieGoulardandMarioMontiwas a good opportunity to introduce the annual series of Spinelli Debates, by discussing both thecurrentEUstrategytocomeoutofthecrisisandthedesireoftheEU citizens to live together.SylvieGoulardandMarioMontiwarnagainstapoliticalfightonthe2014-2020budgetagreementwhichwouldundermine theneed formoregrowthand jobs,ata timewhen fiscalconsolidationandausteritymeasureshavetakenaseveretolloneconomicrecovery.EuropeanswouldliketobeasstrongastheywouldbeifEuropewereunited–andtopreserveasmuchnationalsovereigntyas if itwerenot.Thiscontradictionhasbecomeuntenable.For thecrisis,overandabovethefinancialanddebtturmoil,hasdemonstratedtheextentofourinterdependenceandshowntheflawsof democracy in Europe.Hence, this is a good time to rereadTocqueville.According to him, theMarch towards equality has been irresistible for centuries: it requires us to create, through voluntarycooperation, a democracy by the people, in which Europeans would jointly choose those who would

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governthem,andfor thepeople,workingfor thewell-beingofall.Thisbook invitesustoreplaceblindinstinctwithknowledgeofourinterests,todiscoverthedeepaffinitiesthatlinkEuropeans,andtoregainour confidence. To bring Europe out of the crisis, we need to look further ahead, towards the UnitedStatesofEurope.

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Spinelli Forum

The European federalism explained to the Heads of States

Brussels Square Meeting Centre – 25th March 2013

Participants: 350Incollaborationwith: Bertelsman Stiftung, King Baudouin Foundation, Creative

Walloniaproject

Debateincluding: InterpretationFR-ENLivevideostreaming

Publicvotes Livetweet–tweetwall BloginterviewsincollaborationwithTheNewFederalist

Debate 1 - Towards a European Democracy IsabelleDURANT,MEPSylvieGOULARD,MEPAndrewDUFF,MEPPierreDEFRAIGNE,ExecutiveDirectoroftheMadariaga–CollegeofEuropeFoundationDanielaVINCENTI,Ediotor-in-chief,Euractiv.

Debate 2 - Towards Genuine Social Market Economy in Europe

ElsaFORNERO,ItalianMinisterofLabour,SocialPoliciesandEqualOpportunitiesFintanFARRELL,Director,EuropeanAntiPovertyNetwork(EAPN)UlrichVANSUNTUM,ManagingDirector,CenterforAppliedEconoimicResearch,UniversityofMünster

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AartDEGEUS,Chairman&CEO,BertelsmannStiftungJoLEINEN,SpinelliMEP Debate 3 - After the Euro: the convergence of economies and social models GuyVERHOFSTADT,MEPDanielCOHN-BENDIT,MEPRobertoGUALTIERI,MEPPauldeGRAUWE,Economist,JohnPaulsonChairinEuropeanPoliticalEconomy(LSE),HeadoftheEuropeanInstitute

The Spinelli Group and the Bertelsmann Stiftung want to put forwards topics which are of greatimportance tocitizensandat thesametimesenablea realactivedebatebetweencitizensandEUrepresentatives. These debates aim at proving the strength and the relevance of the federalistapproach.TheSpinelliGroupandtheBertelsmannStiftungdecidedonthe3majorscross-cuttingissuesofthisforum.Ouronlinecommunityofcitizensaddressedmorefocusedquestionstothepanellists.

Themaintopicsdiscussedincluded:

How to tackle the Crisis

In the Eurozone crisis, there is a tendency to set aside the social content of economic policies. ThefinancialmarketshavegainedsuchaholdovertheSoutherncountriesthattheycanpushthemtowardbankruptcy.PortugalandSpaindonothaveotherchoicebuttountangletheirsocialsystems.

Before joining the Euro, the countries were regularly devaluing their currency, resulting in a loss ofpurchasingpowerfortheircitizens.Now,withtheEuro,thisisnolongerpossibleandStateshavetocarryoutreforms.Yet,acoordinatedEuropeanpolicyisnecessaryiftheywantittobeeffective.Thisistheonlywaytoavoidcompetitionbetweenstates,whichwouldleadtoanti-socialpolicy.

Indeed, theSpanish government has no longer control over its debt. This is consequently allowing thefinancialmarketstospeculateagainsttheSpanishdebt.Thereisthereforeaneed,withintheEurozone,for a real common policy. The devaluation has solved certain problems but has createdmany others.Giventhattheycannotdevalueanymore,Statesareobligedtomakeinternaldevaluation.Thishasledtonumeroussocialpolicies.

A Necessary European Budget

EachMonetaryUnionhastohaveacommonbasewitharealstateauthority. InJapan,thedebtratiois213%ofGDPandyet theyhavea1.25% interest rateon10-yeargovernmentbonds.The JapaneseareabletodothisbecausetheyhaveapowerfulState.IntheEurozone,thereisnoState.ThenationalStatesare therefore obliged to follow an iron discipline in order to copewith their debt. Ifwe do not have astrong European budget, such as in the United States, then we need economic policies of fiscal andbudgetary convergence. To achieve this,we need criteria of convergence under the supervision of theEuropeanParliament.

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IntheEurozone,wedonotneedsocialconvergencetogetoutofthecrisis.Thefactisthattherearetwodifferent problems. However, a fiscal convergence is more necessary. Some countries, which have anattractivetaxsystem—suchasIreland—haveknownanuncontrollableeconomicgrowth,whichbecametherootofthedestabilisationoftheireconomies.

In theUS, the federalbudget is important,which iswhy it leads toa significant redistributionbetweenstates.GiventheEU’sbudget,thisisimpracticable.Thereareneverthelesssomethingsthatcanbedone.Apartialmutualisationof thedebts is possible. Furthermore,we can implementa systemof insurancebetweenStates.Thismeansthatwewouldputinplaceafundthroughwhichstronggrowthstateswouldhelpslowgrowthstates.

IfwehadaEuropeanbudget,wecouldsetupaEuropeanarmy.Wecurrentlyhave27nationaldefencebudgets.Thismeansthatwearewastingbillionsofeuros.Indeed,wedonotevenrepresent10%oftheAmericanmilitarycapabilities.TheEuropeanbudgetcannotincreasewithoutithavingitsownresources.Weexperienceditduringthelast talks on the budget: the only thing that theMember States wanted was to reduce the Europeanbudget,thatistosaytoreducetheircontributiontotheEuropeanbudget.Whatismore,thenextEuropeanParliamentwillnotbeconsultedonthebudgetamount.Thisiswhywerequirethatintwoyears,theEuropeanParliamentmusthaveitsvoiceheardonthebudget.Ifitrefusesthevotedbudget,newdiscussionswillhavetotakeplace.The necessity to coordinate economic policies Nowadays,eachcountry leads itsown industrialpolicy.Yet, therearenumerousexternalities testifyingthenecessitytomoveforwardtogether.ArcelorMittal,forexample,isremovinghisfactoriesonebyonefromEuropeancountries.WithoutaEuropeanindustrialpolicy,wearewitnessingthedismantlingoftheEuropeansteelandautomotiveindustries. The Eurozone needs to make a quantum leap The status quo is not sustainable. If the moderate parties do not realize what is at stake, the 2014EuropeanelectionswillbeatriumphforEuroscepticsandpopulists.Wecanunderstandthatcitizens,andforeigninvestors,arelosingconfidenceintheEUinitscurrentstate;they are seeking something they can understand and trust. They are presented with the results ofnocturnalmeetingsbetweennationalpoliticianswhohavebeenelected innational frameworks,withnomandatetoruleEurope.Thewaytheheadsofstateandgovernmenthaveseizedpowerduringthecrisis,surpassingtheTreaties,isnotinlinewiththegenuineideaofanintegratedEurope,basedontransparentinstitutionsandtheruleoflaw.And themore thenationalgovernments intervene, themore thenationalconstitutional courtsandthenationalParliamentsareinclinedtoclaimcontrolandpowersattheirlevel.WhatwouldtheendresultbeifdifferentdecisionsarereachedindifferentMemberStates,whowouldberesponsiblefortakingthefinaldecision?The European Parliament is not sufficiently respected and although it now has increased legislativepowers, it isstillnotableto launchpolitical initiatives,controltheexecutive,voteonarealbudget.The

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defenseofshort-termnational interestsbynationalpoliticians inthebudgetarydiscussionforthesevenyearmulti-annual financial framework of the Union illustrates the clear limits of the current rules andstructuresoftheEU.Wecannotaffordtogiveupontheunificationofthiscontinentatatimewhererisingglobalpowersarebecomingthefutureworldleaders.NotasingleEUcountrycouldcopewiththechallengesofaglobalisedplanetalone.Franceshouldnotsupportthisersatzandinsteaditshouldwork,withtheGermansandtheotherMemberStates,torelaunchtheEU.A service-based economy is not enough: Europe needs an industry. In cities, the future of mobility lies in the tramways. Why doesn’t the EU decide to back a Europeanconsortium? Given the necessarymodernisation in some Central andOriental European countries andgiven the current transport policy in many European states, this would be necessary. The EuropeanCommission cancels some companymergers, which impedes the emergence of real industrial leaders.Thispolicyiscounter-productiveandimpedestheemergenceofEuropeanleaders.Europe is necessary to work out many problems in the globalisation that we are experiencing. InCopenhagen, the United States, China and India were the ones to take decisions on Climate Policy.Europewasabsentfromthetalks.The goal of this forum was to define the direction that tomorrow’s Europe would follow. The nextelectionswill be the stage of a very hard fight against the Eurosceptics. The Spinellistsmustmeet tobrightenuptheEuropeandream.Ifnot,wewillbesubmergedbythepopulistswiththeir«wejustneedto»:«wejustneedtoleavetheEUandtheneverythingwillbefine,wejustneedtoleavetheEuroandtheneverythingwillbefine...».

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Has the Arab Spring failed? Is Europe conspicuously absent?

European Parliament – 10th April 2013 Participants: 380Incollaborationwith BertelsmanStiftung,KingBaudouinFoundationPanelists: Néguib Chebbi, Leader of the Democratic Progressive Party

(Tunisia)Mahmud Gebril, Interim primeminister of Libya during the civilwarandformerchairmanoftheNationalTransitionCouncil.Isabelle Durant, Spinelli MEP, Vice-President of the EuropeanParliament

Moderation: GuyVerhofstadt,SpinelliMEP,PresidentoftheALDEGroupDebateincluding: Interpretation(FrenchandEnglish)

TweetwallAudiopodcastinghttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzw5cs_has-the-arab-spring-failed_news

TherecentissuesofdemocraticmattersraisedbytheArabSpringhighlighttheneedofabetterEUexternal policy. Following their commitment for a federalist approach, the Spinelli Group and theBertelsmannStiftungtriedtolaunchadiscussionontheroleoftheEUasanormativepower,value-projecting and promoting democracy, but also on a more efficient EU partnership with Thirdcountries, especially in the framework of the Union of the Barcelona Process: Union for theMediterranean.The EU was taken by surprise when the Arab world awoke, as demonstrated by the uncoordinatednational responses rather than a European response. This situation highlights the need for a better

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structuredandmorefocusedEUpolicyapproachinordertoparticipatetotheemergenceofamorestableanddemocraticArabworld.TodaytheArabworld’snewpoliticalelitesarefacingthedoublechallengeofsatisfyingpopularpressurefordemocraticgovernanceandaneconomicandsocialcrisis.HavetheArabSpringprotestscallingfordemocracyandeconomicjustice,justcomeandgone?What the EU is currently doing is far too little and the consequence is that Qatar is stepping in. It issupportingtheMuslimBrotherhoodinLibya.ItishelpingtopushmilitiastothreatenthegovernmenttoadoptlegislationlikethePoliticalIsolationLawandalawthatforbidsinterestonbanksavings.Thegoalisclear:preparingthegroundforitsownpoliticalpuppetsanditsownIslamicbanks.Ifyouhaveboth,youcontroltheeconomyandtheoil.Many Europeans might not care about these regional struggles and shifting alliances. But manyEgyptians,Libyans,Moroccans,Tunisians,Jordanians,Armenians,Georgians,UkrainiansandAzerbaijanisdocare.Thepeopleofthesecountriesknowverywell thatthehistoryoftheEuropeanUnionhasbeenoneofturningpoordictatorshipsintoprosperousdemocracies.

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Spinelli Forum in Poland

Wroclaw University (Poland) – 24th April 2013

Participants: 250Incollaborationwith: BertelsmanStiftung,KingBaudouinFoundationWiththesupportof: theUniversityofWroclaw,RadioWroclawandGazetaWyborczaDebateincluding InterpretationFR-PL TweetwallandLivetweetEN–FR-PL VideoLivestreming Debate 1: The European Civil society – from idea to the News

IsabelleDurant,MEP

RóżaThun,MEP LukaszJachowicz,PolitologueCentrumCyfroweProjekt:Polska

MichalSyska,DirectoroftheFerdinandLassalleCentreForSocialThoughtinWroclaw,Poland WiesławBokajło,Prof.WroclawUniversity RadosławGawlik,ChairofPoland’sGreenParty

RomanKurkiwicz,CollegiumCivitas,(moderation)

Debate 2: How to understand the crisis - is the Eurozone ready for joining Poland ?

DanielCohn-Bendit,MEP

LidiaGeringerdeOedenberg,MEP-SojuszLewicyDemokratycznej(SLD)JanuszPalikot,chairof“PalikotMovement”(RP)

MarekOstrowski,“Polityka”(moderation)

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These debate organised in Poland, has beenorganised in a similarwayas the previous onesorganised in Brussels. The Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Spinelli Group through theirpartnershipwanted to impulseacitizendebateoutside theso-calledBrussels “Euro-bubble”.Theselectedtopicsandquestionsaddressedtothepanellistswereshapedwithaconcernforthe local understanding of what the European Union is for people living in Poland, but alsofornewaccessioncountries.

Themaintopicsdiscussedincluded:

About the crisis

Thankstothecrisis,theheadsofstateandgovernmentsofdifferentMemberStateshaveseizedpowerinEurope,creatingademocratic"blackhole":"eachrepresentativeis legitimateintheircountrybutnoneofthemhaveeverreceived a mandate to govern their neighbours", without any public debate. Collectively they are not held toaccountbyanyone,withoutanyconsiderationfortheseparationofpowers.Eventhoughelectedbydirectuniversalsuffrage "Members of the European Parliament are reduced to following summits from a distance, like cowswatchingtrainsgoby".

The legend that national interests are best defended by the personal involvement of the Head of state orgovernmentdoesnotstanduptoscrutiny:thisistrueneitherforthemanagementofthecrisis(chaotic),norfortheadoptionofthebudget(pathetic).Thesemethodsresultinthepowerofdecisionmakingcrumblingawayinputtingsovereigntybeforedemocracyandefficiency(forexampleperpetuatingbankingsecrecyortaxcompetitionattherequestofacountrywhichrepresentsaminorityoftheEuropeanpopulation).

ThereisabsolutelynoreasonwhytheseviolationsoftheEuropeanspiritshouldbetolerated,norwhyitshouldbeacceptedthatnationalleadersmonopoliseEuropefortheirownmeanswithoutbeingcapableofexemplifyingitorensuring its international credibility. Oddly, Europe's citizens accept a voluntary servitude, made all the moreunbearablebythefactthatonepartofthesocallednational"elites"isactuallydefendingtheirownpersonalsmallscaleinterestsratherthanthegenuinenationalone.

Thisiswhatisatstakeforthe2014Europeanelections:tofinallyconstructarealEurope,ratherthanrestrictingittoaEuropeofStates,inefficient,withlittlelegitimacyandoutoftouchwiththe21stcentury.

Policies of redistribution and of the social model in Europe

Despite local differences there are common traits in the different European social models and even the samecharacteristics for the same European socialmodel; aminimumwage and legislation enabling a universal socialsecuritycoverageetc.Eventhoughthedifferencesbetweenthemostdevelopedandthepoorestcountriesdonotallowforasustainablesocialstandardization.

However,therearespecific issuestodefendandacommondesireformaximizingthewell-beingofcitizens.AndwiththesecommontraitsEuropemustcommit itselfovera longperiodoftimetoencouragesocialconvergencetowardshigherstandardsofsocialprotection.

The means for public action

TheEUbudgetisahighlypolitical,sensitiveandexplosiveissue.Andtoreplytothedemandforpublicactionandforsolvingtheproblemswhichcouldbreakthepopulistdynamic, theEUmustbegiventhemeanstoachieve itsambitions.Thisimpliesasubstantialfederalbudget,graduallyincreasingfromthemiserable1%to20%ofcurrentGDP,which represents the critical threshold of real federal government action. This quantative leap necessarilyentailsa fundamentalqualitativechange in thestructureof thebudgetwhichmustbeechoed in theEU’sownresources: financial transactions tax, carbon tax etc. Besides giving financial means to European policies, such

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resources will relievemember states of their obligations towards a national contribution. This will alleviate theEuropeandebateofall itsbargainingbetweennationalegoismsandthedisruptingofthere-nationalizationofEUpolicieswhichwerealsopartoftheendofthepersonalcontributionssysteminthemid-1980s.

The sovereignists are not making any credible proposals

Atatimewhen,inmanyareas,thestate'ssovereigntyinagiventerritoryisdisappearingduetonewtechnologicaladvances (mobile internet sites, the free movement of capital) or due to the nature of the challenges (climatechange,theincreasingworldpopulation)."AEuropeofnationsisaformulawithoutsubstancewhichisdesignedtoavoidthequestionbeingasked"(FrançoisFuret).

TheUnitedKingdomhasrefusedtheEuroandarethusintheprocessofmarginalisingthemselvesfromthecentreofpoweranddecisionmaking,inawaywhichisworryingbothtoheadsofcompaniesintheUKandtheirAmericanpoliticalallies.

What sort of political Framework does the Euro require?

Thesinglecurrencyisnotanendin itself. Itrequiresmuchmorethanthecurrentmakeshiftmeasures. It involvesthecreationofapublicpowerwhichcannotbeanythingotherthanaEuropeandemocracy.

CitizenshavealsolostinterestinEuropebecausetheEuropeanParliamentdoesnothavetherightofinitiative,nobudgetarypower,itdoesnotcontroltherealexecutive.Itisoftencriticisedfornotmakinguseofthepowerswhichit has never been given. And in the legislative field, inwhich it does have certain powers, all too often itsworkpassesunnoticed.

Justasin1989Gorbachevhadthevisiontounderstandthatsomethingexceptionalwashappeningandthat"peacerequiredextraordinaryefforts,andrupturewiththethinkingandactswhichhadcomebefore".SoMerkelstandsatacrucialmomentinhistory:continuewiththetriedandfailedintergovernmentalmethod,creategreaterinstabilityinneighbouringMemberStatesby insistingonthemostrigidmonetarystability,orthecommunitymethodwiththecommoninterestatthecentreandefficientandlegitimateEuropeaninstitutions.

One element of the Franco-German misunderstanding comes from, for the French, a fear of the return of thetotalitarianandunstablepre-warGermany,andfortheGermans,a fearofthedestructionofthedemocraticandstablepost-warGermany.

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Hands off my Erasmus

European Parliament 16th October 2013

Participants: 200Incollaborationwith: BertelsmanStiftung,KingBaudouinFoundationWiththesupportof: The Young European Federalists (JEF) and the European

Movement(Belgium)

Panelists: PaulineGessant,PresidentofJEF-Europe SimonaPronckute,ICE“Fraternité2020” SylvieGoulard,SpinelliMEP

Giuseppe Porcaro, Secretary-General of the European YouthForum

Debateincluding: Livetwet(English)

Tweetwall

Overthepasttwenty-fiveyears,aboutthreemillionstudentshavebenefitedfromErasmusgrantsandtheprogrammeisundoubtedlyoneofthemajorsuccessesoftheEuropeanUnion.Itfostersnotonlylearningandunderstandingofthehostcountry,butalsoasenseofbelongingamongstudentsfromdifferentEUcountries.ErasmusisaveryimportantsteptowardstheconstructionofagenuineEuropeancivilsociety.Today the Erasmus programme, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is affected by a lack ofresources;whilethenumberofyoungpeopleparticipatingintheprogrammeincreasesyearafteryear.AtatimewhenEuropeanintegrationisthreatenedbytheriseofpopulism,itismorenecessarythanevertofosteractiveEuropeancitizenshipandaEuropeanidentityamongstyoungcitizens.

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Europe is back

Bozar Brussels - 5th November 2013

Participants: 380Panelists: AndrewDuff,MEP IsabelleDurant,MEP SylvieGoulard,MEP JoLeinen,MEP GuyVerhofstadt,MEP

MarošŠefčovič, Vice-president and commissioner for inter-institutionalrelationsandadministration.

Debateincluding: video recording http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x173drs_europe-is-back-spinelli-debate_news

BertelsmannStiftungandtheSpinelliGrouppublishedanewtreatyproposal„AFundamentalLawof the EuropeanUnion”. This debatewas theoccasion todiscuss about the content andthe major institutional change suggested by this proposal. 30 years after the first ‘SpinelliPlan’, the current financial and economic crisis exposes many shortcomings in the way theEuropean Union is running.Whereas the formidable challenges of amanifold crisis demandcommon responses, drawn at least at European level, too many Europeans fall tempted tobelieving innationalsalvationonly. Inatimeof interdependenceandaglobalisedworld,theSpinelli Group and the Bertelsmann Stiftung are convinced that clinging to nationalsovereigntiesand intergovernmentalism isnotonlywarfareagainst theEuropean spirit; it isbut an addiction to political impotence. In such circumstances it is hardly a surprise that‘Europe’ is getting blamed, citizens who look to Europe formore solidarity are bound to bedisappointed.TheunityofEuropeisvitalifglobalchallengesaretobemetandEuropeanvaluesandinterestspromoted.ButhowshouldamoreunitedEuropebestbegoverned?

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Executive authority is dispersed and democratic accountability weak. Expedient measures needed toaddressthefinancialandeconomiccrisishavestretchedthepresentEUtreatiesclosetotheirlimits.TheUnion’ssystemofgovernancemustbereformedifitistodelivermuchneededpublicgoodsathomeanddecisive leadership abroad. National parties and parliaments are failing to embrace the Europeandimensionofpolitics.The Spinelli Group of MEPs proposes a new constitutional architecture is hardly fit for purpose :AFundamental Law of the European Union"published by Bertelsmann Stiftung. This proposal is acomprehensive revision of the Treaty of Lisbon. Replacing the existing treaties, it takes a major steptowardsafederalunion.ItturnstheEuropeanCommissionintoademocraticconstitutionalgovernment,inwhich theCommission initiates lawswhichare thenenacted jointlyby theCouncil, representing thestates,andtheEuropeanParliament,representingthecitizens.

22

2. Steering group meeting

and Shadow European Council

23

Steering group meeting and Shadow European Council

Brussels 26-27th June 2013

Participants:DanielCohn-Bendit,MEP

SylvieGoulard,MEPGuyVerhofstadt,MEPIsabelleDurant,MEPAndrewDuff,MEPJoLeinen,MEPThomasFischer,BertelsmannStiftungStefanSchaefers,KingBaudouinFundationDiogoPinto,SecretaryGeneraloftheEuropeanMovement,GesineSchwan,ViadrinaEuropeanUniversityImolaStreho,SciencesPoParis.GaëtaneRicard-Nihoul,NotreEurope,EuropeanCommissionMartinHirsch,DirectoroftheFrenchCivicserviceagencyCostasSimitis,SimitisFoundationKalypso Nicolaïdis, Director of the European Studies Centre at the OxfordUniversityPierVirgilioDastoli,EuropeanCommission,CIME

24

Steering group meeting Towards the 2014 European Elections – key proposals Overviewofthesuggestionsexpressedbythesteeringgroupmembersduringthemeeting1.ThiselectioncampaignisthereallyrighttimetopromotethevaluesandtheproposalsoftheSpinelliGroup,buttheGroupmustrenewitsapproach.

• The Spinelli Group could take the leadership of «agit’prop» on Europe, directed to targetsforgottenbyclassicalpoliticalleaders

2.Duringthe2014Europeanelectioncampaign,whatshoudtheSpinelliGroupdo?

• The Spinelli Group should continue its activities as usual and to promoto its ideas. The Groupshould renew its format (shadow european council) and form of communication. The principaltargetmustbethecandidates

3.Whichactivity-iesshouldtheSpinelliGroupfocusonduringthecampaign?

• Spinellidebatestargetingtopicswhichwillemergeduringthecampaign• Amonitoringprojectoncandidates’proposals• A «Spinelli Stamp» for cncrete policy proposals that we hear in debates. Through the Spinelli

network it may be possible to gather additional ideas that we could recognise as «Spinellicompatible»

4. This campaign is a good opportunity to strenghten the Spinelli Group Network, wich may includeseveralNGOs,think-tanksetc.andtogivethemaroletoplayintheGroup.

• Thegroupcouldbecomea«forum»wherethesepartnerswouldbeabletoshareideas:papers,debates,onlinedebatestobedevelopped.

25

“Shadow European Council” meeting Draft conclusions to be discussed during the next meeting

MFF TheEuropeanbudget needs to be reformed, and in the light of the continuing economic and financialcrisisthisneedbecomesevermorepressing.TheMFFmustensurethattheUnionhasasufficientbudgettoenablerealpoliciestoensureareturntoeconomicgrowth,jobsandprosperityforitscitizens.TheMFF needs to be funded, at least in part, byUnion own resources, thus reducing the pressure onreducednationalbudgetsandallowingeconomiesofscaleattheEuropean leveltobringbenefitsto itscitizens.Thissystemofownresourcesneedtostartasof2014.ThereturnofunspentcommitmentsbyMemberStatesisanabsolutewasteofresources,thusthebudgetneedstobeflexible,bothbetweendifferentpillarsanddifferentyears,inordertoguaranteeamaximumimpactforEuropeanpolicies.It isaquestionofdemocraticaccountabilitythatthenextEuropeanParliamenthasasayonthebudgetduringitsterm,thereforeamid-termreviewin2016isessential. Democracy and Economic Governance The Greek crisis has prompted the EU to take actions such as the setting-up the Troïka but it lacksdemocratic accountability. The key question which needs to be resolved as soon as possible is whodecidesandwithwhichtoolsforallissuesrelatingtoEuropeangovernment.

- TheTroïkashouldbechangedintoasystemwheretheCommissionisaccountableinfrontoftheEP,andultimatelyEuropean toolsare sufficient tomanageall lending, the creationofaEuropeanMonetaryFundshouldbeenvisagedtoaccompanytheESMandfutureResolutionFund.

- TheCypriot crisishashighlighted theneed for transparency: irresponsibledecisions (suchasbreaching the 100.000 Euros insured deposit guarantee) were taken and no one was heldresponsible for them. The Eurogroup must be accountable in front of the EP and itschairmanshipmustbeafulltimeresponsibility.

- The Commission needs to immediately establish the High Level Group and to continue

reflecting furtheron themutualisationofdebt, inorder to lower the interest rates, to takeadvantageofaliquidmarketandrelievetheECB.

26

- Smart implementation of the new economic governance framework (6-pack, 2-pack):growth friendly consolidation (postponement of the fiscal target if required) provided thatreformsareontrack;

- IntegrationoftheFiscalCompactintotheCommunityframework;

- New tools must be designed such as a convergence code and an incentive-basedenforcementmechanism (that could provide financial help for reforms that do bear socialshorttermcosts).

- Theevolutionsof theEuroarea (theopt - ins and -outsno longerbeing transitory)mustbe

formalizedandappropriateaccountabilitybyMEPsfromtheEuroareaandfromMSaimingtojoinbeensured.

- Communicationmust be reviewed: the European project is a win-win situation as well as a

positive project. Members of the European Council bound by the conclusions and arecommittedtoimplementthem.

Banking sector

- Tocompletethebankingunionwiththecreationofasingleresolutionauthority,assoonaspossible.ThisbankingunionmustbeEuropeanandfundedbyEurope’sbanksrelativetotheriskwhichtheypresent.Progressively,asingledepositguaranteeschemefortheEuroareaisalsorequiredandtoprovideforthedirectrecapitalisationofbanksthrougharesolutionfund(inthemeantimeprovidedforbytheESM).

- - AsupranationalDeficitGuaranteeSchemeisneededaboveanynationalprogrammes.- - AvoidafragmentationoftheinternalmarketwherebanksofaparticularMSwouldonlybuy

obligationsofthatMS;

Implementationof thenew rules regarding capital and liquidity requirements,whichwillmake the lending smarter (differentiation of capital requirement according to the risk takenandthecontributiontotherealeconomy).ItisessentialtoguaranteethattherealeconomyisfinancedandthatinterestratesareaffordableforSMEs.

Financing of the real economy and long term investment

- Itisfundamentaltoincreasethefundingoftherealeconomycomingfrommarkets.Indeed,bankloanswillbelessavailablegiventhenewrules.

- Savings banks and investment banks need to be separated in order to ensure sufficientstability.

- Waystogetholdofthe"sleeping"savingsmustbeinsuredbyprovidingproductstocitizens,whichare longtermoriented,andwitha insured,moderatebutattractive interestrate.Whynotusethosesavingsfordirectfundingofspecificandtargetedprojectsofcommoninterest?

27

- SMEsarenotequalwhencomingtointerestratesbutsubjecttotheirlocations.SimilarSMEswithsimilarrisksmustbenefitfromsimilar interestrateswhatevertheir locations. It isthedutyoftheECBandtheCommissiontotackletheunjustifieddifferencesofinterestrates.

28

3. Financial Statement

29

Overview per project Project Total(includingVAT)

SpinelliForum 54989,04€SpinelliDebate-ArabSpring 1486,53€SpinelliForum-Poland 6121,39€ShadowEuropeanCouncilJune 6640,36€SpinelliDebate-Erasmus 1878,65€SpinelliDebate-Europeisback 4740,00€PressconferenceJan2013 2535,15€PressconferenceOct2013 995,33€Eventcommunicationstrategy 18093,71€OtherSecretariat 156,82€ GrandTotal

97636,98€

30

Detailed account book Debate 1. Democracy in Europe

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)

TOTALincludingVAT 0€

Debate 2. Spinelli Forum Brussels

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)

04.07.05 Squaremeeting-rooms#1deposit 1-1(2012) 5155,51€04.07.05 Squaremeeting-rooms#2deposit 1-2(2012) 5155,51€04.07.05 Squaremeeting-rooms#3deposit 1-3(2012) 4124,40€17.01.13 Squaremeeting-rooms-finalpayment 41 6186,61€05.02.13 Prepmeeting-Stasbourglunch 46 132,00€21.02.13 B-Post-invitationletters 52-1 43,90€07.03.13 Nias-Officesupplies 53 117,56€11.03.13 LaPoste-mailling 54 9,70€13.03.13 Squaremeeting-Setupandpost-production 56 16905,21€13.03.13 Squaremeeting-Securitypersonnel 57 2896,81€13.03.13 Squaremeeting-Podiumextension 58 1762,37€13.03.13 Squaremeeting-Votingsystem 59 4162,40€13.03.13 Squaremeeting-Coffeeandkatering 60 2617,23€20.03.13 NIAS-officesupplies 65 50,74€22.03.13 Squaremeeting-Sofa#1deposit 61 927,48€22.03.13 CORA-supplies 66 101,68€22.03.13 CapD'argent-LunchStaff1 67 86,05€25.03.13 Squaremeeting-Sofa 62 397,48€25.03.13 Kwint-Lunchspeakers 69 848,50€25.03.13 JeunesEuropéens-France-onlinecommunity

management78 900,00€

26.03.13 EtienneMeunier-Interpretation 63 1397,55€28.03.13 HertecantChristophe-Cameraman 68 1010,35€

TOTALincludingVAT 54989,04€

31

Debate 3. Has the Arab Spring failed?

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)09.04.13 Thon-speakeraccomodation 71 132,08€10.04.13 L'AnciennePoissonnerie-Speakers'Diner 73 211,00€10.04.13 EtienneMeunier-Interpretation 101 1143,45€

TOTALincludingVAT

1486,53€

32

Debate 4. Spinelli Forum Poland

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)24.03.13 OzdobaAgency-PostersA2designandprint 82 216,00€07.04.13 LOT-airticketOstrowskiMarek 90-3 169,44€08.04.13 BCDTravel-FlightsStaff1 72 1461,72€11.04.13 LOT-FlightRomanKurkievspeaker 81-3 159,37€17.04.13 Eurest-Lunchprepmeeting 75 87,11€23.04.13 Taxi 76-1 6,38€23.04.13 SNCB-TrainStaff1 76-5 7,80€23.04.13 BiuroTlumaczenBusiness-interpretation 79 922,50€23.04.13 Astra-papers 81-1 17,21€23.04.13 Astra-papers 81-2 8,51€23.04.13 Autogrill-coffeeairport 81-4 9,50€23.04.13 Kundenbeleg-lunchAirport 81-5 8,50€24.04.13 Taxi 76-2 7,58€24.04.13 Akropol-DinerStaff1 76-1 8,78€24.04.13 Taxi-Airportspeaker 76-8 5,99€24.04.13 Taxi-EdouardGaudot 77-2 5,99€24.04.13 AudioTechnika-Sound,setup 80 550,00€24.04.13 Taxi-BruStaff1 91-1 60,00€24.04.13 RestaurantMarina-SpeakersDiner 91-3 400,89€25.04.13 Taxi 76-3 5,59€25.04.13 Taxispeaker 76-4 18,62€25.04.13 ArtHotel-Speakers1 76-7 455,72€25.04.13 Hotel-EdouardGaudot 77-1 112,25€25.04.13 Taxi-EdouardGaudot 77-3 11,97€25.04.13 Taxi-AirportEdouardGaudot 77-4 10,64€25.04.13 CDCRobertWarchlowski-catering 83 570,00€25.04.13 Taxi-OstrowskiMarek 90-1 11,97€25.04.13 Taxi-OstrowskiMarek 90-2 7,18€25.04.13 ArtHotel-IsabelleDurant,DimitriLemaire 92 371,77€26.04.13 LOT-FlightJachowiczLukasz 84-1 266,25€27.04.13 Taxi-airportJachowiczLukasz 84-2 15,56€28.04.13 Taxi-JachowiczLukasz 84-3 13,17€29.04.13 Taxi-JachowiczLukasz 84-4 13,37€30.04.13 ArtHotel-accomodationJachowiczLukasz 85-5 95,76€01.05.13 Taxi-BruIsabelleDurant 91-2 28,30€

TOTALincludingVAT

6121,39€

33

Debate 5. Hands off my Erasmus

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)17.09.13 Notos-SpinelliDebateoct2013Prepmeeting 107 340,00€16.10.13 SNCF-TransportPaulineGessant 115-3 32,00€16.10.13 Thalys-TransportPaulineGessant 115-4 57,00€16.10.13 NeufchatelHotel-AccomodationPaulineGessant 115-5 149,00€16.10.13 BastaCosi-DinerSpeakers 116 117,30€17.10.13 SNCF-TransportPaulineGessant 115-1 29,00€17.10.13 SNCF-TransportPaulineGessant 115-2 10,90€21.10.13 EtienneMeunier-Interpretation 114 1143,45€

TOTALincludingVAT

1878,65€

Debate 6. Europe is back

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)03.10.13 Proximus-GSMcredit 112-2 25,00€11.10.13 MeridienBrussels-lunchspeakers 110 58,00€05.11.13 Twice-podiumsetup 118 423,50€05.11.13 Bozar-conferenceroom 119 2500,00€05.11.13 GSP2-soundsetup 121 1331,00€06.11.13 Kwint-DinerSpeakers 117-1 371,50€06.11.13 Kwint-DrinkSpeakers 117-2 31,00€

TOTALincludingVAT

4740,00€

Steering group meeting

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)09.06.13 GasthofHalifax-PrepMeeting 94 537,00€11.06.13 ParlementEuropéenSTG-Breakfastprepmeeting 93 62,80€21.06.13 NIAS-officesupplies 99 35,27€25.06.13 NIAS-labelsofficesupplies 98 49,94€25.06.13 HotelLeopold-KalypsoNicolaïdis 105 218,50€25.06.13 AEGEAN-FlyTicketConstantineSimitis 106-2 745,50€27.06.13 SushiFactory-lunchstaff1 100 24,00€27.06.13 BerlaymontHotel-SeminarPackage 104 3520,35€28.06.13 Sofitel-ConstantineSimitis 106-1 343,00€30.06.13 NewConcept-Diner 103 1104,00€

TOTALincludingVAT

6640,36€

34

Press conference January 2013

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)17.01.13 Thonhotel-accomodation 47 140,00€31.01.13 NewConcept-lunch 45 1802,25€31.01.13 Videohouse-IPCsoundfacilities 51 592,90€

TOTALincludingVAT

2535,15€

Press conference October 2013

Date Item Acc.bookref. Amount(incl.VAT)8/10/13 OfficeDépôtStg-Printshop 112-1 167,08€7/10/13 MidnightAll-Soundsetup 108 828,25€

TOTALincludingVAT

995,33€

Event communication strategy

Date Item Acc.Bookref. Amount(inclu.VAT)

21/06/13 HelenClareWilson-Translation 102 1620,00€30/04/13 Makemeweb-Websiteandwebhosting 86 15064,50€22/03/13 FNAC-Photocamera 64 1088,98€28/02/13 SASKali-Banners 52-2 215,28€22/02/13 Elac-Microphone 52-5 45,42€21/02/13 ImplixSP-Newslettershosting 52-4 45,53€21/02/13 ImplixSP-Newslettershosting 52-3 14,00€

TOTALincludingVAT

18093,71€

Secretariat

Date Item Acc.Bookref. Amount(inclu.VAT)07.10.13 Bpost-mailling 113-1 78,41€08.10.13 Bpost-mailling 113-2 78,41€

TOTALincludingVAT

156,82€

35

36

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