The following thoughts result from a discussion hold at the French initiative Committee for the ESF (CIFS). They don't pretend to be exhaustive and simply aim at highlighting the convergences expressed on that very day. They tackle primarily with the future of the ESF and try to open the debate on the perspectives for the ESF process.
The former three ESFs have been meeting points for the forces who, in Europe , refused the logic of neo-liberal globalisation in one way or another. Both in the preparation process and at the ESF as an event, new forces joined the movement during the whole three years, which enhanced the dynamics of the forums. Better knowledge of each other created by working in common favoured new convergences. The ESF process allowed important steps forward in fighting neo-liberal globalisation and building a social and citizen movement at the scale of Europe .
Nevertheless, after three ESFs, a critical assessment has to be made, particularly in respect of the goals established in the Porto Alegre Charter of Principles: to allow debate and exchange of ideas, to build convergences, to help building alternatives, and to support the various social and citizen mobilisations.
The organising process for debates and its results are not fully satisfying. The exchange of ideas, in particular during the plenaries, has not proved convincing. The time and energy devoted to the plenaries did not allow us to give the deserved importance to the seminars. The organisation of seminars played a minor role in the ESF process. Even with a number of alternative proposals discussed, their visibility and dissemination remained very weak.
Lastly, in spite of the successful demonstrations against war on February, 15th 2003, the ESF's capacity to build a frame for mobilisations is still problematic, especially concerning the follow-up of thematic campaigns.
All these elements can raise a feeling of repetition, worsened by the ESF being an annual gathering.
These statements bring us to submit the following propositions for debate:
- The ESF shall centre on themes relevant for Europe and thus, on alternatives to neoliberalism on that continent, including its relationship to the rest of the world
- The ESF has to be structured so as to better identify and fulfil its functions (exchange of ideas, construction of alternatives, mobilisations). This implies a need to reassess the traditional division between plenaries, seminars and workshops. In this context, we need to think about the future of plenaries, which could be replaced by one or several "big events".
- Movements can decide actions to be conducted collectively. A specific place must be responsible for centralising and diffusing the information.
- We should adopt a biennial frequency for the ESF, alternating with the WSF. In between two ESFs, some of us propose to hold a European meeting to have an update on and review the ongoing campaigns, and networking activities, and to discuss convergent mobilisations.
- To foresee specific self-organised spaces in order to allow for the development of alternative practices and/or debate on specific topics of interest for one or another actor. The global coherence of all activities is to be discussed by the European Preparatory Assembly.
- Political parties are not ESF organisers, but should find a place within it. It is necessary to think of ways to let them express themselves and dialogue (specific spaces, discussion tables). This has to be discussed by the European Preparatory Assembly.
- It is necessary to evaluate the ESF enlargement to new actors (from the social, geographic and activity perspectives), so as to assess the obstacles faced and to define its perspectives regarding these issues.
- The premises where ESF takes place should facilitate informal meetings between all participants.
- Culture should be integrated as such in the process.
- The process of building up a memory should be integrated into the very conception of ESFs and be developed in order to allow the capitalisation of the debates and a better visibility of the alternatives. The form, the continuity and the function of that memory should proceed from collective decisions.
- The political and decisional role of the European Preparatory Assembly should be strengthened, its representativeness enlarged and its democratic nature improved. The EPA should be the place for all decisions concerning the ESF process. It should allow the effective participation of all forces involved in the process and discuss the shared tools (Internet tools, solidarity funds) which it has developed. It is the role of the organisation committee of the welcoming country to implement the decision made at the EPA.