Independence/Democracy Explained

Independence/Democracy
Independence/Democracy
Imagewidth:130px
From:20 July 2004[1]
To:1 July 2009
(de facto)
Englishabbr:IND/DEM[2]
Frenchabbr:IND/DEM
Formalname:Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament
Precededby:Europe of Democracies and Diversities
Succeededby:Europe of Freedom and Democracy
Europarties:EUDemocrats
Position:Right-wing[3] [4]
Chairs:Nigel Farage
Hanne Dahl
Meps:37[5] (20–23 July 2004)
28 (January 2007)
22[6] (24 June 2008)
18 (11 June 2009, de facto)
Website:http://indemgroup.org/

Independence/Democracy (IND/DEM) was a Eurosceptic[7] [8] political group that operated in the European Parliament between 2004 and 2009. At its height in 2004, it had 37 MEPs and it only existed during the European Parliament's 6th term. It was affiliated with the Eurosceptic Europeans United for Democracy party.

Ideologically, IND/DEM was strongly opposed to the European Union and positioned on the radical right within the right-wing spectrum.[9] [10] [11] It was a very heterogeneous grouping;[12] it also included parties such as the UK Independence Party, Greek Popular Orthodox Rally, French Movement for France, League of Polish Families, and Lega Nord. After the 2009 European Parliament election, IND/DEM lost many of its MPs and was dissolved in favour of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD). In comparison, EFD was far-right[13] [14] group that was nationalist and more strongly opposed immigration than IND/DEM.[15]

History

The 2004 European Parliament elections were reported as a good result for Eurosceptic parties.[16] [17] 37 MEPs (33[18] on 20 July, with four more the next day) from the UK Independence Party (UKIP), June Movement (Denmark), Movement for France (France), Northern League (Italy), ChristianUnion – Reformed Political Party (Netherlands), Popular Orthodox Rally (Greece), June List (Sweden), Independent Democrats (Czech Republic), the League of Polish Families (Poland) and an Independent MEP from the Republic of Ireland, joined in the first week of the new Parliament to form the Eurosceptic group called "Independence/Democracy" (IND/DEM), succeeding the group called "Europe of Democracies and Diversities" (EDD) that had existed during the European Parliament's 1999–2004 term.

In the first week, IND/DEM assigned a UKIP MEP to the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. The MEP, Godfrey Bloom, promptly made comments including "No self-respecting small businessman with a brain in the right place would ever employ a lady of child-bearing age" and "I am here to represent Yorkshire women who always have dinner on the table when you get home. I am going to promote men's rights." The remarks engendered outrage from a range of fellow politicians.[19]

One UKIP MEP never made it to IND/DEM. MEP Ashley Mote was expelled from UKIP[20] prior to IND/DEM's formation[21] when it became known that he faced charges for housing benefit fraud.[20] Mote went on to join the far-right Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty group before being convicted in 2007.[22]

The Northern League MEPs eventually all left the group after their expulsion from IND/DEM following an incident involving a T-shirt and the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[23] MEPs from the League of Polish Families also left the group, although not all and not all at once.[23] [24] [25]

After having been suspended from UKIP following his arrest on fraud allegations,[26] MEP Tom Wise left IND/DEM in June 2008.

By 24 June 2008, IND/DEM had 22 MEPs.[6]

After the 2009 European Parliament elections, 18[27] IND/DEM MEPs from four Member States were elected for the 2009–2014 term (the Seventh European Parliament). The great majority of these seats (thirteen) were from the UK Independence Party, with others being two from the ChristianUnion – Reformed Political Party of the Netherlands, two from the Popular Orthodox Rally of Greece, and one from Libertas France. But that didn't meet the threshold laid down in the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure.[28] [29] So when the Seventh European Parliament started on 14 July 2009, IND/DEM would not qualify as a group.

On 30 June 2009, it was reported the remnants of IND/DEM were to unite with the remnants of another collapsing group, Union for a Europe of Nations (UEN), to create a new group whose official name was not yet determined.[30]

On 1 July 2009 a press conference was held launching the new group.[31] That press conference named the new group Europe of Freedom and Democracy.[32] [33] IND/DEM had ceased to exist.

Structure

Subgroups

IND/DEM was a coalition of MEPs from two distinct wings of Euroscepticism: a reformist subgroup (sometimes referred to as Eurorealists) made up of those MEPs who believed that the EU was essentially desirable if reformed and who supported greater transparency and control over the EU bureaucracy, and a secessionist subgroup consisting of those MEPs (notably UKIP[34]) who believed that the EU was inherently wrong even if reformed and who advocated withdrawal from the EU.[1] [35]

Organisation

IND/DEM had a joint political leadership. The group's co-chairs were Nigel Farage[36] (UKIP) and Hanne Dahl,[36] the latter succeeding Kathy Sinnott,[36] who in turn succeeded long-time MEP Jens-Peter Bonde (June Movement) on his retirement in May 2008. Farage represented the secessionist subgroup, and Sinnott the reformist subgroup. The leadership was loose, enabling the two subgroups to unite around the broad principles of democracy and transparency[34] which were embodied in its statute and to which IND/DEM MEPs were expected to adhere.[37] The day-to-day running of the group was performed by its secretariat, and its secretaries-general were Claudine Vangrunderbeeck and Herman Verheirstraeten.[38]

Membership

11 June–1 July 2009

After the 2009 European Parliament elections, 18[27] IND/DEM MEPs (too few for a viable group) were elected as follows:

CountryNameIdeologyMEPs
United KingdomUK Independence Party[39] UKIPRight-wing populism
British nationalism
FranceLibertas France[40] LibertasPopulism
Euroscepticism
NetherlandsChristian Union–SGP[41] CU–SGPChristian democracy
Euroscepticism
GreecePopular Orthodox Rally[42] LAOSReligious conservatism
Right-wing populism

24 July 2008–11 June 2009

IND/DEM member parties as of 24 July 2008 were as follows:

CountryNameIdeology
United KingdomUK Independence PartyUKIPRight-wing populism
British nationalism
FranceMovement for FranceMPFConservatism
French nationalism
NetherlandsChristian Union–SGPCU–SGPChristian democracy
Euroscepticism
GreecePopular Orthodox RallyLAOSReligious conservatism
Right-wing populism
DenmarkJune MovementJBEuroscepticism
Social liberalism
SwedenJune ListjlEuroscepticism
Populism
Czech RepublicIndependent DemocratsNEZDEMEuroscepticism
Populism
PolandLeague of Polish FamiliesLPRNational conservatism
Political Catholicism

Membership by country at December 2007

A December 2007 European Parliament document considered the groups. Page 9 of that document had a table. That table gave the number of MEPs for each group and member state at December 2007. That table's data for IND/DEM is depicted as percentages in the diagram on the right.[43]

Such support for IND/DEM as was expressed came from Northern European states, with especial reference to the member states of the North-West. Its strongholds were Sweden and Denmark, who sent "June list" MEPs from June List and June Movement to the Parliament, and the United Kingdom, with 13% of its MEPs at December 2007 coming from UKIP and sitting with IND/DEM. As of December 2007 no member state had more than 13% of its MEPs sitting with IND/DEM and eighteen member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain) had none.

Membership at formation at 20–23 July 2004

The IND/DEM MEPs at 20–23 July 2004 were as follows:

CountryNameIdeologyMEPsNotes
United KingdomUK Independence Party[44] UKIPRight-wing populism
British nationalism		Robert Kilroy-Silk, Nigel Farage, Gerard Batten, Godfrey Bloom, Graham Booth, Derek Roland Clark, Roger Knapman, Michael Henry Nattrass, Jeffrey Titford, John Whittaker, Tom Wise
FranceMovement for FranceMPFConservatism
French nationalism		Paul-Marie Coûteaux, Patrick Louis, Philippe de Villiers
NetherlandsChristian Union–SGPCU–SGPChristian democracy
Euroscepticism		Johannes Blokland, Bastiaan Belder
GreecePopular Orthodox RallyLAOSReligious conservatism
Right-wing populism		Georgios Georgiou
DenmarkJune MovementJBEuroscepticism
Social liberalism		Jens-Peter Bonde
SwedenJune ListjlEuroscepticism
Populism		Hélène Goudin, Nils Lundgren, Lars Magnus Wohlin
Czech RepublicIndependent DemocratsNEZDEMEuroscepticism
Populism		Vladimír Železný
PolandLeague of Polish FamiliesLPRNational conservatism
Political Catholicism		Wojciech Wierzejski,[45] Urszula Krupa, Witold Tomczak, Filip Adwent, Sylwester Chruszcz, Maciej Giertych, Dariusz Maciej Grabowski, Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, Bogdan Pęk, Bogusław Rogalski
ItalyLega NordLNRegionalism
Right-wing populism		Mario Borghezio, (joined 21 July)[46] Umberto Bossi, (joined 21 July) Matteo Salvini, (joined 21 July) Francesco Enrico Speroni (joined 21 July)
IrelandKathy Sinnott (Ind.)–Kathy Sinnott

Activities

In the news

Activities performed by IND/DEM in the period between 1 June 2004 and 1 June 2008 that resulted in an entry on Google News include:

Parliamentary activity profile

The debates and votes in the European Parliament are tracked by its website[73] and categorised by the Groups that participate in them and the rule of procedure that they fall into. The results give a profile for each Group by category and the total indicates the Group's level of participation in Parliamentary debates. The activity profile for each Group for the period 1 August 2004 to 1 August 2008 in the Sixth European Parliament is given on the diagram on the right. IND/DEM is denoted in orange.

The website shows IND/DEM as participating in 43 motions, making it one of the most inactive Groups during the period.

Publications

IND/DEM publications included the Prague Declaration of October 2005, which restated their disapproval of the Constitution Treaty and belief that the values it embodied should not be resurrected,[74] and the Delphi Declaration of July 2007, which made similar points concerning the Treaty of Lisbon.[75] IND/DEM also published a newsletter called EU Watch, which gave a eurosceptic view on the EU activities of the day.[76]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Postal Services: Liberalisation & Privatisation in the European Union . January 2007 . The Communication Workers Union . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154907/http://www.cwu.org/uploads/documents/Post%20Europa%2007%20FINAL%20.pdf . 6 June 2011 .
  2. Web site: Fourth Annual Report on Developments in the European Union in 2006, DFA, 2007 . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716153808/http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/uploads/documents/EU%20Division/reports/38336%20dfa%20eu%20ar%20inside.pdf . 16 July 2011 .
  3. Manners . Ian . Denmark and the European Union . EU Som et Politisk System - Uviklinger og Udfordringer . 2011 . 8.
  4. Web site: Brexit and Right-Wing Euroscepticism in the European Parliament . www.qmul.ac.uk . en . 25 April 2022.
  5. Web site: The Week, 20 July 2004 . Europarl.europa.eu . 17 June 2010.
  6. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/groupAndCountry/search.do? European Parliament directory listing for Independence/Democracy Group
  7. Book: David Phinnemore. Lee McGowan. A Dictionary of the European Union. 7 August 2013. 2013. Routledge. 978-1-135-08127-0. 276.
  8. Book: Lori Thorlakson. Federalism and the European party system. Alexander H. Trechsel. Towards a Federal Europe. https://books.google.com/books?id=mTndAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT72. 2013. Taylor & Francis. 978-1-317-99818-1. 72.
  9. Book: Pankowski, Rafal . The Populist Radical Right in Poland: The Patriots . Routledge . 2010 . 9781135150976 . 129.
  10. Dočekalová . Pavla . 2006 . Radical Right-Wing Parties in Central Europe: Mutual Contacts and Cooperation . Politics in Central Europe . 2 . 2 . 17.
  11. Book: Mudde, Cas . Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe . Cambridge University Press . 2007 . 978-0-511-34143-4 . Cambridge . 179.
  12. Book: Gora . Magdalena . Contestation of EU Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy . Styczynska . Natasza . Zubek . Marcin . Djof Forlag . 2020 . 9788771983234 . 187.
  13. Roy H. Ginsberg, Demystifying the European Union: The Enduring Logic of Regional Integration, p. 170, Rowman & Littlefield, 2010,
  14. Rob Ford, Matthew J. Goodwin, Voting for Extremists, passim, Taylor & Francis,
  15. Book: David Phinnemore . A Dictionary of the European Union . Lee McGowan . Routledge . 2013 . 978-1-135-08127-0 . 189.
  16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3806503.stm Eurosceptics storm the citadel
  17. Web site: Bennhold . Katrin . Political divide is said to deepen further: Populist parties make big gains in EU vote, IHT, June 15, 2004 . International Herald Tribune . 15 June 2004 . 17 June 2010.
  18. Web site: 20040720EN European Parliament website. 8 May 2015.
  19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk_politics/3912205.stm UKIP MEP in row over working women
  20. Web site: Browne . Anthony . UKIP plans alliance to scupper constitution . The Times . 28 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228055716/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukip-plans-alliance-to-scupper-constitution-07vkkmtj7gr . 28 February 2024 . 20 July 2004 . live.
  21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3899969.stm UKIP suspends fraud trial Euro MP
  22. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2279582.ece British MEP convicted for benefit fraud, Times, 17 August 2007
  23. Web site: Lucia Kubosova . Eurosceptics kick out Italian Lega Nord party, EUO, 16 March 2006 . EUobserver . 16 March 2006 . 17 June 2010.
  24. Web site: Helena Spongenberg . Parliament nations group gets a power boost, EUO, 13 December 2006 . EUobserver . 13 December 2006 . 17 June 2010.
  25. Web site: Polish MEPs splinter, PM, 19 December 2005 . Theparliament.com . 19 December 2005 . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090615101739/http://www.theparliament.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/polish-meps-splinter/ . 15 June 2009 .
  26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7467318.stm MEP arrested on fraud allegation
  27. Web site: Results of the 2009 European elections . Elections2009-results.eu . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090611150125/http://www.elections2009-results.eu/en/index_en_txt.html . 11 June 2009 .
  28. Web site: Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament – July 2009 – Rule 30 – Formation of political groups. 8 May 2015.
  29. Web site: Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament – March 2009 – Rule 29 – Formation of political groups. 8 May 2015.
  30. Web site: Ukip, Lega Nord form hard-right bloc in EU Parliament. 30 June 2009 . 8 May 2015.
  31. http://indemgroup.eu/32/news/556/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&cHash=913b16272c "EU-Critical Group in European Parliament launches"
  32. Web site: New eurosceptic group to campaign against EU treaty in Irish referendum. July 2009 . 8 May 2015.
  33. News: BBC NEWS – Europe – UKIP forms new Eurosceptic group. 8 May 2015. July 2009.
  34. Web site: Persson . Martin Olof . Turkey as a member of the European Union? . https://web.archive.org/web/20140505180705/http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1552/2007/079/LTU-DUPP-07079-SE.pdf . 5 May 2014 . dead.
  35. Web site: Congressional Research Service Report RS21998, on the European Parliament, by Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, Updated January 23, 2008 . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527111942/http://italy.usembassy.gov/pdf/other/RS21998.pdf . 27 May 2010 .
  36. http://indemgroup.eu/8/ Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament: Our Members
  37. http://indemgroup.eu/16/ Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament: Program
  38. http://indemgroup.eu/7/ Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament: Staff
  39. Web site: European election results 2009 for the United Kingdom . Elections2009-results.eu . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090611150311/http://www.elections2009-results.eu/en/united_kingdom_en_txt.html . 11 June 2009 .
  40. Web site: European election results 2009 for France . Elections2009-results.eu . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090612040333/http://www.elections2009-results.eu/en/france_en_txt.html . 12 June 2009 .
  41. Web site: Elections2009-Results.eu . Elections2009-results.eu . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160108035401/http://www.elections2009-results.eu/en/netherlands_en_txt.html . 8 January 2016 .
  42. Web site: European election results 2009 for Greece . Elections2009-results.eu . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090611222013/http://www.elections2009-results.eu/en/greece_en_txt.html . 11 June 2009 .
  43. Web site: The faces of the European Parliament 2007–09 . European Parliament . 28 February 2024.
  44. Web site: Results of the 2004 European Parliament elections from Europe Politique . Europe-politique.eu . 17 February 2007 . 17 June 2010.
  45. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/inOut/viewOutgoing.do?language=EN&id=28344 Incoming / Outgoing
  46. Web site: 20040721EN. 8 May 2015.
  47. Web site: Breaking News, World News & Multimedia.
  48. Web site: MEPs see no bread in motion against Barroso, dV, 9 June 2005 . 17 June 2010.
  49. Web site: Report on EU parliament funding abuse to remain secret, dV, February 26, 2008 . Forbes.com . 26 February 2008 . 17 June 2010.
  50. Web site: van Buitenen puts pressure on EP, AD, March 11, 2008 . 17 June 2010.
  51. http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/10/27/eu.barroso/ Barroso defends delay in EU vote, CNN, 27 October 2004
  52. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article515432.ece EU's poll data 'propaganda': Millions are to be spent on promoting the constitution among member states, Times, 17 February 2005
  53. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article445493.ece Leaders plan for a robust constitution as remedy to voter apathy, Times, 15 June 2004
  54. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article504641.ece They don't like the EU constitution? Quick, send in the force, Times, 21 January 2005
  55. Web site: EU charter's fate still uncertain after Luxembourg's Yes vote, PD, July 11, 2005 . English.people.com.cn . 11 July 2005 . 17 June 2010.
  56. http://www.eupolitix.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/meps-kosovo-and-lisbon-treaty-should-top-eu-agenda/ MEPs: Kosovo and Lisbon treaty should top EU agenda, PM, 16 January 2008
  57. Web site: EU Treaty deal meets praise and criticism, EA, 27 June 2007 . Euractiv.com . 17 June 2010.
  58. Web site: Students discuss with top-level representatives of the EU Parliament, OJ, 20 December 2005 . 17 June 2010.
  59. Web site: Brussels Will Lose Moral Authority on Democracy, CI, December 21, 2007 . Cato.org . 21 December 2007 . 17 June 2010.
  60. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article443424.ece Many tongues, now some teeth, Times, 10 June 2004
  61. Web site: Lega Nord expelled from the Eurosceptic group Independence and Democracy. Borghezio announces appeals, IN, 16 March 2006 . 17 June 2010.
  62. Web site: Northern League as a free radical, WZ, 18 March 2006 . 17 June 2010.
  63. Web site: Lega Nord permanently expelled from the Eurosceptic group, VN, 18 March 2006 . 17 June 2010.
  64. http://www.eupolitix.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/bonde-calls-for-election-not-coronation-in-eu-parliament-vote/ Bonde calls for ‘election not coronation’ in EU parliament vote, PM, 15 January 2007
  65. http://www.eupolitix.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/wurtz-urges-sea-change-in-eu-parliament-elections/ Wurtz urges sea change in EU parliament elections, PM, 12 January 2007
  66. http://www.eupolitix.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/strasbourgnbsp-spinelessness-angers-eu-deputies/ Strasbourg 'spinelessness' angers EU deputies, PM, 15 June 2006
  67. Web site: EP President no longer talking about Strasbourg, TR, 15 June 2006 . 17 June 2010.
  68. http://www.eupolitix.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/meps-outlinenbspplans-to-boost-eunbspparliament-election-turnout/ MEPs outline plans to boost EU parliament election turnout, PM, 27 November 2007
  69. http://www.euractiv.com/en/opinion/parliament-strengthens-control-commission/article-156620 Parliament strengthens its control over the Commission, EA, 11 September 2006
  70. Web site: MEPs debate Commission 2007 work programme, EGOV, 16 November 2006 . Egovmonitor.com . 16 November 2006 . 17 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090609204933/http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/8610 . 9 June 2009 .
  71. Web site: Marson . Ingrid . More MEPs demand transparency after patent debacle, ZDNET, 19 July 2005 . News.zdnet.co.uk . 19 July 2005 . 17 June 2010.
  72. Web site: EU perks-buster wins little popularity, TT, June 13, 2004 . Taipeitimes.com . 13 June 2004 . 17 June 2010.
  73. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/plenary/motion/search.do?language=EN Plenary sitting – Home
  74. Web site: The Prague Declaration on the future of Europe . 18 October 2005 . Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament . 25 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090904011213/http://indemgroup.eu/uploads/media/Prague_declaration_EN.pdf . 4 September 2009 . dead.
  75. Web site: The Declaration of Delphi . Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament . July 2007 . 25 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090904011231/http://indemgroup.eu/uploads/media/declaration_of_Delphi.pdf . 4 September 2009 . dead.
  76. Web site: EUWatch . Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament . 26 June 2008 . 5 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080626174454/http://indemgroup.eu/48/ . 26 June 2008 .

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