European union

[gopprogressive]

Cameron isn't EPP, but it's somewhat likely that he will be in 2014.

Agreed, but I wanted to leave the Conservatives in the same bloc, ditto with the Greens & Left parties, and the right-wing parties.

[matvail2002]

I would maybe add a far-right group (composed of the Front National, BNP, Jobbik) as I think they are strong enough to justify a party by themshelves.

For the leaders, I would maybe add the following:

Donald Tusk (PES)

Mark Rutte (ALDE)

Nigel Farage (AEN)

José Bové (Green Left)

[Patine]

I would maybe add a far-right group (composed of the Front National, BNP, Jobbik) as I think they are strong enough to justify a party by themshelves.

For the leaders, I would maybe add the following:

Donald Tusk (PES)

Mark Rutte (ALDE)

Nigel Farage (AEN)

José Bové (Green Left)

If Jorg Haider were still with us, he'd be a contender for that party too.

[gopprogressive]

@issue position descriptions

// left to right, 1 - 5

//Agriculture

Strengthen the CAP to encourage farm collectivization. Break up corporate farms, save family farms.

Protect the Common Agricultural Policy. Increase subsidies for farmers and promote legislative harmonization. (PES)

Reform the Common Agricultural Policy. Cap subsidies, reduce import controls and promote stewardship. (EPP,GRN)

Scrap the Common Agricultural Policy. Reduce farm subsidies and limit individual payments. (ELDR,UEN)

Abolish all farm subsidies. Liberalize agriculture and open up markets to imports from abroad.

@

//Balanced Budget

Ignore the deficit and debt. Massive spending for new social welfare schemes.

Deficit spending to stimulate our economy. Oppose cuts to social programs. (GRN,PES)

Reduce tax burden. Limit government spending without compromising public services. (ELDR)

Enact strict austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit. Reduce public spending. (EPP)

Make deep cuts to social programs, reduce government debt, and overhaul public sector. (UEN)

@

//Defense

Disband most military forces altogether. Exit the NATO alliance. Pacifism is our best defensive option.

Reduce defense spending. Scale down size of military. Reduce NATO commitments and disarm nukes. (GRN, ELDR)

Leave defense spending at current levels. Focus on peace-keeping operations and NATO defense. (PES)

Increase defense budget to modernize the defense forces. Strengthen the NATO alliance and keep commitments. (EPP, UEN)

Launch a full-scale military rearmament program. Vastly increase the size of EDF. Seek to become a superpower.

@

// Economy

Socialist economic policy. Reverse globalization. Restructure companies into union-owned cooperatives.

Greater regulation of business. Public investment in industry to promote growth and protect jobs. (PES, GRN)

Inject a stimulus package to combat unemployment. Provide retraining programs for the unemployed. (ELDR)

Reduce subsidies, red tape, and public sector bureaucracy. Encourage an open economy and free markets. (EPP)

Abolish the minimum wage. Get bureaucracy off business' back. Move towards American-style capitalism. (UEN)

@

//Education

Huge investment in public education. Make tertiary education free for all. (GRN)

More funding for state schools. Raise teacher salaries. Improve vocational education. (PES)

Targeted spending to help the neediest students. Reduce university fees. (ELDR,EPP)

Limit growth in education spending. Increase national standards. (UEN)

Education is best provided by the private sector. Support school vouchers.

@

// Environment

The environment always comes first. Impose a carbon tax to reduce emissions. Major fines on polluters. (GRN)

Environment is a priority. Increase standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (PES)

We must protect the environment. Support more recycling and tax incentives for being eco-friendly. (ELDR)

Open to environmentalism, but the rights of business and industry need to be respected. (EPP)

The environment is fine. Stop eco-bureaucracy. Stand up to climate change hysteria.

@ (UEN)

//Europe

Abolish all state authority. The United States of Europe is a worthy goal.

Enlarge EU further and commit for more EU powers. Secure European constitution. (GRN,PES, ELDR)

Support more common EU standards to promote unity. Reform European constitution. (EPP)

Restrict EU powers and EU bureaucracy. Devolve more powers to the states. (UEN)

Disband the European Union. Give power back to national states.

@

//Financial Crisis

Neo-liberal capitalism is dead. Permanent bank nationalisation and salary caps.

Nationalise banks and retain public ownership until end of recession. Control salaries. (PES, GRN)

Reorganise the financial sector to isolate bad loans and prevent another collapse. (EPP)

Guarantee savings only. Let private banks stay in private hands. Keep interference minimal. (ELDR)

Maintain private ownership and rescind the bailouts. Let the bad banks fail. (UEN)

@

//Foreign Policy

We should work with the UN, Russia, and China to curb American power.

We should stand up to the U.S. more often. Remain wary of US intentions. (GRN)

We should maintain our friendship with the U.S. but keep our distance. (PES, ELDR)

The U.S. is our most important partner. Atlantic ties must be closer. (EPP, UEN)

Stand by America no matter what. All the way with the USA!

@

//Healthcare

Dramatically increase funding for EU-wide public healthcare plan. No profit in medical system. (GRN)

Increase funding for public health services throughout EU. Reduce private sector involvement. (PES)

Work to cut costs, secure universal healthcare across EU. Public-private relationship is essential. (ELDR,EPP)

Introduce greater private involvement in healthcare. Reduce waiting times through private services. (UEN)

Full privatization of health care services. Deregulate health insurance market.

@

//Immigration

A multicultural Europe is our future. Dramatically relax immigration laws. Amnesty for illegal asylum seekers. (GRN)

Immigration is good for Europe. Provide greater rights to asylum seekers. Make entry easier for immigrants. (PES)

Encourage skilled immigrants and genuine asylum seekers. Promote greater integration of immigrants into society. (ELDR)

Place strict quotas on immigration and asylum seekers. Minimize dual citizenship. Crack down on illegal immigration. (EPP)

Immigration and multiculturalism are destroying Europe's heritage and culture. Halt immigration from non-Western countries. (UEN)

@

//Jobs

Increase worker and union rights. Nationalize failing and critical industries. Revoke free market reforms.

Preserve worker and union rights. Mandate a 35-hour workweek. Push for "Green Jobs" initiative. (PES, GRN)

Support social partnerships between unions and business. Stay with new free market reforms. (ELDR)

Relax worker and union rights further. Protect public services from strikes. Take a hard-line against inflation. (EPP)

Outlaw strikes and crack down on unions. Repeal employment protection. Terminate unemployment benefits. (UEN)

@

//Social Security

Make social security pensions index-linked. Increase benefits for pensioners. No to privatization.

Protect social security pensions from cuts. More help for the poorest pensioners. (PES, GRN)

Keep the retirement age at 62. Tax incentives for private pensions and working past 60. (EPP, ELDR)

Raise the retirement age. Reduce public pension provisions. Promote private ones instead. (UEN)

Deep cuts to public pensions. Move towards full privatization of social security.

@

//Tax Policy

Income tax should be returned to the 1970s progressive levels. Impose "wealth tax." (GRN)

Reduce tax burden on the working class but raise taxes on the wealthy and bankers. (PES)

Reduce taxes for lower and middle income and for small businesses. Reduce VAT. (ELDR)

Reduce income tax rates across-the-board by 5%. Reduce inheritance tax. (EPP)

Establish a flat income tax of 17% for individuals and corporations. (UEN)

@

//Trade

No to globalization. Increase tariffs on foreign goods. (GRN)

Fair trade not free trade. Stand up to WTO and multinationals. (PES)

Pragmatic approach towards increasing trade. Promote exports. (EPP)

Reduce trade barriers, open and diversify markets for free trade. (ELDR,UEN)

All markets should be open! Push for free trade expansion.

@

//Turkey

Support Turkish membership immediately and consider including other Moslem states.

Support Turkish membership as a bridge to the Moslem world. (PES, GRN)

Demand reforms in Turkey before later admittance to EU. (ELDR)

Oppose Turkish membership in the EU. Hold referendum if EU considers issue. (EPP)

Turkey does not share our values or heritage, and neither do it's European allies. (UEN)

@

//Welfare State

Expand the welfare state to end poverty, bring jobs to the disabled, and enhance social well-being. (GRN)

Protect the welfare state. Generous benefits to reduce poverty and help the unemployed find work. (PES)

Make the welfare state more efficient. Focus on restoring economic growth and reducing unemployment. (EPP)

Cut down on welfare payments to reduce dependency. Shrink the welfare state's size and scope. (ELDR)

Welfare spending has gotten out of hand. Curtail it drastically, especially for immigrants. (UEN)

@

[matvail2002]

In a way, these look good, but there are two issues which often comes up in European elections in many different countries:

-Transparency and Red Tape

-Size of the European bureaucracy (with maybe a centralization of powers in one city especially for the parliament)

[thetrotsky]

One of the most prominent leaders of the UEL-NGL is Joe Higgins of the Irish Socialist Party, so perhaps him as a leader of that faction. Also John Alderdice, former leaders of NI's Alliance Party, was a senior figure in the European Liberal group.

[gopprogressive]

Do you guys want to see it with Real Life or fictional people?

The only problem that I've had with RL leaders is that there is a strong consensus and very little differences between most of the major parties/blocs. But I'll go ahead with RL people and pretend that there isn't as much of a consensus as there is right now.

[mz452]

I personally like fictional

[mz452]

Some fictional heads of government and their generic views...

Austria - Chancellor Helena Vägner (Ultra Conservative)

Belgium - Prime Minister Anne Belet (Centrist)

Bulgaria - Prime Minister Toder Lukanov (Liberal)

Cyrpus - President Ioannis Matsis (Conservative)

Czech Republic - Prime Minister Jan Flasarová (Liberal)

Denmark - Prime Minister Pia Olsen Dahl (Conservative)

Estonia - Prime Minister Marianne Oviir (Centrist)

Finland - President Suzanna Finn (Liberal), Prime Minister Sol McPhee (Centrist)

France - President Simon-Pierre Dupontel (Conservative)

Germany - Chancellor Gisela de Kloet-Hölzer (Conservative)

Greece - Prime Minister Vilos Cohaagen (Liberal)

Hungary - Prime Minister Viktória Olajos (Liberal)

Italy - Prime Minister Pier Antonio Podestà (Conservative)

Latvia - Prime Minister Georgs Krasts (Conservative)

Lithuania - Prime Minister Margarita Andrikienė (Conservative)

Luxembourg - Prime Minister Nicolas Lentz-Cornette (Centrist)

Malta - Prime Minister Glenn Muscat (Ultra Conservative)

Netherlands - Prime Minister Pim de Uyn (Conservative, UKIP style)

Poland - President Julian Szczęsny (Conservative)

Portugal - President Esperanza Sanrevelle (Liberal)

Romania - President Gheorghe Vasile (Very Liberal)

Slovakia - Prime Minister Monika Duka-Zólyomi (Centrist)

Slovenia - Prime Minister Jelko Novak (Liberal)

Spain - Prime Minister Antonio Molara (Conservative)

Sweden - Prime Minister Lena Lundqvist-Brömster (Liberal)

United Kingdom - Prime Minister Fletcher Christian (Labour)

I also suggest adding the fictional countries like Abala, Ocia, Rocentia, Paddstoddington, Domawska, Gimli, Carrassia, Kanchelska, Stormark, etc.

[gopprogressive]

I like the names Matty, but I think I'll just go with RL leaders to satisfy the sentiments of most of the people here. I'll try to get some work done on this one this week.

[gopprogressive]

So what issues should be strong for each party group, do you think?

[matvail2002]

EPP: Economy, Jobs

PES: Economy, Foreign Affairs

ALDE: Balanced budget, Civil Liberties, Trade, Tax Reform

Greens: Environment, Agriculture

Eurosceptic Bloc: States’ Rights, Turkey, Immigration

[gopprogressive]

@issue position descriptions

// left to right, 1 - 5

//Agriculture

Strengthen the CAP to encourage farm collectivization. Break up corporate farms, save family farms.

Protect the Common Agricultural Policy. Increase subsidies for farmers and promote legislative harmonization. (PES)

Reform the Common Agricultural Policy. Cap subsidies, reduce import controls and promote stewardship. (EPP,GRN)

Scrap the Common Agricultural Policy. Reduce farm subsidies and limit individual payments. (ELDR,UEN)

Abolish all farm subsidies. Liberalize agriculture and open up markets to imports from abroad.

@

//Balanced Budget

Ignore the deficit and debt. Massive spending for new social welfare schemes.

Deficit spending to stimulate our economy. Oppose cuts to social programs. (GRN,PES)

Reduce tax burden. Limit government spending without compromising public services. (ELDR)

Enact strict austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit. Reduce public spending. (EPP)

Make deep cuts to social programs, reduce government debt, and overhaul public sector. (UEN)

@

//Defense

Disband most military forces altogether. Exit the NATO alliance. Pacifism is our best defensive option.

Reduce defense spending. Scale down size of military. Reduce NATO commitments and disarm nukes. (GRN, ELDR)

Leave defense spending at current levels. Focus on peace-keeping operations and NATO defense. (PES)

Increase defense budget to modernize the defense forces. Strengthen the NATO alliance and keep commitments. (EPP, UEN)

Launch a full-scale military rearmament program. Vastly increase the size of EDF. Seek to become a superpower.

@

// Economy

Socialist economic policy. Reverse globalization. Restructure companies into union-owned cooperatives.

Greater regulation of business. Public investment in industry to promote growth and protect jobs. (PES, GRN)

Inject a stimulus package to combat unemployment. Provide retraining programs for the unemployed. (ELDR)

Reduce subsidies, red tape, and public sector bureaucracy. Encourage an open economy and free markets. (EPP)

Abolish the minimum wage. Get bureaucracy off business' back. Move towards American-style capitalism. (UEN)

@

//Education

Huge investment in public education. Make tertiary education free for all. (GRN)

More funding for state schools. Raise teacher salaries. Improve vocational education. (PES)

Targeted spending to help the neediest students. Reduce university fees. (ELDR,EPP)

Limit growth in education spending. Increase national standards. (UEN)

Education is best provided by the private sector. Support school vouchers.

@

// Environment

The environment always comes first. Impose a carbon tax to reduce emissions. Major fines on polluters. (GRN)

Environment is a priority. Increase standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (PES)

We must protect the environment. Support more recycling and tax incentives for being eco-friendly. (ELDR)

Open to environmentalism, but the rights of business and industry need to be respected. (EPP)

The environment is fine. Stop eco-bureaucracy. Stand up to climate change hysteria. (UEN)

@

//Europe

Abolish all state authority. The United States of Europe is a worthy goal.

Enlarge EU further and commit for more EU powers. Secure European constitution. (GRN,PES, ELDR)

Support more common EU standards to promote unity. Reform European constitution. (EPP)

Restrict EU powers and EU bureaucracy. Devolve more powers to the states. (UEN)

Disband the European Union. Give power back to national states.

@

//Financial Crisis

Neo-liberal capitalism is dead. Permanent bank nationalisation and salary caps.

Nationalise banks and retain public ownership until end of recession. Control salaries. (PES, GRN)

Reorganise the financial sector to isolate bad loans and prevent another collapse. (EPP)

Guarantee savings only. Let private banks stay in private hands. Keep interference minimal. (ELDR)

Maintain private ownership and rescind the bailouts. Let the bad banks fail. (UEN)

@

//Foreign Policy

We should work with the UN, Russia, and China to curb American power.

We should stand up to the U.S. more often. Remain wary of US intentions. (GRN)

We should maintain our friendship with the U.S. but keep our distance. (PES, ELDR)

The U.S. is our most important partner. Atlantic ties must be closer. (EPP, UEN)

Stand by America no matter what. All the way with the USA!

@

//Healthcare

Dramatically increase funding for EU-wide public healthcare plan. No profit in medical system. (GRN)

Increase funding for public health services throughout EU. Reduce private sector involvement. (PES)

Work to cut costs, secure universal healthcare across EU. Public-private relationship is essential. (ELDR,EPP)

Introduce greater private involvement in healthcare. Reduce waiting times through private services. (UEN)

Full privatization of health care services. Deregulate health insurance market.

@

//Immigration

A multicultural Europe is our future. Dramatically relax immigration laws. Amnesty for illegal asylum seekers. (GRN)

Immigration is good for Europe. Provide greater rights to asylum seekers. Make entry easier for immigrants. (PES)

Encourage skilled immigrants and genuine asylum seekers. Promote greater integration of immigrants into society. (ELDR)

Place strict quotas on immigration and asylum seekers. Minimize dual citizenship. Crack down on illegal immigration. (EPP)

Immigration and multiculturalism are destroying Europe's heritage and culture. Halt immigration from non-Western countries. (UEN)

@

//Jobs

Increase worker and union rights. Nationalize failing and critical industries. Revoke free market reforms.

Preserve worker and union rights. Mandate a 35-hour workweek. Push for "Green Jobs" initiative. (PES, GRN)

Support social partnerships between unions and business. Stay with new free market reforms. (ELDR)

Relax worker and union rights further. Protect public services from strikes. Take a hard-line against inflation. (EPP)

Outlaw strikes and crack down on unions. Repeal employment protection. Terminate unemployment benefits. (UEN)

@

//Social Security

Make social security pensions index-linked. Increase benefits for pensioners. No to privatization.

Protect social security pensions from cuts. More help for the poorest pensioners. (PES, GRN)

Keep the retirement age at 62. Tax incentives for private pensions and working past 60. (EPP, ELDR)

Raise the retirement age. Reduce public pension provisions. Promote private ones instead. (UEN)

Deep cuts to public pensions. Move towards full privatization of social security.

@

//Tax Policy

Income tax should be returned to the 1970s progressive levels. Impose "wealth tax." (GRN)

Reduce tax burden on the working class but raise taxes on the wealthy and bankers. (PES)

Reduce taxes for lower and middle income and for small businesses. Reduce VAT. (ELDR)

Reduce income tax rates across-the-board by 5%. Reduce inheritance tax. (EPP)

Establish a flat income tax of 17% for individuals and corporations. (UEN)

@

//Trade

No to globalization. Increase tariffs on foreign goods. (GRN)

Fair trade not free trade. Stand up to WTO and multinationals. (PES)

Pragmatic approach towards increasing trade. Promote exports. (EPP)

Reduce trade barriers, open and diversify markets for free trade. (ELDR,UEN)

All markets should be open! Push for free trade expansion.

@

//Turkey

Support Turkish membership immediately and consider including other Moslem states.

Support Turkish membership as a bridge to the Moslem world. (PES, GRN)

Demand reforms in Turkey before later admittance to EU. (ELDR)

Oppose Turkish membership in the EU. Hold referendum if EU considers issue. (EPP)

Turkey does not share our values or heritage, and neither do it's European allies. (UEN)

@

//Welfare State

Expand the welfare state to end poverty, bring jobs to the disabled, and enhance social well-being. (GRN)

Protect the welfare state. Generous benefits to reduce poverty and help the unemployed find work. (PES)

Make the welfare state more efficient. Focus on restoring economic growth and reducing unemployment. (EPP)

Cut down on welfare payments to reduce dependency. Shrink the welfare state's size and scope. (ELDR)

Welfare spending has gotten out of hand. Curtail it drastically, especially for immigrants. (UEN)

@

[thetrotsky]

Will all groups of the eu parliament be included. i.e uel/ngl and the new group formed by the british conservatives?

[gopprogressive]

FINAL LEADERS:

EPP

Angela Merkel (Germany)

Nicolas Sarkozy (France)

Silvio Berlusconi (Italy)

David Cameron (England)

Donald Tusk (Poland)

PES

José Zapatero (Spain)

Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Denmark)

Jens Stoltenberg (Norway)

Werner Faymann (Austria)

George Papandreou (Greece)

ALDE

Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium)

Matti Vanhanen (Finland)

Nick Clegg (England)

GREEN-LEFT

Daniel Cohn-Bendit (France)

Maria Wetterstrand (Sweden)

Joschka Fischer (Germany)

UEN

Geert Wilders (Netherlands)

Václav Klaus (Czech Republic)

Nigel Farage (England)

[gopprogressive]

So what countries are most supportive of Turkey in the EU?

I'm figuring the obvious ones are Albania, Bosnia, but where else?

[matvail2002]

Maybe Romania and Bulgaria?

However, some countries are EXTREMELY opposed to this matter, such as Austria, Greece, Germany, Denmark and France.

[French conservative]

On the "Extemely" I agree with matvail. On more moderates, I would add most eastern countries, and especially Poland.

However I think you guys forgot one extremely important party for lots of countries : http://www.ecrgroup.eu/ or you did mistakes...

Especially with David Cameron and the UKs conservatives : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Conservatives_and_Reformists#Membership_as_of_19_September_2009

However seeing the current political reality for the conservatives in Europe, we should keep this map : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Conservatives_and_Reformists#Membership_as_of_19_September_2009 in mind as the Conservatives should be poweerfull in those countries but not represented in the "grey" countries. In europe, european parties are represented in some countries but not in all of them as European countries are linked directly to national parties.

But I must say I'm just taking the discussion here I was not on this forum for months. But European politics are in my mind far more complicated. and te fact that PF08 permit us to have parties running in some states but not in all of them is a perfect system to have a realistic european election.

And BTW, I'm not sure because I never tried nor bought Prime Minister Forever, but doesn't this game would be better as European elections are proportional ?

[gopprogressive]

Yes, I'm aware of the fact that the European Parliament has a lot more groups than 5, but I felt that limiting the parties to 5 would make it more manageable. I'll post regionalism when I come up with something.

Do you guys want individual constituency names like I did in the other CF scenarios, or party list seats like I did with the Netherlands?

[French conservative]

Yes, I'm aware of the fact that the European Parliament has a lot more groups than 5, but I felt that limiting the parties to 5 would make it more manageable. I'll post regionalism when I come up with something.

Do you guys want individual constituency names like I did in the other CF scenarios, or party list seats like I did with the Netherlands?

At least having the 7 european parties with elected officials would that really change things ? Especially with the conservatives being the fifth more important European party why not having it ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament

[gopprogressive]

Having more than 5 or 6 parties just makes the vote too darn fragmented for my tastes. Plus it seems that the more substantive differences between the Tories and the EPP have disappeared as of late.

[CCA]

It's hard for gameengine to cope with several parties - especially when it comes to coalition offers and formation

[French conservative]

BTW wouldn't PM4E be a better game for a scenario on the European Union

[gopprogressive]

BTW wouldn't PM4E be a better game for a scenario on the European Union

Well CF is better. Would you rather have constituency names with named candidates or party lists alone?

[French conservative]

Well CF is better. Would you rather have constituency names with named candidates or party lists alone?

Well it depends if you want to make it realistic or not...

There are no political leaders for European political parties, only lists of candidates in the name of political parties. So a realistic game would use party lists only.