Since my nomination by the European Pirates as their candidate for the Commission Presidency after 2015, I have made my utmost efforts to be represented in each of those debates where European top-level politicians present their visions for the future.

I usually don’t like to be seen as a victim, but for first time I feel censored by being forbidden to participate in the First European Presidential Debate organised by the City of Maastricht, Maastricht University, Connect Limburg and the European Youth Forum. They have decided to gather candidates for the presidency of the European Commission from different European parties in a debate held in front of 700 young people, broadcast on Euronews.

The organizers and apparently the other participants (?) have decided that I should not be there. Their decision is based on the fact that I have worked with the Greens in the European Parliament, so since the Green candidate participates, I should not. What is the logic behind this reasoning?

What is this if not discrimination?

It smells like something is rotten. Have I been blocked from independent pan-European media just because I am a nominee of a non-mainstream party, the European Pirate Party?

The email exchange with my official reply is available below.

Dear Mrs Vanhoonacker,

I have not received any feedback following my email below where I ask you to reconsider your decision from 17/04, which I consider as a clear discrimination, and accept my participation to the first European presidential debate you are organising on 28th April.

Can you please reply to me?

Attached are the email justifying your refusal from 17/04 and the previous email exchanges between you and my office.

Thank you very much,

From: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia
Sent: 17 April 2014 19:50
To: 'Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS'
Cc: 'jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl'; 'Shackleton Michael (POLITICS'; 'Neuhold C (POLITICS'; 'Christiansen T (POLITICS'; 'caroline.roulaux@maastrichtuniversity.nl'; 'Bos, Gertjan'; 'Gregoire De Rubiana'; 'communication@euronews.com'; 'john.lisney@youthforum.org'; 'sarah.farndale@youthforum.org'; 'robbin@klinkhamergroup.com'; 'niels@klinkhamergroup.com'; 'm.abrahams@connectlimburg.eu'; 'c.moonen@connectlimburg.eu'; 'inge.dovermann@maastricht.nl'; 'pascalle.wetzels@maastricht.nl'; 'mselmayr@epp.eu'; KELLER Franziska; KELLER Franziska OFFICE; VERHOFSTADT Guy; VERHOFSTADT Guy OFFICE; SCHULZ Martin, President; VERHOFSTADT Guy; VERHOFSTADT Guy OFFICE; VERHOFSTADT Guy OFFICE2; 'martin.schulz@ep.europa.eu'
Subject: On the matter of the First European Presidential Debate

Dear Mrs Vanhoonacker,

I would like to clarify that I was nominated as candidate for the presidency of the European Commission by the European Pirate Party – as well as elected chairperson of the party – on March 21. I trust this takes care of the issue of the deadline and I apologize for the confusion which has arisen as an effect of previously misstated information.

I find your decision of not enabling me to participate in your debate discriminatory and as such unacceptable.

Let me remind you that,

1. Your university is organising a political debate gathering candidates from European political parties to the Presidency of the European Commission called “The First European Presidential Debate”. This will take place in Maastricht on 28th April 2014. The goal of the debate is to enable the European citizens, in particular younger citizens, to know about the candidates, hear what they have to say and possibly vote for their party at the next European election. As you mention on your website http://www.eudebate2014.eu, a young attendance "will see the candidates for the presidency of the European Commission battle out key issues on the future of Europe".

2. I have, via my office, requested to be allowed to participate in this debate as I am such a candidate to the Presidency of the European Commission, representing the European Pirate Party.  Because I want the European citizens to know about me, the political party I belong to, and my vision for Europe.

3. In response to this, you have indicated that you would discuss with the other candidates that take part in the debate whether I may participate or not. I do not see a clear rationale for why other participants in the debate are entitled to influence the decision on whether an additional participant, such as me, may or may not, join. Furthermore, I do not see what makes my request to participate in the debate different from the requests of the other participants.

4. You have decided, together with the candidates of the debate, to reject my participation on the ground that you decided "to limit the invitation to the parties that had nominated their candidates at the time of sending out our invitations".  I would like to remind you that neither I nor my staff received an invitation to the debate. For this reason we did not have the chance to reflect on it.

5. Another ground for your decision to refuse my participation is that it "would be inappropriate to have two candidates whose members come from the same political group in the European Parliament". I would like to stress the fact that the participants in the debate organised by you have been nominated by their European political parties and not by political groups in the European Parliament. Political groups in the European Parliament consist of MEPs that belong to different political parties, which may often be only on a national level. I have, just like the other participants, also been nominated by a European political party. Your fear of an "overrepresentation problem" would therefore seem to be unfounded.

I am deeply troubled by a refusal on the grounds that I have collaborated with members of other parties within a specific group. You deny the existence of the political party I represent, the European Pirate Party, and simultaneously diminish the cooperative political spirit on which Europe was wrought; this is a scandalous and unacceptable political discrimination.

I would like you, your steering committee, and the other participants – my fellow colleagues – to carefully take into account the above comments and my personal frustration, if not indignation, and reconsider your decision. It is clear that the European Pirates and myself have a place in this debate. You act of reconsideration would then cause my candidacy to the Presidency of the European Commission not be discriminated and would enjoy an equal treatment regarding media exposure towards the European citizens.

I thank you very much for the particular attention you will give to this letter,

Kindly,

--

Amelia Andersdotter

Member of the European Parliament

Brussels office:   +32(0)228 45922
Strasbourg office: +33(0)3881 75922
Mobile:            +32(0)470 460 922

https://www.ameliaandersdotter.eu
https://www.europeanpirates.eu

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS) [mailto:s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl]
Sent: 15 April 2014 21:59
To: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE
Cc: jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); Neuhold C (POLITICS); Christiansen T (POLITICS)
Subject: Panel debate

Dear Mrs Andersdotter

At today’s meeting of the steering committee, we have further discussed your request to be invited to the Maastricht panel debate of the presidential candidates. We have decided to stick to our earlier decision to limit the invitation to the parties that had nominated their candidates at the time of sending out our invitations. A further consideration underlying our decision is that we felt that it would be inappropriate to have two candidates whose members come from the same political group in the European Parliament. This would inevitably open us up to the charge of overrepresenting one strand of political opinion. We wish you very well for the campaign.

Best wishes

Sophie Vanhoonacker

Professor Sophie Vanhoonacker
Jean Monnet Chair and Chair in Administrative Governance,
Co-Director Maastricht Centre for European Governance
Maastricht University
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)
s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl
www.mceg-maastricht.eu

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS) [mailto:s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl]
Sent: 11 April 2014 18:29
To: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Galia

Today we had our Brussels meeting in which we formally informed the political parties about the request of the European Pirate Group to participate in the presidential panel debate.

On Tuesday the steering committee in charge of the organisation of the debate will further consider the issue on the basis of today's discussion and take a final decision on your request. We will be in touch immediately after the meeting.

Best wishes

Sophie

________________________________________

From: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE [amelia.andersdotter-office@europarl.europa.eu]
Sent: 10 April 2014 09:41
To: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS)
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Sophie,

Thank you very much for the feedback.

We feel that the transparency and equality of chances would have been better served with us present at the meeting on the 11th.
Therefore we are worried that the decisions concerning our request will be taken without the necessary arguments being presented by our side.

Kind Regards,

Galia

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS) [mailto:s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl]
Sent: 09 April 2014 23:16
To: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Galia

We realy feel that the discussion first has to take place amongst the parties that have been involved uptil now. We will let you know as soon as possible after the meeting what the decision is.
Best
Sophie

________________________________________

From: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE [amelia.andersdotter-office@europarl.europa.eu]
Sent: 08 April 2014 11:46
To: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS)
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Sophie,

Thank you very much for the reply.

I have understood that the decision to participate at the televised debate is one that will be taken in consultation with all involved parties and we hope that in the interest of transparency and equality of treatment the decision will be a positive one. However, our request was to also participate at the meeting on the 11th April, and we believe that was not the subject of your decision on 12th March. Therefore I would like to ask if you could communicate and agree with the other stakeholders our participation at the meeting on April 11th.

Looking forward to your reply,
Best,
Galia

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS) [mailto:s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl]
Sent: 07 April 2014 20:58
To: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Galia

The question of who should attend has been a matter for common discussion and decision in all four meetings with the parties since last October. At the last meeting on 12 March we agreed that invitations would be sent to the five parties with candidates. A change to this agreement in response to your request obliges us to consult again with the parties involved so far. We will naturally get back to you as soon as the discussions are concluded.

Best wishes

Sophie

________________________________________

From: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE [amelia.andersdotter-office@europarl.europa.eu]
Sent: 04 April 2014 12:22
To: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS)
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Sophie,

Thank you very much for your reply and we are very happy that you took our request into consideration.

We are a bit surprised that your decision is going to be taken together with the participants and not by the organizers themselves.

In the interest of having the chance to defend our position, we would like to participate at that meeting with the rest of the parties on April 11th in Brussels.

Looking forward to your answer,
Best Regards,
Galia

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS) [mailto:s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl]
Sent: 03 April 2014 19:20
To: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien; jean.bruijnzeels@maastricht.nl; Christiansen T (POLITICS); john.lisney@youthforum.org; Neuhold C (POLITICS); Shackleton Michael (POLITICS); gertjan.bos@maastricht.nl
Subject: RE: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Galia

As agreed during our telephone conversation last week, our steering committee discussed your request to consider to formally invite Mrs Andersdotter to the first presidential candidate debate scheduled to take place in Maastricht on 28 April. Since your party has not been part of our earlier discussions (due to the fact that you did not have a candidate until recently), we have decided to first inquire how the parties who have been invited to the debate look upon this issue. Your request will be discussed at the upcoming meeting with the parties in Brussels on Friday 11 April. We'll inform you about our collective decision by the end of next week.

Best wishes

Sophie Vanhoonacker

Professor Sophie Vanhoonacker
Jean Monnet Chair and Chair in Administrative Governance
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)
s.vanhoonacker@maastrichtuniversity.nl
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl

Grote Gracht 90-92, 6211 SZ Maastricht
P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
T +31 (0)43 3883242 F +31 (0)43 3884917

________________________________________

From: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia OFFICE [amelia.andersdotter-office@europarl.europa.eu]
Sent: 28 March 2014 13:04
To: Vanhoonacker S (POLITICS)
Cc: ANDERSDOTTER Amelia; BENCZE Julien
Subject: MEP Amelia Andersdotter registration request for The First European Presidential Debate

Dear Mrs Vanhoonacker,

Thank you for your availability on the phone and enabling us to forward our request.

Ms Andersdotter strongly wishes to participate at the "First European Presidential Debate", because her implication to this debate is essential, and especially for the young audience of the debate.

She has been elected by the European Pirate Party as their candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission on 22nd March.

Ms Andersdotter is also the youngest elected member of the European Parliament and has continuously brought up in the EU arena the aspirations of youth in Europe, regardless of their nationality, language and culture. She is Swedish, speaks English, Dutch, Spanish, and Romanian... her staff members come from Sweden, France, Bulgaria, Finland and the Czech Republic.

She is on the front line to understand the disinterest and frustrations of young Europeans as regards how the EU is evolving, where the weakening of fundamental rights of EU citizens, the non-transparency or the privatisation of EU legislative process are reality. Nevertheless, she has always clearly defended and will always defend a European vision, even in a country where this is not really popular.

She actively and successfully fights for an EU where the freedom of speech, innovation, the exchange of knowledge and culture are not just empty, populist words in today's digital society. The rejection of the ACTA agreement, the tough fight for privacy online, the saving of the free and open internet thanks to the principle of net neutrality, are major political battlefields where she is playing a decisive role.

We do realise the official deadline has passed, therefore we trust you will receive her request with particular understanding and be willing to accept her participation to the debate.

Thank you very much

Looking forward to your reply,
Best Regards,
Galia Mancheva