ANO pro Evropu
Encyclopedia
ANO pro Evropu is an NGO based in Prague
, Czech Republic
. ANO pro Evropu seeks to be broadly-based, and is nonpartisan
and nonparticipitory in elections.
which intends to achieve the following objectives within the Czech Republic:
1) To work to try and make Europe as much of a 'shared space' as possible in national debate, rather than another area left to partisan
fighting.
2) To build awareness of the benefits of taking a positive approach to full engagement in the Union, including the necessity to avoid an elite-focus.
3) To promote the idea that membership is relevant to all groups and communities- that Europe is 'us,' not 'them.'
ANO organizes events in cooperation with other groups in accordance with the following principles:
addressing the proposed accession into the EU by campaigning throughout the Czech Republic
beginning in 2002.
The organization assembled over 118 prominent campaigners, with former President Václav Havel
as the principal supporter. Operationally, the campaign involved:
This was the first free referendum
in Czech history, and the people voted in favor of membership of the European Union
by 77%. ANO’s campaign was by far the most prominent non-party effort in the referendum.
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. ANO pro Evropu seeks to be broadly-based, and is nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
and nonparticipitory in elections.
Goals and Initiatives
ANO pro Evropu is a civic associationPolitical organisation
A political organization is an organization that involves itself in the political process. In a broader sense, a political organization can also be viewed as a political system, as long as it includes the entire system and body of government...
which intends to achieve the following objectives within the Czech Republic:
1) To work to try and make Europe as much of a 'shared space' as possible in national debate, rather than another area left to partisan
Partisan (political)
In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...
fighting.
2) To build awareness of the benefits of taking a positive approach to full engagement in the Union, including the necessity to avoid an elite-focus.
3) To promote the idea that membership is relevant to all groups and communities- that Europe is 'us,' not 'them.'
ANO organizes events in cooperation with other groups in accordance with the following principles:
- To provide non-partisan forums which take a practical and accessible approach to issues.
- To create relevant publications with which to inform the public and stimulate a more constructive debate on integration into the EU.
- To create occasions for the general Czech public to receive information and to be able to participate in this debate.
- To involve local governmentLocal governmentLocal government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, other NGOs, and businesses throughout the Czech Republic in discussion of major EU membership-related issues. - To help develop a network of individuals and organizations willing to work together on promoting a positive engagement with EU membership.
Role in the Czech European Union Referendum
Their initial objective as an organization was to design and implement a project to promote a high voter turnout and high affirmative vote in the Czech referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
addressing the proposed accession into the EU by campaigning throughout the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
beginning in 2002.
The organization assembled over 118 prominent campaigners, with former President Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
as the principal supporter. Operationally, the campaign involved:
- 85,000 posters put up throughout the country.
- A series of national press conferences dealing with the main issues which were projected to be effected positively by accession of the Czech Rep. into the EU; including healthHealthHealth is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, educationEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, the environment, democracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, cultureCultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, and the economyEconomyAn economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
. - Over 40 local events with a mixture of prominent speakers and subject experts.
- A major public concert in PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
a few days before polling. - Publication and circulation of a wide range of "Yes Camp" propaganda.
- Assembling of pro-Europe groups to coordinate their respective activities.
This was the first free referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in Czech history, and the people voted in favor of membership of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
by 77%. ANO’s campaign was by far the most prominent non-party effort in the referendum.
Prominent Leadership
- Monika MacDonagh PajerováMonika MacDonagh PajerováMonika MacDonagh-Pajerová is currently the chairperson of the pro-European organization ANO pro Evropu and lecturer at NYU in Prague. During the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Pajerová served as the official spokesperson for University Strike Committee and was a founding member of the...
, the organization's chairperson, was the official spokesperson for the student revolutionary movement in Prague's Velvet RevolutionVelvet RevolutionThe Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in 1989, and is also a lecturer at New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in Prague. - Václav HavelVáclav HavelVáclav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
, under the auspices of which the organization was founded, is the former president of Czechoslovakia (1989–1992) and of the Czech Republic (1993–2003).
Other Supporters
- Petr PithartPetr PithartPetr Pithart is a Czech politician, lawyer and political scientist.He served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from February 6, 1990 to July 2, 1992...
, Czech senator, and former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic - Jiří DienstbierJiří DienstbierJiří Dienstbier was a Czech politician and journalist. He was one of Czechoslovakia's most respected foreign correspondent before being fired after the Prague Spring. Unable to have a livelihood as a journalist, he worked as a janitor for the next two decades...
, diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs - Josef Zieleniec, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Jaroslav Šedivý, diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Tomáš HalíkTomáš HalíkTomáš Halík is a Czech public intellectual, Roman Catholic priest, and scholar.-Biography:He studied sociology and philosophy in Prague and in Bangor, UK. During Communist rule, he was banned from teaching and worked in various occupations, e.g. as a psychotherapist for drug addicts and alcoholics...
, president of Czech Christian Academy - Jiřina Šiklová, founder of the Center for Gender Studies in Prague
- Jarmila Poláková, managing director of the Film and Sociology Comp.
- Olga Sozanská, managing director of the National Volunteer Center
- Jiří Pehe, director of New York University in Prague
Founding Members
- Václav Havel
- Vladimír ŠpidlaVladimír ŠpidlaVladimír Špidla is a Czech politician. He served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from July 2002 to June 2004. Then Vladimír Špidla was appointed to the European Commission as Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.-Biography:Špidla studied history at Charles...
, Commissioner of the European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, and former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic - Petr Pithart
- Karel Schwarzenberg
- Jiří Pehe
- Jiřina Šiklová
- Marta KubišováMarta KubišováMarta Kubišová is a Czech singer of iconic significance. By the time of the Prague Spring of 1968, with her song "Modlitba pro Martu" , she was one of the most popular female singers in Czechoslovakia.In 1967 she won Zlatý slavík award...
, Czech singer - Svatopluk Karásek, Czech singer
- Monika MacDonagh Pajerová