So it is the final day here in Copenhagen. The Sunday at Council is always a more quiet affair, devoted to voting on policies and dealing with technical and constitutional matters. Most of the big speakers have left, and, once the important votes are done, people tend to drift off in dribs and drabs.

That doesn’t mean that the day isn’t important. In fact, I think it is one of the most important days. The big controversial thing that happened today was a vote to expel a member party. Never something that anyone likes to do, and not something that is taken lightly. The vote passed, so from today, Confederacion de Los Verdes is no longer a member of the ‘green family’. To be honest, I’m glad at this has been done now. The problem with politics is that it is a fluid thing. Especially for grassroots movements like the greens, I think the party can only really exist where the activists and members are. In Spain, the bulk of the movement has now joined in with EQUO, uniting with civil society. But still, it’s never nice to have to expel a party.

I don’t think there is much more I can say to sum up the Council other than what I have written here, and what I wrote last night. It has been wonderful to visit Copenhagen, and see, not only greens from across Europe, but to see a city that is built around a model of active mobility. I hope I can get a chance to return here sometime.

Now though, it is time to head back to Brussels and get on with putting into action the fantastic ideas that have come out of the discussions we’ve had.

I spent most of today with meetings like this, managing to take a little excursion into the city centre as well. Meeting up with the delegations from England & Wales, and Ireland, we talked about how to improve communications between the parties, and I think we’ve got some pretty good ideas to work on now. Hopefully they will bear fruit later in the year.

Not to come over all kumbayah about it, but there really is something special about getting greens from all across the continent to come together in one place and talk about politics, swap stories of electoral successes (or otherwise), and figure out ways of getting parties together for election campaigns and capacity building.

Today has a less busy schedule, for me at least. This morning was mainly devoted to discussing resolutions, which will be voted on tomorrow, so I took advantage of my non-delegate status to explore the city centre a bit. It really reminds me of the Netherlands, with the vast crowds of bicycles outside buildings, and speeding along the well built, separated cycle lanes. I wish Brussels was like this!

The rest of the day will be a mix of working groups and debates on economic union, and the pensions crisis. It’s always interesting how the character of these events changes when the programme is taken over by the EGP. The content of debates is just as good, but, and I write this kindly, some of the glossy shine of Green Group debates goes away. It feels much more like a party conference in the UK, with much more of an emphasis on the delegates and positions of the parties.

I’m not sure if I will carry on my experiment in live notes from debates, but I will certainly post something more later today.

Being a somewhat young and radical political movement, the idea of joining government, with all the compromises that need to be made in doing so, is naturally a little controversial to some greens. I’m keen to see the outcome of this debate then, where the Danish and Finnish environment ministers, both ‘greens’, and both, obviously, in government.

Ida Auken, of Denmark’s SF, has started, outlining the position of her party as just one party in a crowded field. Surprising to hear that SF has managed to take 6 ministries! Finland is also in a crowded situation, with 6 parties in the government (can you imagine that in the UK?). Vireat has only 2 ministries. Interestingly, the two big parties in the Finnish coalition don’t have their own majority, giving the smaller parties in the grouping greater leverage.

[apologies for the bad photography, still trying to figure out how to blog from an iPad]

The question of whether it is better to be in opposition has been raised. Auken (Denmark) strongly objects. It’s reassuring to hear. One delegate has just whispered in my ear, “one year in government is better than 10 years in opposition”. Maybe Nick Clegg would disagree, but I’m inclined to agree here.

Finland counters that you “shouldn’t be desperate to be in government”. Again, inclined to agree, but it would be interesting to see the input from the parties here. I can think of a few that might have some contrary points.

“I think it’s a bad left wing disease of wanting to flog yourself for the things you don’t get” Ida Auken

Too right!

Auken is quite impressive.

Questioning why the public don’t seem to recognize the achievements of greens in government, Niinistö says it is important to use all the means of communication to convey the victories, small or otherwise. It seems a little basic, but there is a lesson in there for some I think.

if you want to use social media, don’t put out press releases

Again, right on from Auken.

I was chatting to various members of the organizing staff for the council, and it seemed surprising for a moment, that they are running around, feeling as if the event is going wrong here there and everywhere. To their credit, none of us delegates can see any problems. It feels wonderfully organized. I have to remember the last three councils I’ve worked on though, and the headless chicken atmosphere behind the scenes.

I’m sitting in the Group session of green jobs at the moment. The first speaker is a professor from Oxford, outlining ideas for green growth as a means of creating green jobs. The question of green growth is always a controversial one. The idea of infinite growth is somewhat hard to comprehend when there are limits on resources available. In the short term though, it would seem sensible to undertake measures that allow a measure of economic growth without causing more environmental and social damage. I can’t help but feel that in the long-term, this isn’t a solution to the problems we face.

The Swedish environment minister is speaking now, highlighting the resource crises facing us.

“a transition towards a green economy is the only precondition to growth”

The minister is emphasizing the need for resource efficiency as a way towards a green economy, and the need for new business models that put sustainability at the core of the business model.

The gist of her point is that there should be adaptation, new ways of doing things, and new ways of thinking about things.

Some interesting ideas being thrown around this morning. It’s always reassuring to see the practical implementation of green ideas as a part of a government programme. Let’s just hope that the problems that have beset other greens in government don’t hit our SF ministers.

Bas Eickhout MEP, Netherlands, GroenLinks, opened the Q&A session with a question on how the Eastern European countries might be able to make the shift to a green economy. Answering, the minister pointed out that moves in the Council to have countries report on resource efficiency represent a big step in getting all member states to take part in making a green economy, but highlighted that there is an important role in informing countries of why it is vital to shift.

Sessions finishes up with call from minister for positive visions, examples of best practices, and for greens to be stronger.

Transport in Copenhagen is quite interesting. I tried to use one of the free city bikes yesterday, but between the pedals turning on an unexpected axis, the handlebars being incredibly narrow, and the wheels not being quite round, I don’t think it is something I will try again.

Last night, I attended the Green Group’s debate on the EU’s response to the Arab Spring. I posted my notes from the meeting as it proceeded. It was interesting to hear the arguments from the panelists from Syria and Lebanon, but I found myself quite dissatisfied with the outcome. Of course, no one could expect for one meeting to produce an answer to all the myriad problems and opportunities that the revolutions have thrown up, but I felt there could have been more discussion of what concrete measures would be helpful. Interesting nonetheless.

This morning’s session is titled, “Green Jobs – A way out of the crisis”. The panel looks pretty good, with a professor from Oxford and the Danish environment minister. I just wonder whether the titles of these events don’t perhaps raise expectations a little too much.

The Green Group has outdone itself with the panel for this evening’s debate on the EU’s response to the Arab Spring. Along with Dany Cohn-Bendit MEP, and Villy Søvndal, Danish foreign affairs minister, there is also Basma Kodmani, from the Syrian National Council, and Samir Frangié, a former Lebanese MP.

Kodmani termed the strategy of the Syrian regime to be a “crime against society”. Despite this, she noted the indigenous nature of the revolution, clearly demonstrating the bonding of Syrian society. It sheds some light on the aversion to the escalation of violence that could ensure from greater military involvement in the conflict. I’ve always been in two minds over this question, but the aim of binding society together, over the divisions Assad wants to form, is certainly admirable.

But still, letting the Revolution get on with itself is not an answer. Kodmani reinforced this, saying such an approach would just lead to more violence. Finishing, she suggested that many in Syria look to Lebanon.

While Lebanon is an interesting country in the question of the response to Syria’s monstrous actions, I think the key point is how Lebanon can work with Europe, and other members of the international community to find a way to end the violence.

It is becoming clear, that despite the title of this debate, the main focus will be on Syria, and with good reason. Linking the current problems to the wider Arab Spring (or is Arab Year more appropriate), Frangié said, “All the forces that are ranged against the Arab Spring come back to Syria”.

Would a resolution to the Syrian problem be a major step towards a more democratic Arab region? Would it further the aims of the Arab Spring?

Coming around to the main question of the debate, Søvndal, who has a key role in the EU at the moment due to the Danish presidency of the Council of Ministers, was pressed on how the Union should react.

Søvndal noted the danger that could come from politicians in the EU being too preoccupied on internal economic matters, rather than looking outwith their borders. Urging support for the revolutions of the Arab Spring, he said that we should insist on fundamental values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the role of women and young people in society. Addressing the complaints that some have made over the ‘risk’ of religious parties taking power in post-revolutionary states, Søvndal compared the parties with ‘Muslim’ in their name, to those in Europe with ‘Christian’ in their name. He emphasized the point that, provided the rights and values he outlined before are respected, he welcomed the plurality of parties.

Restating what has happened so far, Søvndal highlighted the sanctions, work at the UN, humanitarian support, and general support for the revolution. The problem I see is, if Syria is just trundling on regardless with its horrific violence, how effective are these actions?

This evening, the programme is led by the Green Group in the European Parliament, with a debate on the EU’s response to the Arab Spring. Having listened to the reports of the continued violence in Syria this morning, and having read the reports from the correspondent of Ecosprinter (a green youth magazine I help edit) in Syria, I’m looking forward to this session very much. The number of times I’ve walked past the Syrian embassy in Brussels, with it’s windows broken and red paint splashed across the walls, and wondered why the international community is doing so little. Let’s hope this evening’s debate will provide some direction towards some answers.

Depending on whether the Wi-Fi at the venue works (and this is a big if, as anyone who’s tried to run a conference would know), I hope to be posting on here throughout the event, and making good use of Flickr and Twitter.

See you in Copenhagen!