1) The European parliamentary
elections are almost upon us, and they are the most important ones so far. It
is high time to re-launch the European project, and to confront both with anti-European
populism and excessive economic austerity.
2) It has now become clear that the
process of European integration was only able to be driven by the promise of economic
benefits alone, only until the introduction of the single market. Since then,
with the possibly premature introduction of the Euro, this model has been in crisis,
and is in fact reversing the process of European integration, the hearth and
the goal of new Europe.
3) The Euro project will advance
nevertheless, finding effective solutions to the problems which have arisen. Even
though it was launched without a central authority, and too dependent on
automatic control mechanisms, the single currency can, and must, not fail, at
the risk of the European peoples relapsing first into national, and then
nationalist, behaviour.
4) Economic austerity can and must
not be the only solution to the current crisis. Without a European economic
authority, with a common policy to address the imbalances between heterogeneous
economic areas, the single currency cannot succeed. But it has no greater
chance of success if we only, or primarily, look for an economic solution.
5) We need to extend our perspective
from a purely economic analysis to a broader vision of Europe’s past and future.
Europe has a culture and civilization which precedes, and is much more, than both
its undeniable economic successes, and the concept of mankind as homo oeconomicus. It was also the
birthplace of the ideas of society as a polis,
history as a process of change and progress, and the separation of civil and religious
authority.
6) Let us also remember that the
original aim of the European union was to put an end to the frequent and bloody
wars between neighbouring countries which culminated in the Second World War.
In the 1950s, the European Coal and Steel Union started to unite the countries
of Europe economically and politically, to guarantee lasting peace. This economic integration was then accompanied by civil and political integration.
7) Collaboration within the EU has
already reaped rewards in the fields of civil rights, environmental protection,
the development of renewable energy and the coordination of scientific research.
These achievements are the common property of all Europeans, and we must
continue in these directions.
8) Europe has an enormous variety,
and that is its strength. A great cultural and political diversity has developed
over thousands of years, and Europe has been able to combine these various
cultures, to learn from each other, to get the best out of each of them and
derive benefits for all. It is vital for the present and the future they
continue to do so.
9) Europa must also encourage and
support the development of democracy, and promote respect for human rights, within
Europe and throughout the world. The EU must have a programme of humanitarian
relief and social integration for those seeking refuge from the horrors of
armed conflict, and offer chances to those striving to escape from the grip of
poverty.
10) Some
things in the institutions of the European community must change, if the
process of integration is not to stall. For example:
a) The role of inter-governmental
agreements, which are too vulnerable to trade-offs of particular interests, and
veto rights, must be reduced,
b) The Euro zone needs a central
economic authority, and rethink its model of economic development. (1)
Between 22nd and 25th May, the
citizens of the 28 countries in the European Union are called upon to elect
their representatives in the European Parliament:
Citizens of Europe, associations of
civil society, let’s organize ourselves! Let’s not let Europe be snatched from
us! Let us give a voice to a democratic
Europe which is served by its economy, rather than serving it!
29 March 2014
Volta La Carta!! e. V. – Heidelberg
voltalacartaheidelberg.blogspot.de
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1 ) Also, the Glienicke group, here in Germany,
recently made some interesting proposals in this direction. See: www.glienickergruppe.eu/
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