These are
tense times for Europe and the future of this European Union hangs on
the balance, the crisis caused countless misery and the austerity
path so strongly defended by the European Commission, the ECB and the
IMF as failed to resolve the issues at hand, Europeans have growing
doubts about the ability of the European institutions to create a
fair society. Europe now faces one of the biggest crisis of democracy
and representation in it's history. I see the current muddle of
institutions and contradicting interests as a major obstacle to the
establishment of true democracy in Europe, to many tiers separate the
citizens from the institutions that are supposed to represent them,
making them unaccountable, inflexible and opaque, subject to
influences that many people see as in direct contradiction with the
European principles. The growing voices for reform cannot be ignored,
the European Union needs reform, otherwise it will be destroyed by
the weight of it's failures to protect the European citizens. I
believe the best way for our Union to succeed is to reform and seek
ever more integration and here is why:
Because
together, the Europeans have a stronger voice in the international
arena
In an age
of globalization, Europe needs to be able to take on global issues,
no single member state has the ability to act independently with a
great degree of success. The latest events in the world have exposed
a lack of power coming from the European Union, unable to speak at
one voice, events like the Ukrainian crisis, the Mediterranean
migrants crisis, show that is plenty of work still to be done to
increase the capacity of the Union to act decisively, in order to
tackle these and other issues head on. With ongoing trade
negotiations with the USA, Canada and other nations, the rise of the
China and India, the danger of international terrorism, it is only
through a stronger union that Europe will be able successfully
protect and to get a fair deal to all Europeans.
Because
the current intergovernmental system is no longer fit for purpose
Europe as
reached a crossroad and the Europeans need to decide were to go from
here, the current way on how the Union institutions are organized
actually prevents the Union of acting in one voice, particularly the
European Council, which is now a nest of nationalistic interests and
the biggest institutional hurdle to further integration, power should
shift to the European Parliament as a true representative of all
European people.
Because
Federalism offers a much better balanced deal to all Europeans
There are
only two options for Europe, to continue on the path towards further
integration or reverse to the original nation-state arrangement. The
current arrangement does not serve the best interest of Europe and
the Europeans. The principle of subsidiarity is at the heart of the
European federalist proposal. Federalism offers a fair deal were the
respect of the individual regions are maintained and consecrated
while promoting a set of common values and goals to all Europeans,
the rise of an European identity.
Because
Europe needs to unite monetary policy and economic policy
Currently
economic policy fall under the remit of the member states but
monetary policy the is responsibility of the European Union under
current treaties. These two macroeconomic tools can only be best
operated if coordinated. At this moment we witness a European level
monetary policy and a member state economic policy, the possibility
of these to be coordinated is greatly reduced by the conflicting
interest of each member state and much better results could be
obtained by greater alignment at an European level.
Because
Europe needs the have it's own fiscal system, independent from the
member states.
Funding
of the European Union is dependent on the payments form the member
states, which separates them between the haves and the have nots. The
creation of a independent fiscal system would increase the power of
the Union and support the creation of truly Pan -European programs of
development and social justice.
Because
Europe needs a common social policy
If we
really want a truly fair and inclusive European society, there must
be a wide social policy in all aspects, these policies must reconnect
Europe with their social democratic heritage and defend the European
values of dignity, equality and fairness. A common social policy
would offer social protection to all citizens independent of their
location in Europe and greater social justice, a truly European
Social-democratic offer to all citizens.
Because
the Westphalian notion of the nation state and sovereignty are no
longer applicable to the globalization world
Nation
state is a dated concept and is no longer valid, each nation is now a
participant in a web of relationships, treaties and conventions.
Issue like international corporations and trade, terrorism and
justice are now a issue that does not have any regards by borders and
these issues need to be tackled in an European level to achieve much
better results.
Because
we need to reconnect the European institutions with the citizens
The
current system means the citizens have to rely in the member states
governments to represent them in Europe, such representation is
mostly about the party interests of the each member state government.
The EU must be the standard bearer of a message of hope and
democracy, must aspire to transparency and social justice
Because
nationalism only caused misery and war in Europe
The
crisis and the way in which the EU tackle these issues have increased
the citizens disenchantment with the union, the growing extremist
political movements, many with nationalistic connotations cater this
disenchantment. The EU must offer a message of hope and endeavour to
bridge the gap between the citizens and the institutions.
Lastly
but principally, because we are all Europeans
We are
Europeans united by a common history that goes back thousand of
years, the border of the European states have changed constantly over
the last millennia, leaving behind the blood and suffering of
thousand of Europeans. On the other hand Europa as been the cradle of
so many advances and ideas that made the whole world a better place.
A united Europe is the biggest gift of peace and concord that the
Europeans can offer to the world.
Long live
the European Republic
@costajoaoda
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