European petition: give the people their say!

The aim of this petition is to launch an european wide appeal for a radical reform of European policies. If this petition is agreed in Istanbul it will be a very important step forward. After its adoption, we will seek the support of all networks, organisations and individuals. In Paris, we proposed to have a meeting at the time of the next European Preparatory Assembly, in Istanbul. This meeting is supposed to be held Friday 23rd of September at 6PM, with a working group in the afternoon. We’ll send more information soon.

For all the networks or organisations who are interested on this issue, look at the draft, and send us all remarks and amendments to prepare the Istanbul meeting where we’ll have to adopt a final project. To be able to work together, we ask you to write your amendments in your language,

In solidarity, the french working group

Contacts:
Michel Rousseau (michel-rousseau@laposte.net)
Elisabeth Gauthier (elgauthi@internatif.org->mailto:elgauthi@internatif.org]

Europe: give the people their say!

The "no" vote in France in the European referendum was driven by a strong pro-European, popular, progressive, ecological current of opinion, and this has opened a new era for Europe. More and more people reject neo-liberal policies, cuts in public services, centralisation, militarisation, and damage to the environment, a view promoted by social movements and votes all around Europe. A radical democratic reform of the European Union is on the agenda. The demands of Europe’s citizens must be heard: hence this petition, which is intended to express these demands, and is being supported in every country of the Union by political, social, and community organisations who are opposed to neo-liberalism in Europe.

As citizens and residents of the European Union, we want to build a common future of shared progress. We want to move beyond the crisis of neo-liberal Europe to build a social Europe; a Europe of employment, democracy, women’s rights, protection of the environment, and peace; a Europe of solidarity between peoples from East and West, and with all the peoples of the world. We therefore demand a profound and immediate change in EU institutions and a shift in European policies, including:

 greater democracy, through a process of public debate and ratification by universal suffrage, both of which are fundamental democratic principles. Institutions and economic, social and environmental policies should no longer be based on competition and secrecy, but instead on co-operation, solidarity and the rights and powers of Europe’s citizens.

 a new institutional framework for the EU based on the principles of liberty, equality, pluralism and secularism, including increased powers of control and intervention by citizens, with all decision making bodies to be subject to elected assemblies, the right of European citizenship for all EU residents, and a process to give full civil rights to "sans-papiers"— people who do not have official documentation.

 equality of men and woman in all areas, guaranteed by law, along with the right to have an abortion, to divorce freely and to choose one’s own sexual orientation.

 emergency measures against poverty and social exclusion, a taxation system which allows everyone to live within a framework of new policies aimed at eradicating unemployment and casualisation, by providing job security and training, and by redesigning public spending, taxation, and borrowing so that they respect the environment and create employment; questioning the role and mission of the European Central Bank, the principles of the stability pact and the "Lisbon Agenda" to make them prioritise job creation and social progress.

 Working towards improved common welfare provision and salaries, and fiscal harmony; adopting a new directive to reduce working hours and improve working conditions.

 withdrawing the Bolkestein directive and all liberalisation directives and creating European public services, co-operating with national and regional public services, driven by need and not by market forces.

 increasing the European budget, in particular to overcome the gap between the two parts of the continent;

 challenging the World Trade Organisation’s policy of free trade, and withdrawing from GATS negotiations.

 adopting a European environmental charter, including a new development model, de-privatisating water supply, redrafting the REACH directive on chemical products, and a common agricultural policy based on security and self-sufficiency in food.

 special social and economic development policies for "peripheral" (overseas) areas.

 refusing to accept that war, and the militarisation of the European Union, are a necessity. This will require the EU to be strictly independent of NATO.

 increasing European Union development aid, and negotiating with countries of the South in a spirit of co-operation and solidarity.