Update: In light of the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty that founded the European Community, European civil society organisations and trades unions have appealed to EU leaders to show courage and vision in leading the transition to a just, sustainable, democratic and inclusive Europe. The letter, the new version of the Statement and the link to sign up are below.
You can already find the statement published in several media:
- “Per una nuova Europa” on La Repubblica (in Italian)
- “A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for all” on Euractiv.com
- “A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for all” on Vita international
- “A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for all” on Politico newsletter
- “Aux jeunes générations de faire revivre les valeurs de l’Europe” on Le Monde (limited access to suscribers) – Full text available here
- “The Guardian view on Europe: Britain will be outside looking in” on The Guardian
Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission and Honorary Citizen of Europe, supports the statement and wrote an editorial for Euractiv.com about “Restoring a Europe built on values for its youth“.
THE STATEMENT
A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for all
Reject populist solutions
This crisis in confidence comes as people struggle with decreasing living standards, declining buying power and the rise of precarious work, hardship created by austerity policies, anxiety over movements of people to our shores, and the impacts of climate change and environmental destruction. As people search for answers, euroscepticism and nationalism, intolerance and misinformation are winning out over cooperation, humanity and solidarity with one other. We must all – leaders, media and individuals – actively and at every opportunity speak out and act against division, marginalisation of different groups in society and those that play on fears for their own political ends.
Tackle challenges together
Fight for a sustainable, social Europe for people and for our planet
Work for better Europe, not less Europe
The current tendency to weaken EU institutions and to strip away protections for people and planet in the name of ‘deregulation’ is not the answer. Current economic policies of reducing deficits and boosting ‘competitiveness’ have promoted too narrow an interpretation of growth, and corporate profits have failed to make it into workers’ wages or trickle down to improve people’s lives.
It is these policies, not ‘too much Europe’, that have alienated people, leaving them feeling disempowered and left behind. We now need new, progressive European initiatives to deliver tangible benefits for people and to win back their confidence and trust. A ‘better Europe’ is where joint European action creates tangible benefits for people and planet. This includes a new focus on equality and inclusion, a relaunch of the European social model to provide decent work , quality jobs and better living conditions, strong environmental protecti on, meaningful action on climate change, and an EU -wide effort to welcome and integrate migrants.
Listen and engage
Make the case for Europe
This common statement was drafted on the initiative of WWF, CONCORD, ETUC and European Youth Forum, and supported by the 177 signatories below.
THE SIGNATORIES
- European and International signatories