30 September 2016

EurActiv: Crafting a way forward for the European Union

The decision of Britain to leave the EU has put the European idea to the test. Now is the time to openly discuss the state of our union and the way forward, writes Petros Fassoulas.

[...] An improved and comprehensive Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) will help ensure the stability of the euro and Europe’s economic growth. A strong economy, based on equality and justice, with an EU budget raised by own resources and focusing investment on the individual, would alleviate the sense of insecurity felt by many Europeans and strengthen the connection between EU policies and citizens.

This should be coupled with the mainstreaming of social protections in EMU policies that include common convergence criteria, investment in skilling-up the workforce, well-defined minimum income levels across the EU and protection from globalisation’s side-effects. Furthermore, a system of European Economic Governance based on the Community method and subject to democratic checks and balances at the European and national level is necessary to increase the democratic accountability of the EMU.

We also need to improve the way the Single Market works for both small and large businesses by removing physical and online barriers to trade, while safeguarding European standards in social, consumer, and environmental protection, ensuring that the Single Market works to the benefit of all European citizens.

We must also embark boldly on new initiatives, such as the Digital Single Market, which can help drive job creation by focusing on the development of new skills and supporting work environments for employees, SMEs, social enterprises and start-ups.

The freedom to live, study, work and retire anywhere in Europe is the most tangible success of European integration; it is a defining feature of the EU and key for the economic prosperity of our continent. [...]

In an increasingly competitive global environment, speaking with one voice to represent the interests of the European Union is crucial. Strength in numbers will also enable EU member states to better protect their citizens. In addition, ensuring stability in its neighbourhood means designing a credible enlargement perspective that will bring about positive change in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries, offering a clear outlook for their citizens

Lastly, the European Union can only safeguard its international standing and reach its objectives if it ensures that its core principles are not compromised at home. The founding values of the European Union – respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights – form the pillars of European integration.

Membership of the EU must be intimately linked with continuous adherence to these principles. Violations of these values cannot be accepted and should carry with it sanctions, enforceable jointly by the EU institutions. The same should apply to certain social, employment, environmental and equality rights that should be linked to EU citizenship, guaranteed by the EU and stand inalienable and irreversible by national governments. [...]

Full article on EurActiv

 

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