SUSTAINABLE EUROPE
200+ civil society organisations all around Europe are uniting to bring people together to discuss the “Europe we want”, and to put this on the agenda of the forthcoming European Parliament elections. We believe strongly in a European project based on Europe’s core ethical values and sustainable development: democracy and transparency, social and environmental justice, human rights, the rule of law, equality, and solidarity. Those values must be at the heart of all policies. This means fundamental changes from today. We want European policies, rules and standards that do what they were intended for: protect and safeguard well-being and health, ensure safety and freedom for people and protection of the climate and the environment. We want policies that support and serve present and future generations in and outside of Europe.
Sustainable Europe for its Citizens
To regain public trust, the European Parliament, the European Commission and Member State governments need to prioritise a range of key issues on the agenda for the coming debates for the European Parliament elections, the new Commission and the Future of Europe, including:
1. PUTTING EUROPE IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE
New and effective civil society participation and active citizenship must be prioritised to improve democracy (including at the workplace), transparency, access to fundamental rights for all and trust of EU citizens in building a just and sustainable Europe. Youth and children should be engaged as active citizens and encouraged to meaningfully participate in European political processes. Measures should be taken to ensure increased accountability and transparency of decision making by EU institutions and national governments. Citizens and civil society interests must be prioritised over vested financial and commercial interests. Citizenship education and the promotion of critical thinking should empower people to better participate in public debates.
2. AMBITIOUS CLIMATE ACTION
The Paris Agreement should be fully implemented and reflected in the alignment of the EU’s emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 with the commitment to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C and through ambitious EU climate policies, including a rapid phase-out of all fossil fuels, and moving from energy efficiency towards an absolute decrease of energy use. The EU should accelerate the just and sustainable transition to a 100% renewable energy supply, which is clean, affordable and supports community ownership and does not lead to energy poverty.
3. ROBUST MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Common standards should be set up and enforced to deliver clean air and water, safe and healthy food and to protect our oceans. Ambitious measures must be implemented to stop deforestation and biodiversity loss in Europe and globally, and to end the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, including from the Global South. Measures should be taken to bring European consumption levels in line with the Earth’s capacity to produce including through implementing sufficiency strategies.
4. A FAIR-TRADE AGENDA
International trade should be seen as a means to the efficient distribution of goods and services, respecting social and environmental objectives. Trade agreements should benefit people, workers and small producers and cannot be seen as tools solely in the interest of multinational companies and investors. This should guarantee, for instance, decent work and better social protection. Trade and investment agreements must be designed primarily to advance wellbeing and the public interest, instead of cost and burden reduction for companies. Existing VIP rights for investors and corporate courts should be abolished.
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For more information, see: Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe for its Citizens
Political Parties On Issues
ISSUES
The On Our Watch project brings together Civil Society Organisations working on all kind of topics. As representatives of and in direct contact with citizens, organisations have a strong role to play in holding the European Parliament accountable to the public. By joining forces in the context of the #EUelections2019 (23-26 May), On Our Watch offers a comprehensive overview of the key issues that European citizens care about.
Want to join? Get in touch! Contact: christian.skriverik[@]europeanmovemnt.eu | Address: Place du Luxembourg 2, B-1050, Brussels | Phone: +32 2 508 30 83