Europe has been built over the past three decades on a technocratic basis, excluding populations from the economic policy debate. The neoliberal doctrine, which rests on the now indefensible hypothesis of the efficiency of financial markets, must be abandoned.
We must reopen the space of possible policies and debate alternative and coherent proposals that curb the power of finance and organize the harmonization in the progress of European economic and social systems.
This requires the pooling of significant budgetary resources, created by the development of a strongly redistributive European tax system. States must also be freed from the grip of financial markets.
Only in this way can the European construction project hope to regain the popular and democratic legitimacy it lacks today.
The European Economic Community began with six countries: the re-foundation of the European Union will also initially involve an agreement between a few countries willing to explore alternative paths.
As the disastrous consequences of the policies adopted today become evident, the debate on alternatives will rise throughout Europe. Social struggles and political changes will occur at different rates in different countries. National governments will make innovative decisions.
Those who wish will have to adopt enhanced cooperations to take bold measures in financial regulation, tax, or social policy. Through concrete proposals, they will reach out to other peoples to join the movement.
That is why it is important to outline now the broad strokes of alternative economic policies that will make this re-foundation of European construction possible.
