Europe is going through a period of turbulence and uncertainty. The European Union itself is in great difficulty.
The long financial crisis that led to economic stagnation, unemployment, and political fragmentation has highlighted not only the flaws in the design of the Economic and Monetary Union and the weakness of EU institutions but also the lack of willingness for European integration among EU states. As a result, the European Union
has lost the trust of many citizens.
If the European Union is to survive in the coming years, it must pursue the path of peace, prosperity, and social political unity through the activities of a democratic government.
A federal Europe with strong democratic institutions is the only way to meet this challenge. Europe will not be united if it is not democratic. And it will not be democratic if it is not a federation.
The process of building a true federal European union can begin today with the eurozone and the states truly determined to join the eurozone. It is the responsibility of decision-makers to take all necessary steps to solve the problems, put our affairs in order, and restore trust.
It is commendable that European political parties must designate candidates for the presidency of the Commission and other positions.
And we must urge the European Parliament to develop its proposals on the structure of the federal union with representatives of national parliaments in inter-parliamentary sessions.
At both the European and national levels, a better balance must be found between fiscal consolidation and investment in growth and employment: a fiscal union is not viable without social justice.
Fighting youth unemployment must be a priority. It has become clear that purely national stimulus plans have been largely ineffective.
Only by creating the tools and resources for common European economic, industrial, and energy policies can we revive trade and competitiveness, stimulate research and education, build trans-European networks, and complete the single services market.
It is commendable that the legislation already in place ensures fiscal responsibility at national and European levels. Now, the eurozone must make rapid progress to alleviate the debt burden that is reducing the prospects of too many European citizens. Adequate forms of European taxation and new forms of European debt instruments must be established for a proactive European economic and social policy.
We must replace ad hoc political conditionality with democratically legitimated policies
and measures, including automatic stabilizers that strengthen solidarity and growth of a European social market economy if the conditions and rules of fiscal stability and structural changes are respected.
These steps require transforming the eurozone into a true political union. And states that have not yet joined the euro and intend to do so must be as closely associated as possible with this process of deep integration.
A genuine common immigration and asylum policy is necessary to make the European area of freedom, security, and justice a reality. Responsibilities for controlling the Union’s external borders must be decently shared, and the human rights of migrants fully respected.
The consular rights of EU citizens must be strengthened, and EU consular posts promoted. EU citizens living in another EU country should be able to vote in all elections in their place of residence. The scope of the European citizens’ initiative should be expanded and its application made more accessible.
The European Union will not be the global player it aspires to be if its states do not make a firm political commitment to develop common policies in diplomacy, security, and external defense.
Currently, Europe is not only failing to defend its own values and interests but also failing to realize its potential to be a force for good in world affairs. European citizens are strongly committed to peace.
To achieve these objectives, the revision of treaties must not fail to adapt competencies and increase the powers of European institutions when necessary.
