MISSEDLINK

ten Principles for a democratic EU Treaty - ATTAC: LINK ¤ ATTAC

 

• "in the European Union there had been not enough democracy - legitimacy - and transparency !!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "there should be more democratic achievements - more fundamental rights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "more social security - and more environmental sustainability !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "any new Treaty shall be elaborated - and adopted democratically !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "a new and democratic Assembly - directly elected by citizens of all European member states !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "shall be mandated to elaborate, with the effective participation of the parliaments, and experts - a proposal for a new Treaty !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Democracy:

 

• "any new Treaty should be built - on the best existing democratic principles !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "( the old Treaty was not built on a clear separation of powers - and suffered from a democratic deficit  ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the European Parliament should be able to initiate laws - and establish a budget !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

the Principles of any new Treaty shall be:

 

• "human dignity - rule of law - representative and participatory democracy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "economic and social justice - social security and inclusion - solidarity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "gender equality - sustainability - and commitment to peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "clear separation of the executive - legislative - and judicial powers !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "the legislative initiative should be open - to all EU institutions and citizens !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the European Parliament should get the right to propose and co-adopt - legislation for all EU policies !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the text of a Treaty shall provide a clear description - of the competence of the EU !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "( and a statement on the limits of that competence - with regard to national states and local authorities  !!!!!! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the European Central Bank, ECB - should be submitted to democratic control !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "the main purposes of its monetary policy shall be economic justice - full employment - and social security - for all European citizens !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "moreover, the Eurogroup should assume its responsibility - in defining exchange rate policy !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

Transparency:

 

• "all meetings, committees and working groups of the Council - and the Permanent Representatives !!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "should be open - to the public !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "access to information for all European citizens - should be guaranteed !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "clear limitations to lobbying - should figure in the Treaty !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "as well as mandatory registration and disclosure of interests and financing - for all lobbyists !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

Participation and Democracy:

 

• "a new Treaty should not be too long - self-explanatory - and understandable by the common people !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "a new institutional Treaty should include the fundamental right - to direct participation of citizens in public affairs !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "for instance it might propose the following rights - a certain share of the total population in a certain number of member states !!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "can propose a law that is debated and voted on - in the European Parliament !!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "limitations can be placed on the influence of corporate interest - on EU institutions !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "and decision-making - through transparency and limitations of privileged access !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "mandatory consultation of social movements, and NGOs - should be installed for EU legislation !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundamental Rights:

 

• "any new Treaty should be established on the basis of - or as an improvement !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "to the most progressive fundamental rights - already existing in international treaties !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "especially the International Bill of Human Rights - the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, ECHR !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "the Turin version of the European Social Charter - and the European Code of Social Security !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "guaranteeing fundamental rights - in the Treaty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "( in the "Charter of Fundamental Rights" of the old EU Treaty - important basic rights were missing - and some were watered down in their wording ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "fundamental rights as listed in the ECHR - in the European Social Charter, and the European Code of Social Security !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "should be enforceable - through national or European courts !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the EU should accede - to the ECHR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "so that its institutions are also subject - to the European Court of Human Rights !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "it should be explicitely clarified that these new fundamental rights - as well as the new principles of the Treaty !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "take priority over all other - EU primary and secondary law !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "any new Treaty shall stress that every person should be guaranteed - equal access to social and labour rights !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "European citizenship should be given - to all residents in Europe !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "and the aforementioned rights should also be respected - in the external policies of the EU !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

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improve Democratic Achievements:

 

• "any new Treaty should not endanger - the democratic achievements !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

• "social - civil and worker’s rights - rules for the environment - and public health !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "( principles of "competition" and "liberalization" - were in the old Treaty ! )"

 

 

 

 

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• "any new Treaty should further develop - these democratic achievements !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the right to collective bargaining - the right to strike !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "and ILO core labour standards - should be elevated to the status of enforceable fundamental rights !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "and each member state should be allowed - to adopt and sustain more ambitious rules !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "in areas such as social protection - labour standards - environment - protection of special groups !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the goal of the EU should be to protect environmental - social - and labour standards !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "in order to fulfil the constitutional principles - of social security and sustainability !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "rules to counteract fiscal and social dumping - should be established !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "it must be stated that property rights - carry obligations !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "economic democracy and participation - should be improved !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

offer Space for alternative economic Order:

 

• "any new Treaty should respect the aforementionend fundamental values - and democratic principles !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "it should offer space - for implementing alternative policies !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "instead of fixing one specific economic model - like the old Treaty did ! - ( "open market economy" - "free competition"  ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "this has no place either in a constitutional - or an institutional treaty !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "whatever economic model and regulation is chosen - should be left to a democratic policy-making process !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "a Treaty should allow - alternative choices at all levels !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "European law, e.g. competition law - should not undermine the right to define, organize and finance - public goods !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "e. g. water supply - health care - education - or public transport !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "to the contrary - it should be a crucial aim of the European construction !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "to provide - and improve public goods at all levels !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

define Goals:

 

• "a true, vibrant democracy determines the means - by which to achieve the respective objectives of its constitution !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "stipulating the concrete policies in the constitution itself - is inappropriate ! - ( like in the old Treaty ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the objectives of a transport policy should be "sustainable mobility" - and "equal access to mobility for all"  !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "the objectives of an agricultural policy should be - "sustainable agriculture"  !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the maintenance of smallholder farming - as well as the production of healthy and sufficient food !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "( and not "increase of productivity" - "rationalization" - "the best possible utilization of productive factors" - like in the old Treaty ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the "priority aim" of the European Central Bank, ECB - should not be "stability of prices"  ! - ( like in the old Treaty ! )"

 

 

 

 

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• "but economic justice - full employment - and welfare for all !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the ecological sustainability principle should be prior - to market freedoms !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "it should guide energy - transport - and agricultural policy !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Social Rights:

 

• "in a region like the European Union with economies - integrated !!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "it is important - to have minimum standards !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "measures to combat tax evasion - and tax competition should be facilitated !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "and measures that a race to the top is facilitated - by specific provisions !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "ambitious minimum standards should be agreed on the EU-level - particularly as regards taxation of corporate and capital income !!!!!!!!!!!!"
  

 

 

 

 

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• "and a transparent, enforceable set of ambitious social - minimum standards and rights !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "these regulations should take into account the differences of economic capabilities - e.g. through "corridors"  !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "setting higher standards for richer member states - and lower standards for poorer member states !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "such rules should be implemented in such a way - that they do not preclude higher standards in any member state !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace and Solidarity:

 

• "concerning security, the aim shall be "peace" - in the broadest sense !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "any new Treaty should clearly define - a strong political ambition of Europe !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the EU should be a key actor for the definition - of a new international and multilateral order !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "dedicated to the building - of peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the independence of the EU - from Nato should be asserted !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "absolute respect of the International Law - especially the Charter of the United Nations !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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• "the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - and the Non-Proliferation Treaty !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "nevertheless, the EU should promote - a democratic reform of the UN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• "these principles are elaborated - by 15 European ATTAC organizations !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "many differences were overcome - and others were treated in a way that does not block further progress !!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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• "it is intended to open debate - in Europe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"