EU Treaty

ten Principles for a democratic EU Treaty - ATTAC: LINK ¤ ATTAC
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- "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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
EU TREATY - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ EU TREATY

