Ahead of the European Parliament elections in 2024, the European Movement International (EMI) puts forward key recommendations that will be crucial to addressing the current challenges the EU is facing, while also allowing it to strengthen its democratic legitimacy.
The European elections are an opportunity to build on the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE). The necessary policy initiatives to implement the final recommendations need to be featured in the election campaigns of the political candidates and in the priorities of newly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and of the European Commission. This process needs to go hand in hand with the reform of EU Treaties to improve the democratic functioning of the EU, make it better equipped to address the challenges citizens face and prepare it for the accession of new members. It is time to move away from unanimity to a qualified majority voting (QMV) in matters of foreign and security policy, as well as for those policy areas to which competences have been conferred by the Treaties to the EU.
At the same time the EU must continue to support civil society in its mission, especially considering the ongoing attacks against civil society organisations’ freedoms and shrinking civic space. Financial support and civic engagement need to be enhanced, while it is of the utmost importance to strengthen the dialogue with civil society by involving it in the decision- making process at EU and national level.
The European Movement International’s recommendations emanate from the policy positions adopted with the input of 75 organisations from the national and European level, representing citizens and stakeholders from across society in over 30 countries.
We call upon EU political leaders, political parties and elected representatives to:
DEMOCRACY, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND FUNDAMENTAL VALUES
- Include rule of law safeguards in all legislation to ensure the enforceability of the EU Treaties and their provisions and implement a “democracy watchdog” with a mandate to routinely monitor the situation of the rule of law in all EU Member States;
- Keep fighting to ensure media freedom and pluralism all over the EU and beyond, while countering foreign interference and disinformation and ensuring free and fair elections all over Europe;
- Formalise the role of citizens’ panels and strengthen participatory democracy as a
complement to representative democracy; - Create a European constituency and implement a new EU electoral law to promote greater participation; this should include the full implementation of the Spitzenkandidaten process, the lowering of the voting age and the creation of transnational voting lists;
- Enhance the representation of underrepresented groups, such as women, young people, ethnic and religious minorities and the LGBTQIA+ community, and ensure they are involved in the decision-making process.
- Accelerate the green transition, while making sure that it is fair and inclusive, through the successful implementation of the European Green Deal (EGD) and the Fit for 55 package, along with the Paris Agreement, in close conjunction with an ambitious implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- Further promote the democratisation of technology to boost the digital transition while making sure to guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights online and environmental standards along with promoting fair competition and innovation;
- Increase investment in the most up-to-date technical skills to adjust to labour market transitions following the green and digital transition, while transforming our current economy into a wellbeing economy;
- Coordinate efforts to strengthen workers’ rights while supporting those left out of the labour market. New measures such as a European unemployment insurance and a European employment contract can help bring workers’ rights in Europe to the same standards;
- Support culture and cultural heritage as key assets for the future of the European project and especially as a vector for fostering a sense of belonging and a sense of togetherness in Europe, as well as for advancing Europe’s shared values and identity.
EUROPE AND THE WORLD
- Continue to push back Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to keep the sanctions active as long as the invasion continues, including support for the post-war reconstruction and social rehabilitation in view of the country’s accession to the EU;
- Cognisant of different Member States’ positions on security and defence, build a fully- fledged European Defence Union (EDU) by enhancing the EU’s strategic autonomy with common training of the armed forces of EU Member States, developing cyber capacities, and increasing defence spending and joint defence procurements by Member States;
- Ensure a credible enlargement perspective by increasing cooperation with the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia for their future accession to the European Union by 2030;
- Further enhance the EU’s external relations, in particular EU-US relations, EU-Asia relations, EU-Africa relations and EU-Latin America relations by making a priority the protection of democracy, enhancement of human rights and the fight against climate crisis, as well as the promotion of trade;
- Ensure a migration and asylum policy based on dignity and respect of fundamental human rights and on the open nature of the EU, avoiding a “Fortress Europe”, and by strengthening cooperation with countries of origin in Africa and beyond.
