The 2024 European elections saw hundreds of million Europeans go to the polls at a time when our Union faces many challenges, be it economic, social, environmental, technological or military in nature.  

The important work to provide solutions to those challenges starts now. By collaborating we can ensure that the aspirations of our fellow Europeans are reflected in the EU’s work throughout the next 5 years and beyond.   

To that end, we would like to focus on the following: 

1. DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND OUR FUNDAMENTAL VALUES 

• Defend human rights for all and promote diversity and inclusion in society by strengthening the rule of law and rigorously enforcing the Article 7 mechanisms in Member States that fail to comply;  

• Strengthen media freedom and pluralism all over the EU and beyond by supporting independent media outlets, promoting investigative journalism, and holding media accountable for spreading disinformation; 

• Combat disinformation and misinformation through literacy, fact-checking, and counter-campaigns;  

• Support civil society in its work and strengthen its capacity to monitor rule of law breaches in Member States; 

• Shift decision-making from unanimity to qualified majority voting (QMV) in the Council for the enforcement of the rule of law framework to address more effectively violations of the rule of law in Member States. 

2. INVOLVE CITIZENS IN THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM 

• Formalise the role of citizens’ panels and strengthen participatory democracy as a complement to representative democracy; 

• Champion women’s rights and gender equality in the EU by promoting greater representation and the meaningful participation of women and historically underrepresented groups within the EU’s political and economic spheres; 
• Protect and support organised civil society as the voice of citizens and a watchdog to defend transparency and to provide checks and balances to governments; 

3. TACKLE THE TRIPLE PLANETARY CRISIS 

• Accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal (EGD) by prioritising a green and just transition towards climate neutrality by 2050 and zero pollution;  

• Promote a sustainable economy of wellbeing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reach zero pollution and save biodiversity by putting environmental and social justice as key goals of the EU economic governance; 

• Ensure that the green does not affect negatively any communities by strengthening social rights, addressing inequalities, and protecting natural ecosystems; 

• Boost the circular economy by reducing resource use and putting in place stronger resource efficiency measures. 

4. ENHANCE THE EU’S CAPACITY TO ACT ON THE WORLD STAGE 

• Develop a common foreign policy strategy through true political integration and efficient decision-making mechanisms; 

• Establish a fully-fledged European Defence Union (EDU) to enhance the security and defence capabilities of Member States;  

• Continue to resist Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to keep the sanctions active as long as the invasion continues; 

• Counter hybrid threats by creating a hybrid toolbox and intelligence sharing framework between Member States and by boosting investment in offensive cyber abilities and counterintelligence. 

5. UPHOLD SOCIAL RIGHTS 

• Pursue social justice and equality in Europe by implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and by bringing real upward social convergence between and within Member States; 

• Boost social and green investments to create future-proof jobs; 

• Respect workers’ rights, and protect the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities; 

• Increase efforts to reach Europe-wide equal pay and equal opportunities by putting in place strong social policies measures; 

• Remain on the path of progress and solidarity by strengthening our social model delivering security and safety to workers, improving working and living conditions.   

6. SPEED UP DIGITALISATION  

• Drive the digital transformation for a competitive Europe that leaves no one behind by investing in digital programmes and start-ups and in digital education and literacy;  

• Develop strong regulations that guarantee and protect citizens’ digital rights, especially the right to privacy, data protection, freedom of expression, social rights, and non-discrimination; 

• Utilise the power and potential of tools such as data, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things to foster innovation, growth and competition in existing and emerging sectors; 

• Integrate the EU’s digital infrastructure and connectivity to achieve greater wellbeing, equality and a healthier natural world. 

7. ENSURE A CREDIBLE PROCESS FOR THE ACCESSION OF NEW MEMBER STATES 

• Promote peace and security through the accession process to enhance and expand the area of stability and prosperity in our continent; 

• Ensure that the process to join our Union is transparent, fair and inclusive by including the voice of civil society and citizens; 

• Encourage solid and committed reforms to ensure that European values are upheld by those who aspire to join the EU; 

• Make sure that including new Member States goes hand in hand with structural reforms of the EU and institutional changes to improve its democratic functioning. 

8. PROMOTE EFFECTIVE AND HUMANE MIGRATION AND ASYLUM POLICY 

• Establish a comprehensive and harmonised approach to migration and asylum policy in the EU based on solidarity and co-operation among Member States; 

• Prioritise the protection of human rights and dignity and make sure that those who reach Europe seeking help and protection will receive them; 

• Implement mandatory burden-sharing mechanisms and adequate resources to ensure a fair distribution of responsibility among Member States; 

• Reject “Fortress Europe” by promoting the integration of migrants for social cohesion, so that they can contribute to EU’s economic growth and increased competitiveness by filling labour market gaps, paying taxes, and initiating new businesses and reducing fear and prejudice. 

9. REFORM THE EU’S GOVERNANCE 

• Amend the EU Treaties to respond to emerging challenges and to enhance legitimacy, trust and accountability of the democratic process, and to improve the EU’s democratic functioning; 

• Overcome unanimity and consequent vetoes in the Council; 

• Reform the EU for an enlarged Union capable of strategically countering destructive external influences in Europe and strengthening its democratic legitimacy; 

• Give the EU more competences in those policy areas where action at the European level is needed, while strengthening citizen participation and deliberative democracy by involving citizens and civil society in the Treaty reform process.