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Brussels, 23.10.2002
Contribution of the EUCDW to the XV congress of the EPP
With this, the EUCDW (the European Union of Christian Democratic Workers) has reached its aim at this congress, to give a further contribution to the structural ability to majority of the EPP: to a party, which offers a political home for young and old, for men and women, for entrepreneurs and employees etc. Against this background the EUCDW shares the happiness of the other associations of the EPP: of the EPP's Women Association, which managed to ground the principle of equal opportunities for men and women also in the constitutional document, of the European Union of Seniors, which managed to draw the attention to the special problem of the "fourth generation" (this should be treated again by the EPP-board), of the Local and Regional Government Association, which could stress the importance of regional subsidiarity, of the European Democrat Students, which presented itself at the congress with a very well prepared stand and finally of the association of the Youth of the EPP (YEPP), which reminded the congress again and again with ambitious aims to rather think large than small in the reform aims of the EU. The EUCDW is especially happy about the clear declaration of belief of the association of Small- and Medium sized Entrepreneurs (SME-Union) to social market economy, which includes the fight against poverty and discrimination as well as for the improvement of living conditions. Their resolution („Joint Global Partnership Agenda") demands, after appropriate discussion in the amendments committee, the strengthening of world trade under consideration of social, ecological and human rights standards.
With view on the congress document „A constitution for a strong Europe", which establishes the corner points for the debate on a European constitutional treaty, the EUCDW had put forward proposals firstly concerning the distribution of competences, secondly concerning the objectives of the EU. What concerns the question of competences, the amendments committee had followed already in its first discussions the proposal of the EUCDW concerning
With this these political areas are clearly focussed on the principle of subsidiarity after which the EU only takes decisions in those areas where the member states cannot manage the tasks on their own. What concerns the values and aims of the EU, the congress of the EPP adopted the following text proposal of the EUCDW: "The Community shall have as its task to secure on a permanent basis the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, both in its internal as well as in its external policy making and relations. It has to especially promote economic strength and social cohesion on the basis of the Social Market Economy." Concerning the Charter of Fundamental Rights it has also to be noted that the original text of the congress document could be maintained: The Charter has to become an integral part of the European Constitution. With this the EUCDW has been able to reach all aims strived for regarding the constitution debate.
The EUCDW had handed in two resolutions: a resolution to the orientation of values, a second (together with the EPP-association of Small- and Medium sized Enterprises) to tax and financial policy. After the Secretary General of the association of Small- and Medium sized Enterprises had presented two very ideologically coloured resolutions also concerning tax policy, it seemed more advisable to the amendments committee to refer this complete area to the board of the EPP. The EUCDW very much agrees with this procedure. What concerns the resolution to the orientation of values, following changed text proposal of the EUCDW was accepted: "The increasing importance of the European Parliament must also lead to the increasing importance of European Parties. They must not only observe European politics, including day-to-day politics, but must increasingly take part in shaping it. This requires the parties - even though there are differing traditions and movements within them - to develop in future a still greater measure of inner unity. Therefore the EPP stresses Christian values. We see men and women as responsible persons each endowed with a unique and transcendent dignity. In order to fulfil themselves, people need freedom, autonomy and social responsibility. In this, we differentiate ourselves from all other ideologies. The EPP states its claim to remain the strongest political force on the European stage. This requires us to be more clearly the party of the social market economy, the party for entrepreneurs as well as for employees. The EPP must be open to everyone who supports its basic principles of freedom in responsibility in word and deed, and thus demonstrate, also to the outside world, the credibility of the European Peoples' Party."
The congress of the EPP in Estoril has firstly made it possible for the EPP to now present itself united in the constitution debate on the basis of a sharply debated but unanimously adopted document. Secondly, the decisions of the congresses in Berlin (2001) and Estoril (2002) have strengthened the EPP so much, that we now can self-confidently begin writing the election programme for the next parliamentary term. The EUCDW will also here make an active contribution, so that the EPP as party of social security remains what it is entitled to: the strongest political force on the European stage.
The European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) consists of 23 workers' organisations from 15 countries and is an association of the European People's Party (EPP). President:
Elmar Brok MEP
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