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Brussels, 14.10.2002

Clear Commitment to the European Peoples' Party

Unity the Precondition for our Leadership Role

Motion of the EUCDW for a resolution of the
XV Congress of the EPP

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 the independence of Christian Democratic values, which have moulded it. It differentiates itself clearly from ideologies of every kind, so from communism or socialism, from (neo)liberalism or capitalism. The EPP lodges the claim to remain the strongest force on the European stage. This requires it to be, more clearly, the party of the social market economy, the party for both employers (Entrepreneurs) and employees. It must be open for everyone who supports its basic principles of freedom in responsibility in word and deed, and thus demonstrates, also to the outside, the credibility of the European Peoples' Party.

Values

"Christian Democratic thought and political action are based on fundamental, interdependent, equally important and universally applicable values: freedom and responsibility, fundamental equality, justice and solidarity."

"In short, the Christian Democratic concept of man and of society focuses on the integral development of every individual in a way that satisfies his material, cultural and spiritual needs, whilst at the same time respecting the freedom of others. Finally, we reject any attempt to systematize thinking within a closed or dogmatic mould."

"The European People's Party, rich in its universal spirit, represents the strongest hope of finding new ways which are in keeping with the tradition of Europe's classic, humanistic and Christian roots. (...) Every person counts. The future development of the Union must have at its core the freedom and dignity of the human person. This is the only base on which we can build popular support for the process of integration. We must create a Union which protects and promotes common European values; and in which fundamental rights are respected and no form of discrimination is accepted."

Internal peace

"Europe will have no meaning unless it is both an economic and social Europe. The social market economy links the market mechanisms of supply and demand with the obligation to respect the dignity of every human being. The values of the European social model (performance and social justice, competition and solidarity, personal responsibility and social security) remain relevant in conditions of globalized markets and rapid industrial change.

The challenge is to combine powerful new market forces with humanity - economic dynamism with social responsibility - in the way we organise our social security systems. The EPP believes this is possible and essential to more favourable combine conditions for entrepreneurship and economic dynamism with social responsibility."

Therefore,

• demands for more capitalism and market economy "pure" are not compatible with the programme of the EPP -
• demands for one-sided liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation without considering the consequences for the people are not compatible with the programme of the EPP ·
  
  
• strengthening of a market policy, under which productive capacities are used without letting that degenerate into a competitive struggle of everyone against everyone else is well compatible with the programme of the EPP; this means a policy which recognizes that economic growth and social stability are two sides of the same coin ·
• maintaining internal peace by strengthening the social dialogue and the social partners that are independent from the state is well compatible with the programme of the EPP ·
• the assurance of trust in the systems of social security, which must guarantee all entitled citizens an assured livelihood fit for human beings is well compatible with the programme of the EPP ·
• the examination of the possibilities and effects of taxation of speculative profits and of wealth is well compatible with the programme of the EPP ·
• strengthening of training possibilities as well as of life long learning, especially regarding the values of open and social democracies is well compatible with the programme of the EPP
  
  

Principles

"We consider that democracy is a vital condition for the development of individuals. Our commitment to the development of individuals implies developing and strengthening everywhere the constitutional state in order to prevent the relationships of violence which are still found all too frequently not only between individuals but also between communities. (...)

Our expressed resolve to counterbalance the principle of subsidiarity with the recognition of diversity and international partnership with the participation of each person in public life, reflects a search for harmony in the framework of a constitutional state in which the common laws vital to all life in society may be defined and applied on a basis of respect for the inalienable rights and freedom of all. (...)

Every authority is in effect at the service of the individual. No state can therefore use the pretext of respect for its sovereignty in order to violate the rights and fundamental freedoms of persons or communities. (...)

The public authorities must therefore respect human rights and fundamental freedoms (...)

The limits imposed by the principle of subsidiarity also contribute to a specific separation of powers by preventing their concentration."

For the EPP, this means concretely:

• Securing democracy and the constitutional state is one of the main objectives of the European Union.
• The control of governmental powers, of legislation, of juridical powers and of the media must be separated. Every person must obey the rule of law. Nobody can claim that he or she can decide which judge is best for him or at what time and in what place a trial would suit him or her.

We, the European People's Party, stand for a European Union of Values. "On the basis of Judaeo-Christian values, we regard every man and every woman as a person, i.e. as a unique human being who is irreplaceable, totally irreducible, free by nature and open to transcendence."

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).

responsible: EUCDW Board

EUCDW
European Union of Christian Democratic Workers
c/o EPP, Rue du Commerce / Handelsstraat 10
B-1000 Brussels

E-mail: EUCDW

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