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Brussels, 02.05.2003
Expansion: An impulse for an improved European Union Who is equal to facing the challenges presented by a political union? Barcelona,
26.04.2003
The people of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe that are about to join the EU are due major credit for performing incredible reforms; in view of which it would be particularly appropriate to annul the so-called 'safeguard clauses', with a view to full freedom of movement, well before the planned term. Europe can only be united on the basis of a shared European history and culture, shared values and shared goals. Which is why, through this expansion, the Union as a whole must be given impulsion towards the consolidation of democracy and peace, and the continued expansion of its cultural and human dimension as well as towards equally strengthening its economic power and its social cohesion. In order to achieve these objectives, the Union must become more capable of acting: It must finally develop from an economic community into an adequate political union. This is why the principle of majority voting must become integral to all of the political areas that are part of the European area of responsibility. The role of citizens must simultaneously be strengthened: 1. Through the legally binding incorporation of the Charter of Basic Rights into the European Constitutional Contract. 2. By strengthening the European Parliament as an advocate of civil society. 3. By strengthening the role of the European social partners and the inclusion of non-governmental European organisations. Europe needs more transparency - achieved by a clear division of legislative, executive and judicial power. Europe needs a clear division of the member states' competencies and of the European level. Europe needs a further development of European thought in Jean Monnets' terms, i.e. to guarantee equal participation by all, in particular by the smaller member states. Against this background EUCDW welcomes the convention's clear stance on overcoming a Europe of government conferences and urges the presidency in particular in this respect to act in accordance with the views of the convention (i.e. of members of the European Parliament and the national parliaments as the elected representatives of the citizens) as well as those of the social partners and of the civil society. The EU member states are called upon to increase Europe's value by furthering cooperation in areas that do not fall under the competence of the EU. A political union is only possible in conjunction with a social union. Europe will only achieve the objectives of Lisbon - of becoming the most competitive market in the world - if economic, social and education policies simultaneously prove to be a driving force for increased economic performance capacity, as well as for social justice.
The EUCDW calls upon the member states of the EU to fulfil their responsibility and to dare to make the leap from self-interest towards a pan-European consciousness. It is only then that - in a globalised world - everybody will profit.
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).
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