Ecolo
The French-speaking Ecological Party is member of the Greens group in the European Parliament and of the European Green Party. With more than ten pages dedicated to the EU, Ecolo has the largest program on Europe. Their political program on Europe lists five priorities:
- The setting up of an integrated strategy for sustainable development. The Lisbon strategy must be subordinated to a sustainable development strategy because the questions of employment and growth cannot be separated from the question of sustainable development. Special efforts have to be provided in the fields of energy and transport as these sectors are a source of pollution, international dependency and insecurity.
- To preserve and strengthen the European social model. According to Ecolo, the European social model is what distinguishes Europe from other parts of the world. It is therefore essential to strengthen the social dialogue, adopt common rules to avoid social dumping, harmonise fiscal rules, replace the Growth and Stability Pact with a pact which enshrines quality and sustainable growth and tax evasive outsourcing.
- To develop a common foreign and security policy based on conflict prevention and peace. For Belgian citizens, the EU has to speak with one voice and become a credible actor internationally. However, a more thought has to go into the content of this power: what are European values, how should they be implemented? Are we only searching to counterbalance American hegemony by reproducing same model or are we searching for a better equilibrium taking into account the interests of all populations? European security has to reinforce the role of the UN for this is the only way to avoid illegitimate conflicts. The use of force has to be prudent, with the interdiction of certain weapons and the emphasis placed on prevention.
- Reform of the existing treaties. The rejection of the Constitutional Treaty by France and the Netherlands finds its explanation in the confusion and lack of legitimacy present within the EU. Reforms should be subject to a European-wide referendum which would take place on the same day in each member state. More importance should be given to participative democracy, there should be a limit to the Commission’s competencies, greater use of the co-decision procedure and closer cooperation. Ecolo also support the Turkish candidacy as long as it respects the Copenhagen criteria.
- Among the other proposed reforms, Ecolo also wants to widen the European Savings Directive, and dismantle fiscal paradises, introduce social and environmental taxes on imports, reform the Common Agricultural Policy and revise the role the European Central Bank in order to give it the means to stimulate the economy.