The EUDemocrats Adopt their Political Demands
Thursday 05 July 2007
Following a majority vote in the annual party Congress on June 22nd, the EUDemocrats' Assembly has adopted an in-depth version of its political demands. Based on the four pillars that constitute the basis of the party, the political demands consist in a serie of concrete demands on transparency (14 demands), subsidiarity (8 demands), democracy (6 demands) and diversity (2 demands). These demands are the result of a solid research work led by our staff in Brussels for the past few months. Although we think these demands provide a comprehensive overview on reforms needed to democratize the European Union, they are not meant to be set into stone. These political demands shall be used as a document for people to consult our objectives. As the EUDemocrats grows, so will the political demands evolve!
Overview of the four pillars
Our over-all objective is to create a more democratic political system for the EU, which rests on four pillars, represented by the four petals of the flower that is the EUD-logo. Those pillars are transparency, subsidiarity, democracy and diversity. These concepts are fundamental for improving democracy. Transparency and subsidiarity are two prerequisites for a more democratic Europe and that is why it is important to safeguard and improve them.
A better EU cannot be achieved without reforming the institutions in a more democratic manor, which is why we have highlighted democracy as an independent concept. Finally, a more democratic Europe will maintain, as a consequence, the preservation and the promotion of diversity, and the respect of every national and local, cultural and religious, traditional and linguistic particularity. Thus, if these concepts and their application in the EU were improved, the whole political climate in the EU would change to the benefit of the citizens. Read hereafter a brief summary of the four pillars:
TRANSPARENCY
Transparency implies that citizens are allowed and able to know what is occurring with the governing entities. In general terms, rules, debates, decisions and budgets must be clear and made available to the public. Informed citizens can efficiently fulfil their duty and appeal to their rights. Furthermore, a transparent political system is a system that cannot be arbitrary or nepotistic since it is checked by the people. Thus, the EUD favours any means that would improve transparency on the European level.
SUBSIDIARITY
Subsidiarity is a basic principle of a political system that rests on devolution and is particularly important in the case of the EU. Indeed, it ensures that specific competences stay close to the citizens. It means that a given competence should be placed at the lowest level of government as often as it is possible. With regards to democracy, the proper use of subsidiarity is a guarantee that the voice of the citizens can be heard. Moreover, it also means that a powerful centralising entity can never be implemented.
DEMOCRACY
A democracy is a political organisation ruled by the people. It has taken many forms throughout history from direct democracy to representative democracy. The latter is the most common form of modern democracy and implies the transfer of the sovereignty of the people to representative organs of government. Power is thus usually shared by three main bodies: the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. It is necessary to make sure that none of these bodies can increase its responsibilities and that their powers are separated by implementing a process of checks and balances.
DIVERSITY
Diversity represents the heritage of each member state regarding culture, tradition and language. Economically, socially and politically speaking diversity is a necessary competitive advantage in the process of globalisation. Each country can compete in the international arena with its own models and values. Therefore, it is of high importance to be tolerant of diversity, to accept it and to preserve it. The harmonisation and integration process that takes place across the EU should exclude diversity and should promote it instead of fighting it.
If you agree with these demands or just are willing to know more, download the full document in pdf (EUD political demands).