European Election Manifesto

Green Party Northern Ireland European Election Manifesto 2014 Foreword In 1914 the countries of Europe entered Yet that future is under threat. The consequences of the a period of warfare that came close economic crisis, and the ensuing politics of austerity, have stirred fears and tensions that threaten to divide to tearing the continent apart. Today, neighbour from neighbour, plunging us back into a a century on, and more than half a politics of division and suspicion that will leave all of us the poorer, the meaner, and the more isolated. century since the Treaty of Rome, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our And no one in Europe is better acquainted with the bitter fellow Europeans in a democratic union legacy of division and conflict than the people of Northern Ireland; no one in Europe more aware of the value of that is at once our common home and peaceable cooperation with our neighbours than the our future. people of the UK and Ireland. If we, in these islands and across the continent, are to preserve and build upon the achievements of the EU, now is the time for a democratic renewal, and for a fundamental political reorientation of the European Union. Only by standing together can we face the daunting social, environmental and economic challenges ahead; only through fair economic cooperation can we meet our social responsibilities; only through collaboration can we build a clean economy fit to meet our environmental obligations to the generations to come. We urge you, therefore, to exercise your hard-won democratic right in the European Parliamentary election of May 22nd, and make your voice heard. We are asking you to vote for the party of democracy, of equality, and of sustainability: the Green Party. Ross Brown Green Party candidate for Northern Ireland Green Party European Parliamentary elections, 2014 Northern Ireland European Election Manifesto 2014 3 Introduction Aim 1 Beyond the Crisis: We in the Green Party want to change this, and change it for good. Europe needs fundamental transformation; we from Anxiety to Hope invite you to join us in our efforts to bring this about. Reclaiming In the aftermath of the global economic Your Vote Matters – let’s fight for an crisis many of Europe’s key democratic Alternative Europe and economic achievements have been We want you to join us in the fight for an economic, Democracy threatened, and in some cases rolled political and social transformation in the EU that will back. Fully a quarter of European citizens build shared future prosperity on the basis of sustainable development, a Green Renaissance in our industries, are now at risk of poverty and social and equitable relations with our global neighbours. We exclusion; we are witnessing high levels stand for: of unemployment, stagnation, increased social division and injustice. People are 1. Reclaiming Democracy: clean politics, We will work for the right of fearful and angry. The root causes of transparency and accountability at the heart of our institutions, giving the EU back to its citizens; the problem are a profit-at-any-cost citizens to determine the future of economic model, and a deregulated 2. Social Justice and Equality: caring for our communities, turning back the tide of inequality financial model geared towards lavishing let loose by a politics that puts profits before the EU by their choices throughout rewards on those who take ever riskier people; bets with the money of others. But 3. Green New Deal: building a sustainable, inclusive the law-making process instead of addressing those causes, many economy that serves the common good, not just the wealthy few; of us have been led to turn against each other, in our local communities, and in 4. One Planet, One Home: caring for our environment, doing justice to those we share it our wider global neighbourhood. with, and to the generations to come. 4 1. Reclaiming Democracy Continued 1. Reclaiming Democracy Clean Politics Strengthen the role of Parliaments Fight corruption and fraud A digital Bill of Rights By choosing the Members of the European Parliament The EU needs a stronger anticorruption policy and more The Greens in the European Parliament are at the Europe needs a democratic renewal. citizens have a say on how some of the crucial issues effective instruments against organized crime. Corrupt forefront of the fight for digital rights. We helped stop of our times will be tackled, from climate change to behavior by EU officials or parliamentarians in their the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) and we We need an EU that is more vigorously democratic all the bank regulation, from the policy on refugees to youth relations with lobbyists must not be tolerated. Big business are fighting for strong protection of personal data, for way through. unemployment. We want to give the European Parliament is still influencing the commission too much - almost 80% the right to privacy, and for strict net neutrality. Now it is a stronger role in relation to the other EU institutions, of stakeholders appointed by the commission represent time to defend and protect both European citizens and We believe that a shift towards citizens’ participation, particularly in EU crisis management and economic policy corporate interests. We aim to tackle the problem of the the internet from pervasive corporate and governmental as well as transparency and accountability, is crucial in making. We want to lower the voting age to 16 for the ‘revolving door’, where top bureaucrats and politicians surveillance, and to safeguard fundamental rights on gaining legitimacy for future European cooperation. The European Parliament, and also to introduce pan-European are made responsible for regulating businesses one day, the internet. Personal data should belong to the person, Green Party will work for increased transparency in the lists with transnational candidates. only to leave and join their ranks the next. We need to not to companies or governments. Your privacy must whole decision-making process, from the Commission, safeguard democracy from corruption by introducing be respected. The data retention law, which obliges through the other EU institutions, to member-state The growing influence given to the European Parliament robust rules to make the financing of political parties, telecom providers to store data about who citizens governments. by the Lisbon Treaty must be exercised responsibly and candidates and election campaigns fully transparent. communicate with, is a serious mistake and must be not undermined by lobby interests. In the Council of the abolished. Governments have to abide by their own laws: More importantly, we will work for the right of citizens European Union, too, more transparency is needed - for We want to provide the Court of Justice of the EU and whilst national security is important, personal freedoms to determine the future of the EU by their choices example, all voting results ought to be published. To get the European Court of Auditors with stronger tools to and liberties must not be overridden. Governments must throughout the law-making process. a broader and more open debate, national parliaments regulate the way in which EU resources are spent. These ensure that national security agencies work for all citizens need to take more responsibility, imposing closer control bodies must be able to act against corruption both within to secure liberty for everybody. We want to increase your opportunities to influence over governments’ actions in European affairs. National the EU institutions and, in the case of serious problems, decisions, so we will work to bring about a more parliaments should have the chance to engage when within the member states. participatory democracy. Greens helped introduce the the EU exceeds its authority, failing to follow the rules of European Citizens’ Initiative; it is time to take the next subsidiarity. National parliaments should also have more step. We want to make the EU more efficient and Resources for the EU Budget avenues of cooperation with the European Parliament. citizen-friendly by giving you the opportunity to put When it comes to the EU budget, the common interest forward suggestions on all questions that the European The European Parliament should have the right to initiate is too often overlooked in negotiations between Commission can deal with. In order to strengthen legislation. While national veto-rights should be limited, governments – as it was in the 2013 budget negotiations democracy we also want to create a legal basis for decisions should be taken not by a cabal of technocrats, that failed to come up with effective policies to fight EU-wide referenda. Furthermore, where citizens are being but as far as possible in consultation with the citizens. The against the crisis. The EU budget must be based much deprived of their rights in an EU member state, and where European Parliament should have one location, not two more strongly on a system of own resources (raised, there is no remedy from that country’s judicial system, – we should end the wasteful practice of shuttling, like a for instance, by a carbon tax) to reduce dependency on they should have the chance to take collective legal action travelling circus, between Brussels and Strasbourg. national contributions. The Greens have been fighting a in the EU’s Court of Justice. Europe needs to renew its efforts on integration. So we tough fight for greater accountability and transparency in want a new democratic Convention that will determine budget making. We want to see more participation too: the future of European integration, a Convention with citizens could be given the right to sign up for pilot-project strong parliamentary and civil society participation. Its initiatives to be approved by the Budget committee of the procedure must be fully transparent and democratic.

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