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Europe and Social Democracy SOCIAL DEMOCRACY READER 4 SOCIAL DEMOCRACYREADER4 Social Democracy and Europe Etal Europe and Social Democracy SOCIAL DEMOCRACY READER 4 SOCIAL DEMOCRACYREADER4 Social Democracy Social Europe and Cäcilie Schildberg etal. ISBN 978-3-86498-844-8 2nd, updated edition, 1st English edition Published by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung German edition: Political Academy, Bonn, February 2014 English edition: Division for International Cooperation, Berlin, May 2014 The fi rst (German) edition was supported fi nancially by the Erich-Brost-Schenkung. »One of the advantages of democracy that no other form of state can substitute is discussion; only that enables the voters to take their bearings. That alone forces them to take a position.« (Erich Brost 1951) Editing: Jochen Dahm, Tobias Gombert, Christian Krell, Cäcilie Schildberg, Martin Timpe, Anne Wagenführ Contact: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] Printing: Mauser + Tröster GbR, Mössingen Layout and typesetting: DIE.PROJEKTOREN, Berlin Title photo: Sven Hopp, fotolia.com The authors of the individual sections of this publication are responsible for the views it contains. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in all instances. SOCIAL DEMOCRACY READER 4 Cäcilie Schildberg et al. Europe and Social Democracy CONTENTS Foreword to the First English-language Edition 4 1. Introduction 6 2. Social Democracy – A Compass for Europe 10 2.1. Basic Values 12 2.2. Fundamental Rights 16 2.3. Europe and Social Democracy: Three Connections 20 2.4. Five Principles of Policy on Europe 24 2.5. Social Europe 32 3. Europe Today: How It Came into Being – What It Is 40 3.1. Democracy: Institutional Construction of the EU 48 3.2. Prosperity: The European Single Market 62 3.3. Social Equality: European Social Policy 73 3.4. Sustainability: From Environmental Law to Sustainable Development 82 3.5. Peace: European Foreign and Security Policy 85 4. Europe Tomorrow: Outlook and Reform Proposals 93 4.1. Strengthening European Democracy 94 4.2. Promoting European Prosperity 99 4.3. Strengthening the Social Dimension 105 4.4. Ensuring Sustainability 109 4.5. Strengthening the Foreign Policy Profi le 113 5. Comparing the Parties‘ Policies on Europe 122 5.1. CDU 122 5.2. FDP 125 5.3. SPD 127 5.4. Bündnis 90/The Greens 129 5.5. The Left 132 5.6. Summary 135 6. Debates on Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Poland and Greece 136 6.1. Germany 138 6.2. United Kingdom 140 6.3. France 142 6.4. Poland 145 6.5. Greece 150 7. For Further Refl ection 153 The Ten Biggest Misconceptions Concerning the EU 155 Bibliography 156 Authors/Editors 162 20 Key Names and Terms 163 FOREWORD to the First English language Edition The history of the European Union is sustained by the fascinating idea of peace and freedom in a united continent. In 2012 the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which was both recognition and a challenge. However, it is also true that these days one often hears the EU mentioned in connection with the word »crisis«. When the unregulated fi nancial markets collapsed in 2008 the lending banks were bailed out by the state. Public debt rose enormously as a consequence and some countries have experienced problems obtaining new loans: this is the basis of what is known as the »euro-crisis«. However, this is misleading because the euro exchange rate has been stable for years. The crisis cannot be denied, but this book seeks to inspire hope. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is committed to the goals of social democracy and the ideals of the labour movement. Social democracy is a universal idea. It is borne by the conviction that the confl ict between labour and capital shapes the political debate and reality not only in one country but in all countries. In a time of internationally interwoven economies, global challenges and world-encom- passing communication networks this is more pertinent than ever. For social democrats European unifi cation is thus a key project. Freedom, justice and solidarity: cooperation between European neighbours offers the chance of realising these fundamental social democratic values – more than any country could manage alone. A social Europe – that is the vision that sustains this reader. The path towards a genuinely democratic and social Europe may be long, but despite all the problems it is robust: the EU is the project of regional coopera- tion that, by international comparison, has achieved the highest level of mutual interrelations to date. It is important for the future of the EU to learn from its history. Other regional alliances can use its background circumstances, problems and opportunities as examples both good and bad. Thus this reader is now being published in English. It is offered as a helping hand for political decision-makers and opinion formers in the more than 100 countries in which the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung promotes democracy and development, and contributes to peace and security. The idea underlying the EU is magnifi cent. 4 This book constitutes an invitation to tackle in detail and in various policy areas how this magnifi cent idea can best be realised. At this point we would like to direct the reader towards the work of the Fried- rich-Ebert-Stiftung’s International Policy Analysis unit (IPA), from which this volume has benefi ted considerably. We would like to thank Gero Maaß, Cilia Ebert-Libeskind, Jan Niklas Engels, Christos Katsioulis and Björn Hacker for their council and comments. Special thanks go to Cäcilie Schildberg, Martin Timpe, Tobias Gombert and Anne Wagenführ. Cäcilie Schildberg, as the main author, wrote the major part of this Reader. Martin Timpe, Tobias Gombert and Anne Wagenführ have contributed in manifold ways to the editorial work. We would also like to thank Michael Dauderstädt and Michael Fischer for their advice on the conception of the book and Severin Fischer, Julian Schwartzkopff, Kaki Bali, Ronja Kempin and Niels Gatzke for their various contributions to brin- ging the volume up to date. Finally, we should mention the help provided by Angelica Schwall-Dürren, cur- rently European Affairs Minister of North Rhine Westphalia. We are extremely grateful for her collaboration in the conception of the book and her valuable remarks on the fi rst German edition. Our thanks go to her and all those who participated; any shortcomings are entirely our responsibility. The symbol of the Academy of Social Democracy is a compass. By means of the Academy and what it has to offer the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung would like to provide a framework within which perspectives and orientations might become clearer. We would be delighted if you were to take advantage of what we have to offer to try to fi nd your political path. Citizens’ debating with and committing themselves to one another constitute the very lifeblood of social democracy. Dr. Christian Krell Jochen Dahm Head Project Leader Academy of Social Democracy Social Democracy Readers Bonn, April 2014 5 1. INTRODUCTION Everybody has an opinion on Europe1. To take just a few examples of the range of views: Peace »Europe – for me it’s a guarantee of peace. I’ve experienced the Second World War, destruction and genocide. Europe has brought us peace, from the Coal and Steel Union up to the present. Today, Europe can contribute a lot to ensur- ing social peace – also in Germany.« (Renate, 78, pensioner) »Europe – for me it is not a force for peace. The EU should do much more for disarmament.« (Torsten, 23, student) This broad spectrum of opinions also characterises other areas of Europe, for example, the continent’s democratic development: Democracy »For me as a social scientist Europe is an exciting political integration project. Never in history has there been such a successful attempt to integrate an alliance of states over a period of decades by democratic means. At the same time, the project is under threat of citizens’ losing interest in it. Voter turnout in European elections is alarmingly low. Democratisation must be brought into focus if Europe is to have a future.« (Karla, social scientist, 40) »Europe – I don’t know much about it. But I’ve been on a school exchange visit to France and I’ve been on holiday with my parents in many other European countries. I’ve made some new friends there. It’s cool that I can travel everywhere without any hassle and that we understand one another. Otherwise Europe doesn’t really interest me that much.« (Martina, 18, school student) On the issue of developing prosperity: Prosperity »Europe – it’s a great thing. I have a small solar technology company. It’s small but we produce cutting-edge technology and we can now sell it as far as Portu- gal, instead of only going there on holiday.« (Hans, 52, self-employed) 1 Europe, of course, goes beyond the member states of the European Union. By »Europe« we mean here Europe’s economic and political integration in the form of the EC/EU. The terms »Europe« and »EU« are 6 used synonymously in what follows. Any deviations from this will be clearly noted. »Europe – it doesn’t interest me. I’m a German. Also, we should never have given up the Deutschmark.« (Georg, 62, pensioner) On the issue of social equity: »Europe – it doesn’t do me any good. I work as a fi tter in a town near the Pol- Social equity ish border. If Polish fi tters with their lower cost of living push down prices how will I be able to make a living? And when I look at what it all costs. We’re cut- ting social benefi ts left, right and centre and yet we transfer millions of euros to Brussels.
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