Sunday 8 February 2015

My vision for a federal Europe

Here is a brief presentation of my vision for a federal Europe, which is rooted in a democratic European Constitution.

Europe's democratic, social and economic development in the postwar period is unprecedented in the world. A divided and war-torn Europe has turned into a united, peaceful and democratic Europe with a social model that don't exist anywhere else in the world.
This has been done without the expense of Europe's diversity.

Despite Europe's success, Europeans can't relax and believe that the positive development continues by itself. The financial crisis is an example on how fragile the union is when there's a crack in one of its corners.

The Europe of today plays a too important and significant role in citizens daily lives for us to be able to defend the intergovernmental structure that the Union have today. First, the EU revealed its inefficiency when it came to dealing with the financial crisis. Secondly, the interstate system also creates very little opportunity for civic transparency and participation and makes it difficult to hold leaders accountable.The EU have grown out of its intergovernmental suit.

Europe is also facing new democratic, social and economical challenges and threats, both domestically and in the globalized world. If we are to create the best conditions for a continued, positive development and at the same time secure democracy and peace for all EU citizens it requires a substantial democratic and structural reform of the EU. Below I list the most necessary reforms.

1st
a) citizens participation must be central at all levels of government in Europe. Both the legislature and the executive power must be directly elected by the people.
b) The national representation should be distinguished from national governments and elected in separate national elections

2nd
Fundamental rights of citizens and the Union scheme and structure must be entrenched in the Constitution.
a) The Constitution shall consolidate the Union's and the Member States competencies and thus the distribution of powers between the Union and the Member States. The power must lay as close as possible to those it becomes so it that it strengthens the influence of the people, national sovereignty and to protects the Union's diversity.

Below I list some of the skills that should be on the federal level. Legislative, executive and management.

Foreign policy 
diplomacy, defense, internal security, customs, coast guard, migration. UN and other international cooperation bodies.

Environment   
climate, natural disasters, international agreements, research.

Europe's supreme court.

The internal market.
The internal market requires common rules in several areas. The four freedoms.

ECB
Independent European Central Bank responsible for a single monetary policy.

How realistic is this vision?

My conclusion is that it is not only realistic but also that it is necessary.

In the aftermath of the financial crisis, many leaders in Europe advocated and stressed the need for the EU to be reformed towards a federal Europe. It has also emerged a countless number of European grassroots organizations, NGO's and think tanks with the stated goal to pursue and advocate for a democratic and federal Europe.

Today's and tomorrow's challenges are clear and we must debate how European citizens should be able to stand strong in the face of these trials.





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