Ecosy Congress 09 Pp Draft 01

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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CHANGE FOR EUROPE Draft 01 Position Paper 2009 - 2011

A democratic Europe A social Europe for everyone A Europe speaking with one voice

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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II. POLICY PAPER

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THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

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A DEMOCRATIC EUROPE

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A SOCIAL EUROPE FOR EVERYONE

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A EUROPE SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE

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OUR FUTURE FOR EUROPE

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2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

For a more democratic and Federal Europe

European Youth: a political actor Education for all All equal, all different More and better jobs Investing in the future of people Protect the environment

8. Strong and coherent foreign policy

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Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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THE FUTURE OF EUROPE How to continue improving the living standard for EU citizens while promoting production and consumption means that preserve our planet's resources for the future generations? How to integrate economic, employment and social policy in a way, which delivers sustainable development and social cohesion? How to ensure that all share the benefits of growth? Answers to these and other questions mark the great challenge that Europe faces now and in the future. More than 50 years ago, Robert Schuman read out his famous declaration addressing the challenge of that time; “World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it”. Embarking on a path towards more cooperation and integration, this Europe based on peace, freedom and democracy is now facing new challenges that go far beyond the questions originally raised.

A democratic Europe The reform of Europe is still at an impasse. With its enlargement to 27 member states and the deadlock of the institutional reform process, it becomes of utmost importance to engage in a new step forward. Maintaining current institutions and budgetary concerns will paralyze Europe, serving only to fuel euro-scepticism. Less Europe cannot answer the social and economic needs of the European people. More Europe, on the contrary, will provide a concrete strategy for the future. ECOSY – Young European Socialists demand that the Union receives the necessary capacity to act for the benefit of its people.

A Social Europe Today, the challenges of Europe have shifted from building Schuman’s vision on Europe towards a more intrinsic challenge. After the Second World War, governments led by the socialist, social democratic and labour family in Europe have been working on its welfare states, guaranteeing social protection and prosperity for everyone. New challenges like globalisation and an aging society open a new chapter for Europe, a chapter of building and strengthening the European welfare state. Not at the expense of people, but with the goal to enable everyone to have decent life, decent work and decent livelihood. ECOSY – Young European Socialist demands the political will and corresponding action to make the European project a true political and social project.

A Europe speaking with one voice Today, sustainable peace and stability on the European continent is realised and future enlargements (The Balkans and Turkey), on the basis of the democratic criteria will mark the capacity of Europe to bring this sustainable and lasting peace for its Citizens. Next to that, building sustainable relationships with the states of the Black Sea Area, Mediterranean Sea Area and the Middle East, will open a new chapter for Europe. For that reason, it’s time that Europe claims it global responsibility towards its direct neighbours as well as the rest of the world. ECOSY – Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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Young European Socialists call for a Europe that has a strong and common foreign policy. In this Policy Paper ECOSY – Young European Socialists elaborates its vision on the Future of Europe. Young Socialists and Social Democrats from all over Europe propose not only the further development of Europe, but analyse the world we all live in. This world can become a different and better world. This world can provide a safe and secure environment. For that ECOSY – Young European Socialists in the last 17 years has been advocating and will continue to do so in the times to come.

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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A DEMOCRATIC EUROPE 1. FOR A MORE DEMOCRATIC AND FEDERAL EUROPE According to the principle of subsidiarity, political decisions should be taken at the most appropriate level thus guaranteeing effectiveness for the benefit of the people. Therefore ECOSY demands that that challenges that require a European-wide approach are dealt with on the European level. With 27 member states it becomes of utmost importance to reform the existing institutional framework, ECOSY – Young European Socialists, who stands for a federal and democratic Europe that allows the Union to be a strong political actor, calls for the New Consensus For Europe and its immediate implementation. 1.1 Democratise the EU institutions ECOSY - Young European Socialists believes that the European Union should not be the Europe of the member states only. For the member states and the European citizens the European Union is the level of strong and active cooperation to which competences have to be delegated in order to tackle and solve problems the European society and people are facing today. Longing for a democratic and federal Europe is for ECOSY both an ideal and ambitious agenda to reform the current institutional framework. For that the legitimacy and the capacity of European institutions have to be improved. - The reform of the European Parliament (EP) is, for ECOSY, a necessary start. It needs to have the power to co-decide on all Union legislation, full budgetary powers and the right of initiative. The European Parliament is the only institution directly elected by the citizens of the Union. In order to increase its legitimate representation the seats should be gradually proportionally to population - distributed. In that, adequate representation of all the Member States has to be ensured. - The European Council should limit itself to exclusively long term coordination. The EP and the Council of the European Union together hold the legislative powers of the Union as a bicameral system. - The Commission should be reformed and then developed into the government of the EU, as the main executive power. This Commission must promote the interests of all European citizens. The number of Commissioners has to be limited and correspond to the fields of action, not to the number of member states. There should be one EU foreign affairs Commissioner, who will serve as the EU minister for foreign affairs. - The EU administration has to be thoroughly reformed in order to improve its effectiveness and transparency. - Every Commissioner candidate has to be presented by a political group within the EP, elected on the bases of a concrete political portfolio and only being accountable to the European Parliament. The EP should elect the President of the European Commission by qualified majority voting. European political parties have to name their candidates for the Commission Presidency in the electoral campaign. The Commission and its members have to be individually accountable to the EP.

1.2 Justice for all Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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The European Union has to become an area of “justice for all”, supported by an effective judicial system. For that further European integration in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters is necessary. Approximation of criminal laws, the Tampere Conclusions that created the concept of mutual recognition in this area and the building of institutions must however be consolidated and made more coherent. - The EU should join the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as soon as possible. The jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights would then cover the EU institutions. This would be an important step in promoting fundamental and human rights within the EU. - The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union has been adopted by many of the EU Member States. This must be extended to become legally binding for all current qnd future members. The European Court of Justice has to have the power the review its interpretation and application. - Co-operation between judicial authorities has to be encouraged and measures put in place to speed up the provision of information, facilitate decision making and raise awareness of each others’ judicial and legal systems. A high level of personal data protection has to be ensured. - Following the Tampere Conclusions, the principle of mutual recognition has to become the “cornerstone” of judicial co-operation in civil and criminal matters in the European Union. A Member State will have to recognise and execute its territory orders issued by judicial authorities of another EU Member State. - Information already contained in police or judicial records, such as records of criminal conviction, have to be available for all judicial authorities in the EU. The European Arrest Warrant and the European Evidence Warrant should be welcomed and supported. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists call for the gradual adoption of minimum rules relating to the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in all fields. - Without prejudice to the established role of the European Ombudsperson, the role of the Court of First Instance should be the appellate court for every citizen and legal person against the EU institutions. - Common standards to ensure uniform protection of individual rights throughout the Union have to be established, including: access to legal advice, both before and during a trial, access to interpretation and translation for non-native defendants, protection of persons who cannot understand or follow the proceedings, Letter of Rights and more. - The office of the European Public Prosecutor has to become an independent judicial authority. The European Public Prosecutor would instigate proceedings for cases relating to offences directly affecting the interests of the European Union.

1.3 Citizens need to be actively involved The involvement of the civil society in European decision-making is crucial for the participation of citizens and the legitimacy of its institutions. During the recent years, the critics on the European Union have been growing. People feel a distance between the Union and its purpose. - Citizens of Europe need to be empowered to follow, scrutinise and engage in the work of the EU. The principle of transparency must be realised. Freedom Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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of information and public access to official records are our right. All proceedings of the Council should be open to the public. Civil society has to be engaged in the decision-making process. The establishment of citizens fora should be used as a tool by which a European public sphere is reinforced. The guidelines of the involvement of the Economic and Social Committee needs to be thoroughly reviewed. Lobbying at the European level should be organised according to transparent and democratic mechanisms, and information about all funding and donations - public as well as private - to the parties must be made easily accessible to the public, and has to include all stakeholders. We must strengthen the protection of citizen’s activism throughout Europe, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedoms of association are threatened. We want to give the European elections a true European dimension. As recommended in the EP Report on the future of the European Political Parties Statutes, we believe that a political party statute should be adopted on the EU level. What is more, ECOSY fully supports the idea of common electoral manifestos and campaigns, which is why we welcome the new regulations allowing the European Political Parties to campaign on the national level. We want Members of European Parliamentary Groups to be accountable to the European parties and their programmes and to state which political group they intend to join in the assembly. The European Foundations, created by the European Political Parties in 2007, have to be further developed and conclude the mission of research and citizens’ education. The common European Identity of all Europe’s citizens has to be strengthened. To increase the citizen’s participation, ECOSY promotes the idea of European debates throughout the Member States, and fully supports the right of a “citizens initiative” and the establishment of a real European media.

1.4 Deepen integration to continue enlargement On the 1st of January 2007 the European Union enlarged to 27 member states, uniting different states, different cultures, political realities, and perception of civic processes, procedural habits, development levels, social welfare states and economies. ECOSY - Young European Socialists is proud of the unique diversity of the Union, but at the same time conscious of the emerging difficulties. The ambition to deepen integration in order to continue with the enlargement process is one of the main challenges of the Union. - Deeper integration is necessary in order to ensure that further enlargement remains possible. Institutional reform, increased cooperation on several policies and extending competences of the European Union are necessary. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists believe that it is of a great importance to continue the process of integration and that scepticism of a few member states should not prevent it. Therefore it is necessary to allow and encourage enhanced co-operation between those who are willing and able. However this should not result in a permanent structure of multi-tiered EU, but should always be considered as a temporary phase, clearing a path for integration to resume in a united manner. - It is a collective responsibility of all member states when one is unable to follow the political and economic integration. In the budget extra financial means have to be available and expertise has to be offered to these countries, with the aim to bring them into step with the pace of integration. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

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European enlargement has to continue. The Acquis Communautaire entails all objective criteria (respect for human rights, rule of law, economic policy, financial accountability, etc.) accessing member states have the responsibility to comply with. The Union has to offer sufficient financial means and expertise enabling these new states to comply with the European Union’s criteria and has to work on reforming itself so as to be fully able to welcome the candidate countries properly whilst ensuring its political project to be maintained.

1.5 A constitution for Europe Since its foundation, ECOSY has worked towards a Union of citizens that has a strong political role to play. For this reason ECOSY strives towards a federal and democratic EU, which principles and core policies are to be codified in a Constitution. ECOSY – Young European Socialists demand political leadership to bring the necessary institutional reforms forward, in combination with strengthening the social dimension of the Union. - The direction for institutional reforms, as outlined in the Lisbon Treaty, has to be advanced. The content of the future constitution has to include the development of majority voting, changing the modification procedure and making enhanced cooperation mechanism more flexible. - It is necessary to design a roadmap for re-launching the European constitutional process. ECOSY – Young European Socialists call for the inclusion of a new civil dialogue on this matter. Young people should be especially empowered to participate in drafting this roadmap and engage in the new civil dialogue. - A new European constitution should put more emphasis on: a social and employment agenda, protection of public services, tackling climate change, a sustainable energy policy, disarmament, an enlargement policy and reform of the financial system. - Once drafted, the Europeqn Constitution should be submitted to the European citizens for acceptance through the process of a European wide referendum.

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Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

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A SOCIAL EUROPE FOR EVERYONE 2. EUROPEAN YOUTH: A POLITICAL ACTOR The future of Europe depends on the ability to foster a European society that is child and youth friendly. This society must enable young people to acquire knowledge and skills to uptake future possibilities and challenges. For ECOSY – Young European Socialists, young people stand at the core of the future European project ensuring a Social Europe. Therefore, youth policies have to be mainstreamed in all policy areas of the European Union - with the general aim to improve and develop the living, learning and working conditions and participation of young people, encompassing the whole range of social, cultural, economic, democratic and environmental issues.

2.1 For a European Youth Pact on a new basis ECOSY welcomed the European Youth Pact 2005 that mainstreamed youth objectives in the Lisbon strategy, with focus on employment, reconciliation of professional and family life, the education and training work programme and Social Inclusion strategy. The 2007 Communication of the European Commission Promoting young people’s full participation in education, employment and society highlighted the need for supervision of youth policies across the EU. Unfortunately the Member States actions fail to show sufficient commitment to attain these objectives, and the predominant focus is on young people only as a factor in the development of the future economy and their role as second class workers. This has to change - an expanded youth pact with impact is necessary. - In order to mainstream youth objectives in all policies of the community, one European Commissioner for child and youth policies has to be elected with a widened political mandate, enabling this commissioner to advocate for youth policies on all matters. This mandate must include the obligation to organise consultations and a real dialogue between young people and decision makers. - Young people are the future of Europe and deserve the same rights, regardless of their cultural, ethnic, geographical or economic background. Young people should have full citizens’ rights and should be able to participate in the political and governmental decision making processes, including the right to vote from the age of 16. - More efforts have to be made for the employment and social inclusion of young people. A European youth employment strategy has to be put in place and active labour market policies for young people have to be developed. A special emphasis needs to be put on disadvantaged young people. - Clearer targets for education and training have to be implemented, including: reducing the number of drop-outs, improved access to vocational education and one unified framework for the recognition of qualifications. - Increased emphasis needs to be put on non-formal education and its recognition as a supplement to formal education practices. - In all areas of European policies, and especially in the field of sustainable development strategy, social policy and foreign affairs – young people have to be incorporated in the decision-making process. - We believe in consistent and comprehensive youth policies. To implement this concept we ask from the Commission to design an Integral Youth Plan, mainstreamed through all the different fields of work of the Commission. The Plan must emerge as the result of a wide participatory process, in which the European Youth Forum should play a protagonist role. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

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We strongly believe in the role of Youth Councils as the voice of young people. We demand adequate economical support for them and the European Youth Forum with respect to their independence.

2.2 Youth mobility card for all In building one European Union identity it is important to increase the mobility of young people throughout Europe and by that, enabling young people to learn from different cultures, different visions and ideas and different lifestyles. Existing exchange programmes tend to include more young people from advantaged backgrounds than disadvantaged. For that ECOSY proposes alternatives to the European Commission, by its involvement in the European Youth Forum. - All young people have to receive a “mobility card” by which they are entitled to free technical and financial support by the European Commission, ensuring opportunities for everyone to work and study abroad. This programme must also guarantee that hosting institutions receive proper European funding for every hosted student. - The Youth in Action programme does not provide sufficient funding for the period of 2007 – 2013. ECOSY welcomes the increased focus on the voluntary service, but not at the expense of funding other programmes. More emphasis has to be put on action 1 (youth exchanges) to increase the possibilities of enhancing mutual understanding and building a strong European identity. The age range of its participants has to be widened from 13 to 30 years for all programmes. - Information services to promote studying and working abroad have to be improved on national and European level. Especially EURES (European job mobility portal) and PLOTEUS (portal for learning opportunities in Europe) has to be further developed. - ECOSY demands the EU to declare “exchange for everybody!” and decide upon concrete steps to achieve this goal. To make “exchange for everybody” a reality, ECOSY demands the EU to pay special attention to exchange programmes for school students. At the age of 14-16 years almost all Europeans still attend school, this is an opportunity to reach disadvantaged young people who are not addressed by self-organized exchange programmes or those run by youth organizations. The Erasmus/Socrates programmes, including “Junior Erasmus” remain often limited to highly educated young people. Special provisions have to be made to increase the participation of young people who are, for example, in, vocational training, and ensure a European system for the recognition of their qualifications. - The Europe for Citizens programme has to develop a specific youth perspective, with the aim of bringing young citizens of all ages and social and economic backgrounds into the sphere of the European Union. The annual priorities should include at least one focussed on youth. 2.3 Put Children’s rights at the heart The European Union should maintain and develop legislation on children. We welcome the inclusion of childrens rights in the Lisbon Treaty and look forward to their development in future EU legislation. The EU should ratify the UN Convention on The Rights of the Child. The further development of a control mechanism, on the Rights of the Child in the EU is necessary, including legal possibilities in the European Court of Justice. It is necessary to offer children opportunities in order for them to Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

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exercise their rights. Therefore ECOSY requests a European Children’s Ombudsperson. - The role of the EU Children’s Ombudsperson will be to coordinate work of mutual benefit between offices of Childrens Ombudspersons in different states in Europe, and also to work with Children’s Rights NGO’s on developing shadow reports to the United Nations on the progress made by states who have signed up to the Geneva Convention on the Rights of the Child. - European immigration legislation must include provisions for unaccompanied minors and forbid their confinement in detention centres.

3. EDUCATION FOR ALL For ECOSY – Young European Socialists education is the key to sustainable progress of Europe. Education can promote equality, active citizenship, high quality employment and better cultural understanding. Education empowers young and old to take on the challenges of the future. Education must be connected with the values and the integrity of young people who should renounce memorisation; blindly following orders and being force-fed opinions. Instead, education should allow individuals to think independently and critically; to evaluate opinions and develop their self-belief. The European dimension of education needs to be deepened. The accessibility all across Europe must be improved, regardless of the students’ country of origin and age. ECOSY – Young European Socialists strives for quality education for all, free of charge. We envisage education as a life-long process where learning never ceases.

3.1 Free and equal access to education The current knowledge-based society requires highly qualified people, a demand that can only be met through education. Therefore, public, secular, high quality education, starting from the earliest age, should be guaranteed for free for every child, adolescent and adult in Europe. The trends to privatise education, constituting into lower grants and increased and differentiated tuition fees, mean excluding the less affluent from higher education. In the perspective of ECOSY – Young European Socialists education is a public good and can not be treated as a commodity. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists underline the necessity to improve the accessibility of (further and higher) education. All forms of education have to be free for everyone. Hidden costs in education, like prices of books and readers, should be reduced and preferably eliminated. Other, non-financial, access barriers to education like entry exams, knock-out exams, or numerous clauses system have to be eradicated. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists fights for comprehensive schools in the whole of Europe. Comprehensive schools are essential for equal chances in the educational system. - Special attention is needed for people from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, to break through the generational poverty cycle. It is unacceptable that people with disadvantaged backgrounds are still less present in (further and higher) education, despite the huge increase of participation in education systems during the last few decades. Special attention is also required in achieving integration, which can be reached through the adoption of the principles and methodology of intercultural Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

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education which is linked with the abolition of discrimination, the equality of law and mutual understanding. Personal counselling and pupil oriented programmes such as “dual” education should be strengthened to prevent “drop-outs”. Active support for those who have or are about to leave education prematurely is necessary. Moreover people that have left education prematurely should be able to go back at any time during their life. A developed evaluation system for the whole of the European Education Area is a key objective in the post-2010 Bologna process. Ensuring accessibility includes sufficient financial support for students, also those doing research or PhD and is required for social development, especially if an academic career should become a real option for students. Self-organisation, democratisation and co-decision-making of student representative bodies in all levels of education is essential to the concept of active citizenship. On every educational level these independent forums have to be established. Gender sensitive subjects together with gender sensitive teacher/learners tools and anti-discrimination programmes have to become standard in all schools. The gendered segregation among studies should be fought by active policies stimulating women to enter into traditionally more “male dominated” fields of study and men to consider “feminine” studies. Programmes promoting choosing non-traditional fields of study are an example of this policy. Public investments need to ensure elementary and higher education for everyone. In the perspective of ECOSY sufficient educational funding has to be ensured through a progressive tax system which taxes high income and capital income and discharges low and middle incomes. Charging students or putting an additional tax on graduates can never be an option. Yearly investment of at least 4,5% of national GDP in education as well as 1% of the European Commission Budget have to become effective guidelines. Budget lines for education and research have to be separated to ensure that extra investments are not at the expenses of one another. Sufficient extra funding to train and employ enough teachers and academic staff is necessary. Pressures to privatise (further and higher) education have to be counter balanced and a prohibition for private companies to “buy themselves in” in educational institutions developed.

3.2 For a real European Education Area ECOSY – Young European Socialists welcomed the Bologna process. It is necessary to ensure student mobility, promote better inter-cultural understanding and multilingualism, and improve the personal development of European students. ECOSY strives for a real European education area, based on the principle of free and equal access for all. - Safeguarding the principles of the Bologna process should be about real diploma recognition, including vocational training, ECTS credits and parts of study. Issues with the transferability of credits due to rigid curricula and perceived differences in academic quality of the participating institutions pose challenges for the post-2010 Bologna process. A more integrated approach, involving both students and universities, has to be established. - The post-2010 Bologna process should focus on the increased mobility of all students and academic staff, not just those from more advantaged Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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backgrounds. Current student exchange programmes must be improved and expanded to better suit high school pupils and students in vocational training. Diplomas and credits from both formal and non-formal education need to be recognised by all European educational, state and professional institutions. The European Education Area has to become open for students from third countries. Students that do not have EU citizenship but choose to follow their entire third-level studies in an institution in an EU Member State should be allowed to participate in the exchange programmes and receive the same student funding.

3.3 Life Long Learning for everyone Education and life-long learning constitute the most important pillars of the Lisbon Strategy. The citizens must be continuously encouraged and facilitated in every way to participate in life-long learning, so that they can adapt to rapid economic and social developments. Life-long learning avoids long-lasting unemployment and explores new orientations in life. The success of life-long-learning initiatives depends not on confining them to middle and higher management, but applying them to all workers. They must embrace different elements, including vocational training, in order to prepare people for the labour market and cooperate closely with the private sector whilst remaining independent of it. The private sector has an important role to fulfil in the life-long learning agenda in that it must take on its responsibilities to continue training its employees without interfering with formal education itself. Moreover, life-long learning is very important because it is related to the reinforcement of our economy’s competitiveness and the resolution of societal difficulties - The budget for the Life-Long Learning Programme 2007-2013 has to be increased. A Life-Long Learning strategy has to be developed in coherence with the new European employment and social policy agreements. - It is important that everyone has the right to receive additional schooling free of charge, especially the disadvantaged. - A minimum of 3% of national GDP has to be invested in research and life long learning in every member state.

3.4 Full recognition of non-formal education Non-formal education and voluntary work are important means of personal development and training for many young people. ECOSY – Young European Socialists see non-formal education as extremely valuable for both the individual and for society as a whole and therefore call for its full European-wide recognition in the academic, state and professional spheres. ECOSY – Young European Socialists stresses that this value must be additional: it can never replace formal education or perform tasks that should be the state’s or company’s responsibility. - Non-formal education and prior learning have to be fully recognised in the EU as a tool to empower people and give them the opportunities to reach selffulfilment. The received credentials from it should be a base for to enrol in Higher Education - ECOSY welcomes the increased funding of the European Voluntary Service. Other European and national programmes for voluntary work and non-formal education have to follow. The accessibility to the voluntary programmes for disadvantaged groups in society has to be increased. - All volunteers should enjoy full social rights. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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A yearly audit has to be undertaken by the European Commission, accountable to the European Parliament, to ensure that voluntary workers have not been burdened with state responsibilities. Misuse of voluntary work as cheap or even free labour has to be prevented.

4. ALL EQUAL, ALL DIFFERENT Our welfare states are based on an understanding of society as a community of solidarity with a common responsibility to let everyone equally share in prosperity. For ECOSY – Young European Socialists rights come before obligations. Everyone has the social right to receive the appropriate benefits for sake of inclusion and social cohesion. It is essential to ensure everybody can make a decent living and fully participate in civil society.

4.1 Civil, political and social rights for everyone The challenge is not to speak of immigrants’ issue, but to create political, economic and social conditions for an open society in which everybody can fully participate, regardless of income, ethnic or social origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender or other identities, religious or political orientation and citizenship. We want to create a society where everybody’s human and fundamental rights are guaranteed, has the right to decent work, receive social benefits and follow education. It is necessary to overcome exclusion and discrimination of groups and individuals, caused by xenophobia, homophobia and persisting issues arising from gender inequality. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists advocates an inclusive approach of society, where differences are recognised and valued, but where common values like respect for human rights are shared. - We welcomed the text of the Anti-Discrimination Directive based on Article 13 of the Treaty of Nice, but express disappointment that not all forms of discrimination are covered. This should provide the foundation for future legislation in these fields. - Awareness raising campaigns surrounding all forms of discrimination should be realised. - Comprehensive integration programmes and free language courses for immigrants, with a special focus on women and children, aiming to empower and include them in their new community. - Social cohesion and integration must be a priority; therefore we demand actions combating poverty. What is more, we call for a roadmap to eliminate functional illiteracy by 2020.

4.2 Real Gender Equality Just like young people and immigrants, women are the first victims of neo-liberal policies in our societies. ECOSY calls for an inclusive society that recognises women as equal citizens, both in theory and in practice. Women still lag behind in terms of economic self-sufficiency, taking on the vast majority of reproductive labour. Gender equality in Europe is far from achieved. Violence against women, both at home and away, mobbing, trafficking and forced prostitution are a reality. ECOSY – Young European Socialists commits itself to the eradication of all forms of gender inequality and consolidation of women’s civil, political and social rights. - ECOSY calls for a strong Beijing + 15 in 2020. It must emphasise the general political commitment to its implementation and the principles of the Millennium Development Goals. The UN Convention on Elimination of All Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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Forms of Discrimination Against Women has to be strengthened in order to proceed faster and more effectively. We must fight globally for a global right to gender equality. ECOSY wants an increased budget for the Commission Roadmap to Equality between Men and Women and the reintroduction of the gender pillar into the new European employment and social policy agreement following the Lisbon Agenda. The gender pay gap is a fact in Europe. Women take on the majority of the part-time and unpaid jobs. Part-time jobs are not a solution for the low participation of women on the labour market since they offer unequal career perspectives. More and better legislation is necessary to safeguard equal treatment and anti-discrimination, in combination with a reform of social security systems to incorporate the specific needs of women. Women remain statistically longer unemployed then men. Gender sensitive policies of the active labour market must be developed. Social benefits can not depend only on working hours in waged employment. Public services must be expanded to cover tasks done traditionally by women in the household and day care must be made an accessible option for all families. ECOSY – Young European Socialists advocate strongly in favour of good quality gender sensitive health care. By that we demand: the right to decide and plan family life, which is possible only when information, free artificial insemination, adequate support for adoption, free contraceptives and legal and safe abortions are available. The immediate creation of a women’s information service network to deal with awareness-raising activities and public information is also necessary. We regard it as a fundamental woman’s right to decide over her own body; a right that has to be integrated into the acquis communautaiure. Respect of this fact has to be one of the key criteria for accession. The increase in incidences of breast cancer causes us to demand free mammographies for all women in Europe. Awareness of cervical cancer should also be raised, and the HPV vaccine should be made universally available. Reconciliation of professional and family life is an important issue in the emancipation of women both in the house and in the labour market. Sufficient maternity and paternity leave must be made available with no distinction in payments. Both women and men must be encouraged to follow non-traditional paths – the system must be open to the working woman as well as the caring man. This must be supported by state funded and high quality child care system which allows women to return to work or studies at the end of the parental leave. The “glass ceiling” is still a reality, as the number of women in any position, in labour and in politics, especially in elected positions on international, national, local or even organisational levels, is far too low. Gender quotas are a good short-term measure to elevate womens representation in politics. The “zipper system”, both in electoral lists and in speakers lists, has to be implemented. Additionally, training to help women to enhance their skills and increase their confidence in order to run for higher positions must take place within all organisations.

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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It is necessary to specifically focus on employment measures to support groups of women who face discrimination. Private enterprises should have a duty to have at least 40% representation of women on the executive board. Comprehensive, coordinated action is needed by all EU member states in cooperation with third countries to fight against trafficking of women. Following the recent report on how marketing and advertising affect equality between men and women in the EP, we demand a special directive abolishing promotion of gender stereotypes and gender based violence in media European wide to be introduced.

4.3 The right to be queer The struggle for equal rights for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Transsexuals (LGBTT) is in many ways a symbolic struggle for the right to be different and equal. LGBTT people face discrimination in society, labour market, education and politics. In fact, homophobia and cases of civil rights denials are rising. A considerable amount of Member States still have not legalised same sex partnership or marriage, and even less granted same sex couples the right to adopt children. Furthermore, LGBTT people are seriously disadvantaged in our social security systems when it comes to receiving benefits or proper treatment. In many countries they are denied the right to be blood and organ donors. - ECOSY demands complete freedom of gender identity and sexual orientation guaranteed by the state and more and better anti-discrimination legislation to be implemented. - The Commission should start an awareness raising campaign against homophobia in the EU and its Member States and for a better approach in school curricula based on the text of the new Anti-Discrimination Directive. - Same sex marriage and same sex partnerships must have the same legal status, recognised nationally and internationally, as marriage and partnerships between women and men. This should include equal social security benefits and the same inheritance and property rights. - LGBTT should have the same rights in terms of family planning. The right to adopt children for same sex couples, equal access to artificial insemination for LGBTT people and the right to unite families for same sex couples have to be ensured. - ECOSY calls upon all the European countries, to give asylum to LGBTT people who come from countries that consider their sexual orientation as a crime.

4.4 For an open Europe ECOSY – Young European Socialists sees migration as a natural, positive phenomenon in a globalised world where capital is already highly mobile. Closing borders, as also known as the “Fortress Europe” project, does not prevent migration; it only worsens immigrants’ conditions. Most of the migration springs from poverty and consists of long and dangerous travels from poor countries to richer regions, particularly to southern-European countries. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists stands for a rational approach to immigration, based on the principle of solidarity, which offers safety to those who seek asylum and deals with economic migrants in a respectful and responsible manner. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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To respond to mass migration, we need to tackle its causes: poverty, repression and armed conflicts. The EU and its Member States have to take the lead in this process, whilst at the same time taking a common responsibility to accommodate immigrants in our societies. The Schengen system should be reformed to be more transparent and open. Any quotas for foreigners on the basis of nationality, religion, profession or level of education have to be abolished. ECOSY strongly denounces the hostile and emotional tone of the immigration debate in most EU countries and the abuse of public insecurities by extreme right and populist parties. ECOSY believes that no person is illegal. The Hague programme to develop a common EU policy on immigration and asylum has to be implemented. Including equal sharing of the costs of accepting and integrating immigrants in Member States, full civil, political and social rights for immigrants with or without legal status, the right to unite families, and of plural nationality. A “General pardon” for all “illegal” migrants in Europe has to be applied and giving each migrant citizenship, including all rights and responsibilities. Every resident should have the right to vote in local, regional, national and European elections. The right of unrestrictive stay after divorce from a national, or anyone on whose residence permit the divorcee is dependent, has to be anchored in national laws. Within attempts to reform the social model, serious consideration upon the social security benefits for migrants, especially those arriving in the new country older and with no insurance, have to be included. Access to public services, especially: healthcare, education and language courses for free has to be the basis aiming at empowerment and integration. Together with the immigrants, better integration policies have to be developed.

5. MORE AND BETTER JOBS 18 million people in the European Union are currently unemployed and more than 78 million people live below the poverty line. The full impact of the economic crisis has yet to be realised, but what we can be sure of is that these numbers will worsen and the most vulnerable in society will be hit hardest. Economic growth is essential to achieve the goal of full employment, but it is not enough to create more and better jobs and to reduce poverty. We need a Europe that invests in its people, invests in skills and opportunities of especially young people. For ECOSY – Young European Socialists full employment remains a central part of our vision to ensure a high quality European social welfare state. We believe in full employment. Giving up the goal of full employment means to accept segregation in society and that some people are excluded from the participation in the labour market and in society, for a long time or the rest of their life. It Everybody has the right to have a decent job. Therefore, ECOSY advocates for more and better jobs for everyone. In its 50-year history, the European Union has predominantly focussed on creating a single market, including increasing possibilities for labour mobility, although the new member states are still excluded from this right. Now it is high time that the Union enters into a new path towards a Social Europe. For that ECOSY –Young European Socialists Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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demands that a New Social Treaty is developed, based on the lines set out in the Delors White Paper on Social Progress. The three pillars in this Social Treaty that have to work together are: active labour market policies (Luxembourg process); microeconomic and structural reforms (Cardiff process); and macroeconomic and budgetary measures (Cologne process). Only then the aim of more and better jobs for everyone can become a reality. ECOSY rejects any calls for ‘wage moderation’ as outlined in the Delors White Paper however, as this is anathema to the pursuit of better jobs.

5.1 Social justice for all A Social Europe begins with equal social rights for everyone. Active labour market policies, which not only ensure inclusiveness, but also eliminates the existing injustice – like the working poor phenomenon or exploitation through unpaid internships hidden under the slogan of “transition between education and labour market”. ECOSY – Young European Socialists demand that, within the new approach towards working in the life-cycle concept, social justice and equality are maintained and improved. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists demand that the European Social Charter adopted at the Council meeting in Nice becomes legally binding and enforceable by the European Court of Justice. The objectives of full employment and more and better jobs have to be anchored in this Charter. - 2010 is the European Year of combating social exclusion and poverty, by then all over Europe social exclusion and poverty have to be eradicated. - “Work has to pay.” This simple principle is, for ECOSY – Young European Socialists, more than eradicating the occurrence of the “working poor”. It includes the guarantee for everyone to have decent work, decent life and a decent livelihood. Because of that it is necessary that a European minimum wage or collective agreements with equal purchasing power is applied based on long-term vision of social convergence with the exception for those countries, where a minimum wage is secured by collective agreements. - Recognition of qualifications, labour standards in combination with minimum wage shall also be a way to ensure equal labour financial conditions and ensure the same possibilities across the continent. It is also a step in finding a strategy to eliminate brain drain endangering economies and social progress of less developed countries. - The gender pay gap is persistent and stands at 15%. For ECOSY the principle of “equal pay for equal work” is guiding. The execution of the Roadmap for Equality between men and women 2006-2010 and the European Pact for Gender Equality is necessary. Very few member states have developed concrete policies to tackle it; the powers of the European Commission have to be increased to enforce the implementation of both. - Decent social security and healthcare standards should be the norm for all workers and this right should be extended to their families. It is imperative to improve the safety and health at work of all workers, especially pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth. - All Member States have to implement rules establishing paid maternity/paternity leave following the birth of a child and to promote the use of right to parental leave shared equitably between the parents. - High quality free and universally accessible childcare is a social right. The 2002 Barcelona Council objectives are to provide, by 2010, childcare for at Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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least 90% of children between the age of 3 and the mandatory school age and at least 33% of children under 3 years of age have to be realised. Furthermore, the VAT on children’s products has to be eliminated. Unemployment amongst young people with disabilities remains unacceptably high. There is a need to provide a broad spectrum of employment opportunities, including protected and assisted employment, obtain and constantly renew qualifications and representation of disabled people. The EP report on the situation of people with disabilities in the enlarged EU, including the European Action Plan 2006-2007, and the UN Convention on the Rights of people with disabilities have to be implemented all through the Union.

5.2 Full youth employment in Europe The Lisbon European Council of March 2000 set for Europe a new strategic goal: “to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-driven economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion”. The strategy set out to reach this goal has become known as the Lisbon Strategy and since its expiry in 2010 a new employment and social policy agreement will be coined. More and better jobs can only be realised if social aspects are put at the heart of this agreement. - ECOSY – Young European socialists advocate for full employment, combined with more and better jobs. The economic crisis must not be used as an excuse for not achieving this objective. Now, more than ever, we should strive to accomplish this ambitious goal. - Youth unemployment and young people working in poverty have to be effectively tackled throughout the Union. The provisions in regards to fighting youth unemployment, sustained integration of young people into the labour market, national social inclusion policies to improve the situation of the most vulnerable young people, prevention of educational failure, stimulating vocational integration of young people and, easing the transition from education to work, must be fulfilled, as outlined in the European Youth Pact. These principles should be fully enshrined in the new employmen,t and social policy agreement. - The position of young people and women in the trade unions must be strengthened. - The links between universities, research and technological centres and enterprises have to be fortified, in particular through networking activities and joint actions: from this innovation and new jobs can be realised. - The “knowledge-based society” is to the way in which more and better jobs can become a reality. Investment in smart, green growth will provide opportunities for increased employment whilst attempting to solve some of the the most challenging issues facing the world. Research and development in the fields of renewable energy and cold nuclear fusion is needed. - The Lisbon Strategy’s objective of increasing the participation rate of women in the labour market to 60% by 2010 has not yet been achieved. Efforts must continue in this direction with progressively higher targets being set and reached towards full employment. - Labour market modernisation strategies have to be put in place for the anticipation of gradual changes throughout the Union in diminishing sectors, alongside active measures to reinforce the economic well-being of regions. Specific employment, training and support services for workers in the context of company and sector restructuring have to be developed, such as rapid Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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response schemes and access to supplementary education in the case of collective lay-offs. We should also aim at preventing such lay-offs by measures such as the conditioning of public subsidies to guarantee terms of employment. Active labour market policies should enable young people to enter the labour market more easily at the same time protecting them from exploitation within the framework of unpaid internships or short time contracts without proper social security. This can only be counterbalanced by strong contractual legislation, trade unions and member states providing the right to employment. This has to include effective action against the long-hours culture and ensuring equal rights for temporary workers. ECOSY is disappointed with the inexplicable delay of the Commission to respond to the Communication from the EP calling for a European Charter of Internships. This will create a framework for interns and prevent their exploitation. An active labour market must also facilitate the transition between jobs to ensure the development of the labour market and individuals’ self-fulfilment. Special attention has to be given to the Small and Medium Enterprises and to women’s and youth entrepreneurship and innovative businesses. The Community Programme for Competitiveness and Innovation should invest in these special groups. Even as the service sector has risen, the industrial sector is still an important part of the European economy. So we need a European industrial policy strategy, which is not based on a competition, but has a European wide political approach and takes into consideration the effects on the neighbouring countries.

5.3 Our European Social model The European social model is far from being reached and its boundaries and responsibilities have yet to be agreed. This debate will continue for future generations. ECOSY – Young European Socialists takes the first step in this debate. Not only by defining the common objectives of the different social models in Europe, but also by designing further reaching policy objectives. In the light of increasing social consciousness of European citizens, this will be the most comprehensive strategy for Europe’s future. - Europe should not give up its ambitious social policies, but should make use of their potential contribution to economic performance and quality of life. For that all through Europe the efficiency of social policies has to be enhanced, poverty eliminated, investments in education and life long learning increased and ensured that financing social policies contribute to the objective of full employment. - The European Social model for the future has to be a synthesis of what is best in each national system. Therefore, it is more than the common denominator of all national social models. - ECOSY opposes easy and low cost hiring and firing. Labour market reforms have to be embedded in a framework that enhances flexibility while upholding high levels of social security. There have to be clear limits to flexibility by law. Flexibility furthermore has to offer an option and has to be attractive for the employee and not only for the employer, e.g. offering possibilities for a better work-family life balance. - Flexicurity has to aim at providing adequate social security during periods of labour market transitions. It can only be realised when four preconditions are Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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available: 1) contractual arrangements providing adequate flexibility for both workers and employers to shape their relation according to their needs; 2) active labour market policies effectively supporting transitions between jobs as well as from unemployment and inactivity to jobs; 3) credible life-long learning systems should enable workers to remain employable throughout their career and 4) modern social security systems to ensure that all workers are adequately supported during absences from the labour market and to facilitate labour market mobility and transition. On the basis of these four pillars a European flexicurity directive has to be developed that is part of the new Social Treaty. Common European definitions of concepts such as workers, minimum salary, and subcontracting have to be developed. EUROFOUNG (European Foundation for Improvement of Living and Working Conditions) in dialogue with youth organisations and the European Parliament have initiated a debate on this with the aim to develop further guidelines, based on “best practices” in all member states including guaranteed implementation and effective supervision. Part-time employment should not be equate to working in poverty. The share of people in part-time employment is around 18%. And recently, rises in involuntary part-time employment have been observed for both men and women. Decent living conditions and opportunities have to be guaranteed in part-time employment just as full-time employment. ECOSY – Young European Socialists welcomes the Working Time Directive and especially the eradication of the opt-out clause allowing workers to work 75 hours a week. The current Directive only permits a working week of 48 hours. Furthermore ECOSY welcomes the Directive on Temporary Agency Work that establishes the principle of equal treatment between agency workers and workers in the user enterprise, which will not only apply to national situations but also to cross-border agency work. We demand the further reduction of working time to 32 hours per week which will serve to reduce unemployment and achieve a higher quality of life, without losing purchasing power parity. Working time reduction should be implemented on a national level, but stated within the working time directive. The reconciliation of working life and family life has to be promoted, including sharing the responsibility between partners, expanding the childcare network and developing innovative forms of work organisation. Regional employment disparities have to be targeted via specific policies focusing on the quality of education and training, investment in skills, education and lifelong learning and partnerships at local and regional level to promote job creation and addressing the “skills gap”. ECOSY welcomed the creation of a European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in 2006. In its European Economic Recovery Plan, published on 26 November 2008, the European Commission announced its intention to make the EGF a more effective intervention instrument as part of Europe's crisis response. The Commission reaffirmed its intention to revise the rules of the EGF so that it can intervene more effectively at this time. ECOSY agrees that EGF has to be revised to be able to react more effectively in the face of the current economic crisis. Undeclared work has to be transformed into regular employment by increasing awareness on the negative effects of undeclared work, simplifying

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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procedures and legislation, lowering the tax burden on specific employment sectors and developing effective surveillance and sanctions. Healthcare is a fundamental part of the social model. We demand it to be of high quality and free of charge. Taking into account the rising mobility of workers, a number of common healthcare problems on the EU labour market due to the same health endangering technologies, as well as general demand for improvements coming from the ageing society, we urge the European Union to design policies aiming at aimed at coordinating better the European healthcare system.

5.4 A social labour mobility directive Earnings’ disparities in old Member States are between two to four times larger than in new Member States, and the standards of labour market and social models differentiate overall due to their distinguished histories. Those are challenges in creating one single European labour market – which has to become reality if Europe is to be for the people, not for the profit. - The free mobility of workers must be a real mobility of the People, not only of labour forces. Therefore it has to go hand in hand with the free movement of workers from new Member States that are still excluded from it in the majority of Member States. The trans-national arrangements to limit the free movement of workers have to be abolished. - Convergence of labour market regulations throughout the European Union, not towards the lowest dominator but towards high standards, has to be realised. Workers have to work under national legislation limiting possibilities for wage dumping and unfair working conditions. Existing directives relating to this matter have to be replaced by a new - legally binding – social labour mobility directive. - The free mobility of workers has to go hand in hand with the free movement of social benefits. The mobility of pension schemes, healthcare benefits, unemployment benefits and other social benefits of collective agreements have to be ensured, this demands a new European perspective to be established in the new directive. - The European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings on the Laval, Ruffert and Viking cases clearly indicate provide a licence for social dumping. ECOSY – Young European Socialists demend this practice to end by 1) establishment of a “Social Progress Clause” in the Lisbon Treaty, 2) The Posted Workers Directive should strengthen its original aims of protecting workers and 3) a speedy implementation of the Temporary Agency Workers Directive and its principle of equal treatment preventing the EU from becoming a vehicle for social dumping.

5.5 Solidarity between generations Until 2030 the number of persons above 65 years of age will increase by 40 million, whilst the number of young people will decrease by 21 million, with the consequence that the ratio between inactive persons (young, old and other dependent persons) and persons in working age will increase from 49% now to 66% in 2030. This provides an enormous challenge for Europe. ECOSY – Young European Socialists calls upon a new solidarity between generations. - Older workers have to be encouraged and enabled to re-enter the labour market, not by increasing the maximum working age but by stimulating measures for older people to remain participating in society. Access to lifeChange for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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long learning must be improved and flexible working opportunities expanded in order to allow people to stay in work both in the professional and voluntary sector. Career length and physical intensity of work in some sectors have to be acknowledged when defining a retirement age and the possibility to benefit from early retirement. Equal access to pension and retirement schemes has to be realised. Existing anti age-discrimination laws have to be implemented and reinforced. The text for the Anti-Discrimination Directive should be expanded to include provisions against this form of discrimination. The importance of “knowledge-capture” for retiring employees has to be highlighted, particularly in the public sector. This can include a European public service knowledge portal open to younger workers and measures to link students and pupils with retired elderly: providing career guidance, assistance in completing education, access to appropriate training and apprenticeship. Special measures, including childcare, housing and social protection, are needed to support single parents to enter the labour market. The responsibility for children can not be put only on parents, society also has to take its responsibilities. The intergenerational solidarity, which is a fundamental principle of European welfare States, must be strengthened and all attempts to reverse it have to be clearly rejected. It is not acceptable that the young generation bears the responsibility for caring for and financing the older generations and at the same time is burdened with more and more costs concerning the current period of their life. ECOSY – Young European Socialists welcomes the first European Day on Solidarity and Cooperation between Generations in 2009.

5.6 More power to the trade unions! Better involvement and firm commitment of the social partners is a necessary condition for the success of policies aimed at improving labour market transition for employees, in particular moving from temporary to permanent contracts, and for better income and career development. With capital and workers mobility it is also high time to reform and empower international trade unionism, to ensure proper representation of workers and social dialogue. - The role of the European Social and Economic Committee has to be thoroughly revised. - We believe that collective agreements are the best way to strengthen the rights of workers or to bargain wages. The political environment in all the EU countries needs to be supportive of collective agreements. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists welcomes the revision of the European Works Council Directive ensuring equal pay for equal work. ECOSY demands the right for a European strike, and also the right to engage in “neutrality agreements” meaning that the union has the right to go into the work place and speak to the workers. Cross-border collective agreements must become legally-binding on EU level. - The European Network of Employment Agencies EURES should be further developed and stronger supported. - ECOSY – Young European socialists fully supports and encourages the empowerment of women and young people within the trade union structures.

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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6. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE The global economic crisis has exposed several weaknesses within our current financial framework. It is clear that international solutions are required in the form of the implementation of regulations. To secure the future of Europe, the financial strategy of the Union has to be progressive, open to new perspectives and it must invest in the future of people. Member States have to ensure that the Union has sufficient means corresponding to these economic and social aims.

6.1 Pact for growth and full employment The current stability and growth pact has proven to be inefficient. In times of economic downturn, when anticyclical investments in education and growth are necessary in order to create necessary employment and to ensure the social security of all, states are blocked. To promote economic and financial integration it is necessary to develop a new pact; a pact for growth and full employment. Uniting objectives as full employment, social security, economic growth and financial stability can be the only way to ensure a sustainable future for Europe. -

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A pact for growth and full employment has to be developed replacing the current growth and stability pact. The new pact has to change the current guidelines on financial stability; 1) the maximum deficit should vary across countries, according to their overall debt situation, and the severity of the recession or economical growth the country faces and 2) the reference value, used to judge the budgetary situation of countries, and should be the structural deficit. This will allow unity and solidarity amongst Member States. Budgetary flexibility has to be allowed to the member states especially when it concerns anti-cyclical fiscal policy which is very effective on the national level in the monetary union. As a deficit spending without any limitations is not useful, rules like a ceiling of debts equal to new investments and long expenditure growth limit should be implemented. The investments have to be linked to the new employment and social policy agreement and the European Sustainable Development Strategy. Sound macroeconomic coordination is the main challenge today in the use of the Euro as an economic tool for the benefit of the people. Next to regulatory provisions, a better mechanism for cooperating on macroeconomic policies has to be established, leading to a convergence of Member States’ individual policies, based on the principles of the new pact. This is the only way to overcome social dumping practices now undertaken by several member states and makes the EMU a social and political project. The Maastricht Treaty has given the European Central Bank a vague mandate and complete independence; with the result that the central bank has not been responsive to recessions adequately. Fighting inflation should not be its only concern under the political control of the EP. The inflation target should be flexible and aligned with other macroeconomic goals such as sustainable growth, full employment and stability in foreign trade and payments. The pre-existing framework of the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund should be further developed.

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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6.2 Effective Financial Institutions The recent financial and economic crisis, which started with a crisis of the banking system in the US, has hit the aorld economy in a devastating manner. Millions of people worldwide have lost their jobs, their pensions, and their savings. Developing countries have to deal with less development aid and a reduction in Foreign Direct Investment. The reason for that is an intransparent, hardly regulated and badly supervised international system. A big institutional reform is urgently needed in the EU in the direction of more transparency and democratic control. -

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All elements regarding financial, budgetary and macro-economic policy have to be adopted by and accountable to the European Parliament. The European Central Bank has to be submitted to democratic and transparent control of the European Parliament. To enhance its accountability, European institutions, preferably the EP, should be in a position to change the statutes of the ECB by a qualified majority. Moreover, its decision making process should be made public. The ECB has to become a supervisory body of the European banking system and should effectively control the private and public banking system in all EU Member States. A global financial institution, incorporated within the UN structures, is necessary to regulate financial markets. A system of approving all tradeable financial market products has to play a key role in that institution. All tax havens and off-shore financial markets have to be closed or brought under global financial market regulation. A global tax on financial market transactions (Tobin tax) should be implemented, this tax should be used for development aid.

6.3 New fiscal coordination Tax competition must not exist in the EU. Taxing systems must be coordinated and must respect a clear regulatory framework with the aim of harmonisation. A fair and effective fiscal system that encourages investments and taxes capital will increase the trust of citizens and will help redistribution, by financing social welfare. A European tax on capital movement and a European “green tax” can increase the EU’s own financial resources. At the same time a minimum taxation of companies is needed. This minimum rate will also increase the own European financial resources and helps to suppress the flat taxation in the European Union.

6.4 A budget for the people The European budget has to be changed. The European Union has to increase its own resources (which have been stagnant for 20 years now) and reform and expand its budget, with a strong political will and clear political choices for investment in the welfare of all its citizens. A solid and further expanded budget is needed. -

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A ceiling concept of 1% Member States’ GDP for the European budget can only be applied when Europe has a new clear fiscal strategy with its own tax sphere. Otherwise a 1,5% ceiling has to be applied. Over 40% is spent on common agricultural policy, while the spending on research and innovation is limited and relatively no money for social objectives is set out. Research and Development, innovation, new

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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technologies and the information society must gain the attention and funds they deserve in order to reach economic growth and competitiveness. Research and development must be a fundamental tool to improve the economic growth and thus social cohesion policies. Public administrations and enterprises, implementing the social responsibility that they have to hold, should make efforts together to reach the 3% of the GDP by 2010. Social funds must be oriented towards cohesion among member states, regions and citizens, and provide the tools for growth in solidarity. Good quality and free access to public goods has to become a guiding principle for the EU Budget and fully reflected in the structure of the budget. By that the role of the Union in promoting full employment, social security and economic growth can be truly achieved.

6.5 More dynamic regional development We must make solidarity and cohesion, the two words that sum up our vision for the new regional policy in the European Union. Solidarity, because our policy should aim to benefit citizens and regions that are economically and socially deprived compared to others. And cohesion, because there are positive benefits for all in narrowing the gaps of income and wealth between the poorer countries and regions those which are better off. More power to local administration can mean more power to the citizens, and sometimes more effective facing of social problems. More infrastructure and regional programs of development – with full respect to each area’s cultural, social and environmental conditions – abolishes disparities and creates the real conditions for true growth. Regional development concerns rural and urban areas equally. In that sense, the development of the new employment and social policy agreement in both regional and local level must become a reality if we want our measures to have a real impact on social cohesion. Enlargement must be an important parameter when designing relative policies, in order to bridge disparities among regions.

6.6 Services to strengthen and unite In its 50-year history Europe has predominantly been bringing public services and goods into the sphere of the single market. It is important to promote the competitiveness of the European economy, in the public and private sector, but this philosophy can no longer be based on privatisation and ongoing liberalisation. The comparative advantage of Europe is not low wages or the lack of welfare state, it is the quality and knowledge it has which has to be combined with a profound welfare system. In order to attract international investments the welfare state has to be nurtured. - ECOSY - Young European Socialists underline the importance of public services in general and in particular of public services that guarantees everyone everywhere equal quality and access to their essential needs. - With public services we have the possibility to democratically control and adopt sensible answers to our needs. Public ownership is the most efficient with services of general interest. - A new and clear definition of Services of General Interest and Services of General Economic Interest is needed. Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) is a key component of the European welfare state, essential for ensuring social and territorial cohesion, and contributes to competitiveness. We demand guidance on this principle according to the principle of nonexclusion for everybody. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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Fundamental sectors that must be run in the sphere of the government are security, justice, health care, education, water, energy, public transport, post and telecommunication, public media and information, culture, sports, childcare and social security. The EU and member states should reserve the right to impose public service requirement on private companies in certain sectors: for example, open access to a bank account bank service close to all citizens, regulation on private broadcasting. We call for a European Charter of Public Services in order to ensure that the EU respects the principles of these services, which have an important role in the territorial set up. Furthermore, we have to resist further dismantlement of social services through the WTO dispute settlements and European public procurement regulations have to include a social clause allowing a highquality of social services on the local level. ECOSY calls on member states to invest more in the exploitation of Information and Communication Technologies in public sector services, such as health, education and government, in which ICT can make it easier to respond to future social services needs and to cooperate in order to develop pan-European services. Public services delivery in the Information Society should clearly reflect the increasingly sophisticated needs of individual users and groups and therefore be based on an adequate response by the supplying industry to such needs with a view to effective and customised service design. it is vital that every person living in the EU has free access to good quality, public and solidarity based health care system, and to low-cost medicaments, regardless of their age or employment status. Health and medicine research should be adequately financed, especially at European level. A European housing directive has to be developed. This should exclude social housing from the scope of market economy, include improving accessibility to decent housing and housing conditions, especially for students, working youth and those less-favoured groups which are particularly affected by poverty, such as people at a disadvantage and older people who cannot look after themselves. More attention should be spent on the homeless, by providing care, imparting basic skills, and promoting social integration. ECOSY promotes European-wide public services, owned by European public enterprises, like a European Railway System or The European Aerial Surveillance. Health and medicine research should be adequately financed, especially in the European level.

7. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT Protecting the environment is essential for the quality of life of current and future generations. The challenge for both developed and developing countries is to combine this with continuing economic growth in a way which is sustainable over the long term. In other words economic, social and environment policies must be closely integrated. Sustainable development has economic, social and environmental components, whereas a proper balance needs to be realised between these components. Social, environmental, health and development objectives are not contradictory. Taking this into consideration the young generation of the EU has to be involved in designing policies which are compatible with the environment, society, Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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culture and build capacity for people to solve their own problems. The EU, as a global actor, has to tackle this transversal issue with seriousness and endorse the adopted political guidelines with an appropriate budget that enables its fulfilment.

7.1 Innovative Environmental Policies Our Europe has to be environmentally sustainable. It is our responsibility towards the next generations, and it is part of our concept of international solidarity to implement those commitments in Europe and the rest of the World. Ecological progress and protection is one of our main goals in approaching other European policies. Europe has the technology and infrastructure to implement renewable energy policies, sustainable water management, safe waste management, and a new environmentally responsible - agricultural policy. The investment in environmental policies is an investment in the present and in the future, and provides a basis for innovative possibilities for business and economic development. - ECOSY is committed to building Europe on a sustainable basis. The Single Market and national economic interests can not obstruct the resolution of environmental problems. The European environmental agency (EEA) should become the actual environmental “control” body ensuring the respect and implementation of EU environmental legislation. The agency must be supplied with sufficient financial means and legal sanctions in order to bring countries and companies before justice if they infringe the legislation. - The implementation of the existing European environmental rules is a big step, bringing along huge investments and taking a lot of time. This strong regulatory framework however is not enough for an effective environmental policy. The creation of public support through environmental information and education, especially focussed on young people, should be one of the corner stones of the European environmental policy. - In parallel, the national institutions should double their efforts on campaigning among their citizens on the saving of energy to become the normality in the daily use of energy, starting in the schools and finishing in the homes of the Europeans. It must be ensured that infrastructure such as recycling networks, gas pipe networks etc. is sufficiently extended in all European countries, so that it’s easier for all citizens to act in a way friendly to environment in teir everyday life. - The principle “the polluter pays” has to be the guiding principle in establishing “green taxes”. These taxes have to be invested in financing the EEA, research and education and related environmental strategies, realising a European environmental fund. - It must be an absolute priority to intensify the research on new, alternative energy resources. The VII Framework Programme for Research, Innovation and Development already settles this as a priority, endorsed by a generous budget. The EU should make better use of the potential modularity of renewable energy, and democratize energy supply. Through spurring energy efficiency and local energy production the EU should set as goal that by 2020 half of the energy used by households should be produced by households. - The European energy strategy has to be based on “clean” and decentralised forms of energy production and distribution, not as currently based on highly centralised fossil and nuclear forms of energy production and distribution. Nuclear fission is an alternative only in the short term until economically sustainable clean energy forms are available, such as cold nuclear fusion. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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Eastern and southern EU neighbours are our big energy suppliers. The reality has shown that political tensions beyond the control of the EU Institutions, can jeopardise our energy supply, for that EU’s priorities have to be directed towards achieving a balanced and clean energy network for the supply of energy to the EU along two lines: 1) diversification of the suppliers, and the strengthening of the tools of cooperation to reinforce stability on those areas, which are not characterized by stability and 2) The intensification of research on clean and renewable energy resources, and also on the biomass, hydrogen etc… Sustainable water management must be one of the main concerns of the European Union. The pace of implementing the European Water Directive has to be increased and the Member States have to be addressed on their lacking commitment. In our effort to make an environmental sustainable world we must protect biodiversity, by opposing the release of genetically engineered crops and animals into environment. European Citizens should be protected from the threats of genetically engineered food. We must promote measures like the labelling of GE foods and the segregation of GE crops and seeds from conventional and organic seeds, in order to give citizens the opportunity to make aware choices and responsible decisions about their future. Special attention should be brought to animal rights. Common European laws or regulations should be implemented for the protection of lab animals. Common laws should be passed against the hunting or fishing of endangered species.

7.2 Fighting climate change globally Environmental pollution is not limited to national borders, it is a global challenge. Many developed and developing countries prefer economical progress above sustainable development leading to deforestation, soil degradation, water and air pollution. Amongst them China, India and the US. Europe has a global responsibility in addressing these states on their destructive behaviour leading to climate change. The European environmental policy can only be effective when imbedded in a global strategy. - ECOSY – Young European Socialists supports the EU’s leading role in tackling climate change. The Climlate Change Package recently agreed upon in the EP is a bold step towards a sustainable future and should provide the foundations for future international climate change treaties. - The Kyoto protocol has now entered into force and is a first important step to control climate change. When the Kyoto protocol is phased out in 2012 a new protocol within the UN framework is needed. Future negotiations within the UN framework convention on climate change must seek solutions to involve the US, other G8-countries and developing countries in the efforts to tackle climate change. A dialogue between Europe and the United States regarding these issues is of utmost importance. - After the failed climate Summit in Poznan, EU Member States have to develop a common position before 2012 to enter the post-Kyoto negotitations. - ECOSY calls for a real international environmental governance starting with a merger of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and with this body being given greater weight vis-à-vis the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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international bodies than is presently the case. This new Commission should be entitled to take financial sanctions. The establishment of a Security Council for environmental issues within the UN system has to be part of Europe’s global strategy. The Council should function as an organ that secures common environmental demands and is entitled to take financial sanctions. The EU must design environmental initiatives, introduced on a world wide basis, fundamentally dealing with the former principles which have characterised international trade. The EU must use its position in the World Trade Organisation to push for mainstreaming environmental aspects in the trade agreements. European-based multinationals and Member States of the European Union involved in waste dumping in the developing world should be sanctioned. Any proposed green taxes must be placed first on European corporations, who are the main cause of climate change and global warming. This tax must in no way be passed on to ordinary citizens, and any multinational that refuses to comply must face harsh sanctions and penalties. While individuals themselves can play a part in fighting climate change, the corporate world must take responsibility for the damage it has already done. While we believe in the 'polluter pays' principal, this must be applied first and foremost to European corporations and their global counterparts.

7.3 Sustainable transport networks Today individual mobility is still based on the use of fossil fuels. A radical change in mentality is crucial and the use of other more environment friendly alternatives should be encouraged. ECOSY does not want to limit mobility, but stands for an increase given its social and economic effects. Socially - to promote social inclusion of all people and economically - to enhance its development. The Member States, in cooperation with regions and local partners should foster other ways of moving. - The EU has to establish a legally binding certification system for both imported and domestic bio fuels. The certification system must be based on enhancing the potential of bio fuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while avoiding the wider environmental impacts of bio fuel production. - To reduce the environmental damage of road and air transport and to address its increasing congestion problems, the EU needs to promote alternative modes of transport. - The position of railways has to be reinforced. Public transport has to be free of charge and one European (fast train) rail network developed. Passenger’s rights have to be strengthened. Continental transport of all kind of goods has to be moved from the street onto the railroad and water which are more efficient and sustainable. In order to achieve this, we must invest more in railways and in waterways by improving rail stations, port services and maritime safety standards. - ECOSY demands that the number of deaths on the road by 2010 is cut back by at least 50%. - Road networks, especially trans-national ones, have to be improved. - Cars represent 10% of all EU CO2 emissions. Up till now, the Commission's strategy for reducing CO2 emissions has been mainly based on voluntary commitments from the car industry. A directive for “clean” cars has to developed and implemented. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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Carpooling should be actively promoted in areas where public transport is insufficiently developed. This system combined with a directive for "clean" cars reduces pollution, traffic density and driver stress. Air traffic exploded in the last 15 years, leading to a 73% increase in greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation. Planes have to become cleaner and by reinforcing train transport the number of short distance flights have to be limited. The stalled process of the European aviation tax should be reinitiated and a European tax for flights within 500km should be imposed. Local authorities have to be encouraged to provide investments in clean and efficient public transport in their region. The Commission has to develop a Green Paper on Urban Transport in 2007, combining the use of bikes, the establishment of the high environmental standards to be met by all vehicles, creating pedestrian zones and car-less days in order to raise awareness and compulsory measures if cutting the traffic in areas where the recording of concentrations of CO exceeds a standard level.

7.4 Reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) The CAP is a reality within the EU claiming 40% of its annual budget. The past role of providing food security has to be recognised. But today this rationale does not work anymore. In a globalising world and an enlarging EU the original goal of food security has to be redefined. It is necessary to promote other principles, such as sustainability, efficient water management, production of food on the basis of quality and not quantity, environmental and animal friendly ways of production, and the focus of rural populations with high standards on the quality of life and welfare. This model can empower small farmers and producers on one hand, and would be much more coherent with the European Policy regarding the development of the poorest countries. - ECOSY underlines that the expenditure on the common agricultural policy should to be reduced and must also be reformed into a social rural development fund and an innovative rural environmental and forestation initiative. The focus of both shifts from general agricultural production into protecting and strengthening the natural value of the landscape, stimulating environmental friendly production patterns of small farmers and stimulating the production of renewable energy. - Co-decision by the European Parliament on all matters of reforming the CAP has to be implemented.

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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A EUROPE SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE

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8. STRONG AND COHERENT FOREIGN POLICY A disproportionally large share of the world’s power lies today in Europe. The European Union must use this power to make our world fairer. To make human rights respected, to strengthen international law, to support peace and prevent conflicts, to promote international democracy, and to create a fair distribution of the world’s wealth. Security and development are closely inter-dependent. They are the two inseparable pillars of international policy making. For that Europe has to have a strong, common and coherent foreign policy and, by using it, has to become a global political actor to be able to contribute to the building of a more fair and just world. This strong, common and coherent foreign policy should be the doctrine of the European Common Foreign and Security Policy (the CFSP) and the Association Agreements. Its tools are a well functioning multilateral system built on the basis of the United Nations, a strong labour movement, disarmament, fair trade, an enlarged international development cooperation based on engagement, and a serious neighbourhood policy. Europe must become a highly relevant political actor on the international arena in order to achieve these goals. The foreign policy of the EU and the EU Member States must therefore be better coordinated, both amongst the Member States and between different policy areas. It must also be better, more clearly and transparently executed. Only by having one EU Commissioner for foreign affairs, accountable to the European Parliament, Europe can effectively speak with one voice. The challenge of European foreign policy lays in making the European CFSP a tool of international solidarity by both increasing the actual importance of the CFSP and changing the current content of it.

8.1 UN – a protector of peace and human beings ECOSY believes in cooperation, international law and multilateralism as the best way to reach peace and international democracy. Therefore the UN is the most relevant global body the EU must invest time and energy in and the EU must improve its coordination within the UN to enable the EU CFSP to reach some effect. The UN also needs to be reformed, especially in order to protect human beings instead of borders and to implement more effectively its own decisions. - The UN must also be reformed in order to become more democratic and representative of the world’s population. The aim is to enable the UN General Assembly to function as the parliament of the world. - The UN Security Council needs reform aiming at abolishing the five permanent members’ vetoes. This is a long process and one initial step should be to only have one permanent member from Europe, a seat that should be taken by the EU. Seats made available in the process should be attributed to emerging countries. - The UN should strengthen its cooperation with civil society and especially globally organized youth organizations. - The UN’s possibilities and human and financial resources to execute humanitarian interventions must be improved. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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The UN Charter must be revised in order to enable UN to effectively stop genocide and other crimes against humanity and human rights, no matter if it is perpetrated due to domestic, regional or international conflicts. In parallel the cooperation and coordination among the various international institutions, both political and financial, must be strengthened in order to make international politics more effective and transparent.

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8.2 Improve international law

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8.3 Promoting Human Rights

Societies without laws are left to the solemn arbitrary decision-making of the strongest, leaving smaller and weaker with no rights and only few opportunities to affect the development. This also applies to our international society. Therefore, international law is crucial to build international democracy and a fair world order. However, even if we defend the idea of international law, we see the urgent need to develop and strengthen it, especially in a direction where human rights and democracy are at the core of it. - The International Court of Justice has to become the independent judiciary part of the new global governance system. The International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda have to become an integral part of this judicial system. There should be no option for states to exempt themselves or their citizens from the ICC jurisdiction. All countries should sign and ratify the Statutes of ICC which mandate should be strengthened by succeeding the present ruling principle of complimentarily binding the hands of the Court by the principle of universal jurisdiction. Regional tribunals could be merged in the ICC. - International law must be improved in order to not only regulate the behaviour of states on an international level, but everyone including individuals, associations and corporations. To fight terrorism a fair distribution of the world wealth is also needed. - Means respecting democracy and the rule of law, to fight terrorism with have to be strengthened. Terrorism can never be fought with the weapons of terrorism. Instead, respect of human rights, international law and the principles of democracy are required in order to meet and fight terrorism. - It is of great concern when states violate international law since it upsets the balance of the world and thus makes it a more insecure place. With respect to this we strongly condemn any so called pre-emptive strikes or wars. - Moreover, an independent and unique international prosecutor's authority should be established being also responsible for the coordination and the management of the impartial investigation necessary for the court procedure.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and its 30 articles must be respected by everyone – states and associations as well as corporations and individuals. They must be integrated in all international, national and regional legal systems and treaties. Nothing can stand above human rights. They confirm the value and rights of each and everyone. Human Rights include both civil and political rights as well as economic and social rights. To implement these rights, such as the rights to water, Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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food, education and health care, ECOSY welcomes all progressive initiatives aiming at building democracy and welfare. - However, some groups of the population are in need of support and protection since they are more targets of injustices (women, children, disabled, LGBTT-persons and different minorities). In order to make everyone’s human rights respected, special attention must be raised for these groups. - ECOSY actively advocates against torture and the death penalty. Neither can be accepted in a society built on respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. - Many diseases pose a great threat to humans and society, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The consequences are to be seen in economically weak countries that lack the opportunity to fight them alone and have therefore their eradication has been included within the Millennium Development Goals. Research in causes, prevention and medication must be developed and enabled for all countries to take part of in order for all individuals that need it to get it. The political fight against prejudices about the diseases and in favour of preventing measures must be fought in parallel. - As consumers, we also have good opportunities to promote fair trade and to support human rights and democracy by choosing products produced with the respect of these values. For that it is important to develop and coordinate brands showing how a product has been produced and with values. Products not responding to these standards must be banned from the European market.

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8.4 Fair distribution of wealth The wealth of the world is unfairly distributed. If everyone would live according to the average European standard this globe would not be enough. The European standards of living conditions are often based at the expense of people in other parts of the world. This is unacceptable. An international distribution system must be created and implemented within the framework of the UN, to distribute the world’s wealth more fairly. This system as well as other economic transactions must be controlled with the help of international judiciary systems, in order to prevent corruption, tax evasion and other economic crimes. - A common international taxation scheme on international financial transactions should be created to finance UN development aid. The aim is to support stability and security within the global economic system and to prevent an exaggerated speculation economy. - The world’s natural resources must be used in a sustainable way to ensure the fair distribution of wealth. Most of the natural resources are exploited by smaller, but richer, parts of the population. Therefore ECOSY believes in the taxation of natural resources consumption. The fund which will be generated by this taxation will be used for fighting poverty and for the sustainable development of the world. - Until this is feasible the EU must take a special responsibility to increase the money put into international aid. All EU member states should finally meet the objective of 0,7% of ODA dedicated to international aid already agreed upon, without taking expenditures in defence and migration into consideration. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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European international aid must be coordinated amongst the Member States in order to support democracy and human rights and not contributing to corruption or bad governance. The aid must also be given and managed in close cooperation with the recipient countries and regions. The international development cooperation must not be linked to commercial preconditions of any kind. However, the development cooperation must be closely followed and evaluated in order to be useful and also improved. Not only money must be fairly distributed, also knowledge and technology must be shared among humanity. Research results and other human scientific victories must be shared to make all humanity profit from them. A fair distribution of the world’s wealth demands fair trade. This requires a strong regulation of international exchanges. EU can no longer demand from its economical partners to open their border whilst at the same time raising tariffs and granting domestic subsidies. We have to continue our fight for Economic Partnership Agreements that are tools for the economic development of the ACP countries instead of instruments of liberalisation. The cooperation between the EU and ACP countries should follow the aim of food sovereignty and maintain the possibility of non-reciprocal trade preferences. A fair distribution of the world’s wealth demands fair trade. This requires free trade in a fair regulatory framework. Economically poor countries benefit since they get the possibility to economic development and growth since they are not any longer held outside expansive and profit making markets. Everyone wins, including the today economical rich countries, because the world becomes fairer and the production more efficient. Domestic subsidies and tariffs of industrialised countries have to be abolished. However, free trade cannot be implemented over a night. Developing countries must be able to protect their markets under a starting period. Industrialised countries must take greater responsibility to implement free trade; immediately abolish commodity subsidies and tariffs. The EU must reform its Common Agricultural Policy. Welfare services and social security systems must be protected from free trade. They are not commodities. To reach a more democratic world, human rights and democracy must penetrate all spheres of our global society, including international trade and the global financial system. The World Trade Organisation (WTO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be targets for these concerns since they today are steered more by a pure economic approach by mainly the richest countries, than by the people of the world. The WTO, the World Bank and the IMF should be reformed and incorporated within the reformed UN system, in order to become efficient tools of international solidarity respecting human rights.

8.5 Fair and equal access to technology ECOSY – Young European Socialists fight for the right and opportunity for everyone to have access to technologies and infrastructure that will improve their lives, with special emphasis on developing countries and communities. We can promote human development through access to technology by: - Raising awareness among European citizens about how they can make decisions that positively affect developing communities Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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Demanding the European Union to take on a leading role in poverty alleviation.

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8.6 Engage and disarm

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8.7 Sound Neighbourhood policies

Real security is based on multilateralism, trust, respect and solidarity. The EU supports security for the Union through contributing to conflict prevention and conflict management. This must be done through active diplomacy and wealth distribution, and also through aiming at being the mediator supporting sustainable solutions. Nevertheless, in some situations are neither diplomacy nor wealth distribution enough and the hard facts on the ground pose difficult choices. Then the EU must be able to meet needs asking for military cooperation and activities. - The EU must be able to act with military force when required by the international society manifested in the authorization of the UN Security Council, the creation of a European military must be a process including larger participation of the member states and the European Parliament. - Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction pose a great threat to humanity, independently of in which hands they are. To achieve disarmament serious multilateral initiatives are needed with the aim of total international disarmament as the final goal. The EU must invest more time in advocating international disarmament through all its channels and relations with international partners. The Union should also set the example by starting to disarm its own arsenals that are in the hands of different member states.

The European neighbourhood policies must be shaped with the same values as we use to build our own society. Democracy, human rights, respect of international law and rule of law. It must be aimed at building co-operations, to fight dictatorships, to support peace agreements and to eradicate poverty. In that sense we support the initiative of the Alliance of Civilizations on which the UN is already working, specially regarding its potential conclusions, as a good tool for building understanding, conflict resolution and peace. - Close co-operations must be built with Balkan countries in order to facilitate accession to the EU. The signing of the Stability and Association Agreements is a monumental step forward. - The EU must foster and develop a better relationship with Turkey and its citizens. A Turkish EU membership is desirable in order to strengthen the EU, multiculturalism and peace. However, a Turkish accession cannot happen before Turkey fulfils the criteria of the Acquis Communautaire: human rights, democratic values, rule of law, good neighbourhood relations, economic policy and social standards. - Europe must improve its relationship with its biggest and close neighbour, Russia. The EU must advocate democratic development and the rule of law, with special attention to human rights and maintain a continuing dialogue on energy supply. - ECOSY - Young European Socialists strongly advocates for a Black Sea Area Union. The EU must pro,ote peace, democracy, human rights and mutual understanding within the region. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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There is a need to bridge the Atlantic gap through an improved and constructive cooperation between the EU and the US on the basis of common and democratic values. The Euro-Med cooperation is of great importance for the whole EU and the world, and must be further developed and deepened. The new ‘Union for the Mediterranean’ cannot remain a structure without content and become a tool for resolving problems, enhancing cooperation and creating development. The EU must fight all dictatorships and use all peaceful means to support democracy. The situation in the last dictatorship of Europe, Belarus, is pressing. The EU must support the citizens’ work for democracy both by supporting grassroot activities such as youth exchanges, programmes facilitating for the Belarusian youth to study within the EU, and by executing high level pressure through different political and economic means. This also applies to other dictatorships in the close neighbourhood of Europe. The EU should use its association agreements in order to do so. If a partner country does not respects human rights, and therefore is not respecting the articles of the association agreements, the agreements should be suspended to enable the partner to change policies. If no changes are done and human rights are still not respected the EU must follow the association agreements and terminate them. Europe must support peace agreements to be reached and implemented. The agreement between Morocco and Western Sahara must be followed and a referendum on the independence of Western Sahara, must take place. The EU cannot allow Morocco to continue destroying the process. The Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara must end. The EU must be actively involved in supporting a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The two-people-two-state solution must be realised. The Israeli occupation of Palestine must end and the borders of 1967 respected by all sides. Both parties must respect each other, follow international law, come back to the peace process and stop all violent actions towards civilians. The EU can and must support this. At the same time, the EU has to be an active and credible partner for peace and stability in the whole wider Middle East area, supporting the efforts of Lebanon against internal and external armed conflicts, clarifying to Iran and Syria that it will be their partner only in peaceful procedures, and helping the people of Iraq to reconstruct their country. The EU must pay more attention to Africa, in both its unity and whole diversity. EU should develop a sound partnership with the African Union in order to side-by-side fight poverty and develop democracy in the region with all different approaches needed in the different countries on the continent.

8.8 A strong global labour movement To build a fairer world it requires an active, democratic and global labour movement. We, ECOSY – Young European Socialists, work together with IUSY – International Union of Socialist Youth for this. We demand the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International to do the same, as well as the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The political branch of the labour movement must also cooperate more closely together with the trade union branch. Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa

ECOSY – Young European Socialists Position Paper “Change for Europe” – Draft 01 Agreed by the Presidium Drafting Group and Sent out 2nd February 2009

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The ITUC must have the right to participate in all UN bodies concerning labour and trade in order to represent the world’s labour. The ITUC must also develop its work with international collective agreements. International acts of solidarity, such as solidarity strikes, must also be permitted.

OUR FUTURE FOR EUROPE In this Policy Paper ECOSY – Young European Socialists elaborates thoroughly its vision on the Future of Europe. Young Socialists and Social Democrats from all over Europe propose not only the further development of Europe, but analyse the world we all live in. This world can be a better world. This world can provide everyone a safe and secure environment with opportunities for self-determination and selffulfilment. For that ECOSY – Young European Socialists in the last 17 years have been advocating and will continue to do so in the times to come. A democratic Europe, a social Europe for everyone and a Europe speaking with one voice stand at the heart of our common message.

Change for Europe - Odnowa dla Europy - Bewegung für Europa - Omslalag voor Europa – Changeons l’Europe - Změna pro Evropu - Αλλάζουµε την Ευρώπη – Változást Európának - O zmene pre Európu Förändring för Europa – Cambio para Europa - Mudança para a Europa - Permainos Europai – Spremenimo Evropo - Cambiamo l`Europa - O schimbare pentru Europa - Muudame Euroopat – Forandringer for Europa – PĀRMAIŅAS EIROPA - Muutosta Eurooppaan - Промяна за Европа - Bidla għall-Ewropa