Declaration on the Future of Europe
70 years after the
Hague Conference where all began
The European Association of former Parliamentarians of the Member
Countries of the Council of Europe
·
paying
tribute the Hague Conference of Europe which laid 70 years ago the corner stone
for a united and integrated Europe;
·
commemorating
the foundation of the Council of Europe in 1949, the European Community for
Coal and Steel in 1950 and the European Economic Community in 1957;
·
having
regard to the report by Jean-Claude Juncker “Council of Europe – European
Union, A Sole Ambition for the European Continent” of April 11, 2006;
·
having
regard to the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament on February 16,
2017 on the evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up
and the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the
Lisbon Treaty;
·
having
regard to the Rome Declaration of the leaders of 27 EU member states and of the
EU institutions of March 25, 2017;
·
having
regard to the “European charter of former parliamentarians” adopted by the
Association in Strasbourg 2011;
·
having
regard to the relevant Association’s declarations, in particular Strasbourg
(2000) on “The Strengthening of the parliamentary dimension of the European
institutions”, Rome (2002) on “Shared European values underpinning European
construction”, Berlin (2004) on “Political Integration in the Face of the
International Challenges”, Brussels (2014) on “The Challenges of Democracy in
the Age of Globalisation” and Lyon (2016)
on “Challenges of Migration”;
a.
whereas
there are still unsolved conflicts and even violence and wars in member
countries of the Council of Europe and in the neighbourhood;
b.
whereas
the economy of the whole of Europe is still suffering from the economic and
financial crisis of 2008 and from the sanctions imposed on Russia and on the EU
by Russia;
c.
whereas
the crisis of the Euro and certain countries of the Euro zone is not over;
d.
whereas
Europe has to tackle an adverse position of the US administration towards EU
and free trade;
e.
whereas
Europe’s role in global economy is diminishing;
f.
whereas
not only a large economy, but a strong nation, UK, will leave the European
Union and its common market;
g.
whereas
the migration and refugee issue demonstrates a lack of solidarity within Europe
and the inability of finding and implementing common solutions;
h.
whereas
so far unknown terrorism has reached our streets;
i.
whereas
member states of the Council of Europe and of the European Union show lack of
respect for the common European values as laid down in the Statute of the
Council of Europe, the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter
of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms;
j.
whereas
the Council of Europe as well as the European Union are confronted with the
constitutional changes and its implications in Turkey;
k.
whereas
the inability of the EU institutions to cope with the so-called ‘polycrisis’ has
led to increased dissatisfaction among a growing part of the population
regarding the functioning of the current European Union and to the rise of
populist parties and nationalist movements;
l.
whereas
the potential of the Council of Europe as a Pan-European political platform for
EU and non EU members is not really exploited;
m.
whereas
the EU so far did not consider enhanced cooperation by becoming a member of the
Council of Europe as suggested by the report of Jean-Paul Juncker in 2006;
n.
whereas
the European Union currently cannot fulfil the expectations of all European
citizens for prosperity, stability and security;
o.
whereas
these problems, coupled with a lack of a common vision on the part of the national
states as regards the future of our continent, has given rise to unprecedented
levels of ‘Euroscepticism’;
1.
considers
that the time of crisis management by means of ad hoc and incremental decisions
has passed, as it only leads to measures that are often too little, too late;
2.
is
convinced that it is now time for a profound reflection on how to revive the
vision of a continent achieving greater unity between its nations for the
purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their
common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress;
3.
believes
that greater unity between the European nations cannot be achieved by either
the Council of Europe or the European Union alone but in close cooperation of
these institutions;
4.
recalls
the suggestion of Jean-Claude Juncker in his report for the European heads of
state of 2006 that the European Union should become a member of the Council of
Europe and fully supports it;
5.
believes
that the role of the Council of Europe ensuring the participation of all
European countries in the project of peace and common values should be enhanced;
6.
suggests
that the Council of Europe should be more active in defending democratic
values, dealing with migration issues including aide in the countries of origin
and combating terrorism;
7.
is
convinced that the relations between and the cooperation of the Council of
Europe and the European Union should intensify in order to include all European
nations in policies such as European neighbourhood, migration and combating
anti-democratic attitudes;
8.
reminds
that European integration and cooperation takes place not only in the
supranational European Union but also in the intergovernmental Council of
Europe covering with its more than 200 conventions the space of the wider
Europe;
9.
advocates
the application of the principle of subsidiarity for the European integration
with regard to the division of labour between the intergovernmental Council of
Europe and the supra-national European Union;
10.
considers
that the competences of the European Commission should be strengthened and
streamlined in areas where joint actions and policy are needed, such as foreign
and defence policy, budgetary and financial matters and external trade while
more areas can be left to the nation states and co-ordination and harmonisation
can be dealt with by the intergovernmental procedures of the Council of Europe;
11.
responds
to the White Book of the European Commission in supporting a combination of scenarios
no 4 and 5, doing more together where common action is needed and respecting otherwise
the principle of subsidiarity;
12.
calls
for a coherent European policy on asylum, refugees and migration based on our
common values of humanity as well as on the principle of solidarity and
enlightened self-interest;
13.
emphasizes
the need for an efficient control of the external borders of Europe;
14.
recommends
the consideration of an autonomous security architecture for Europe including
Russia, Turkey and Ukraine;
15.
considers
regarding future enlargement of the European Union that reforms should have
priority, strengthening the coherence of the Union before enlarging;
16.
would
like to see the future relations between the European Union and the UK as good
and reliable partners including fair conditions for both EU and UK citizens
living and working on the “other” territory;
17.
appeals
to the negotiators of “Brexit” to pay special attention to the border between
the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland;
