EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF FORMER
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
STRASBOURG COLLOQUY
12 October 2018
THE
FUTURE OF EUROPE.
STRASBOURG DECLARATION
Adopted by the delegates(*)
representing the members of the
European Association of Former
Members of Parliament of the
Member States of the Council
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 and commemorating the foundation of the
Council of Europe in 1949, the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, the
European Economic Community in 1957, the first direct election of the European
Parliament in 1979 and the inauguration of the European Union in 1992;
·
considering
the “European charter of former parliamentarians” adopted by the Association in
Strasbourg 2011 and 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” as
well as taking into account the results of the Association’s questionnaire on
the Future of Europe (2017);
a.
whereas
there are still unsolved conflicts, wars
and violations of the Helsinki Final Act in member countries of the Council of
Europe;
b.
whereas
the economy of Europe is still suffering from the economic and financial crisis
of 2008 as well as recently from sanctions;
c.
whereas
the monetary crisis in certain countries of the Euro zone is not over;
d.
whereas
Europe has to fight against the return of protectionism and, in particular, tackle
an adverse position of the US administration towards EU and free trade;
e.
whereas
the ecological crisis and climate change are increasing;
f.
whereas
Europe’s role in global economy diminishes;
g.
whereas
the UK has decided to leave the European Union and its common market;
h.
whereas
the current policies pursued by the EU member states on the migration and
refugee issue demonstrates a lack of solidarity within Europe and the inability
of finding and implementing common solutions;
i.
whereas
terrorism has increased in Europe;
j.
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 Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular for the independence of
the judiciary, the freedom of association and the freedom of press ;
k.
whereas
the Council of Europe as well as the European Union are confronted with
constitutional changes in a number of countries ;
l.
whereas
the weakness of national and European politics to cope with the challenges of
the so-called ‘poly-crisis’ has led to increased dissatisfaction among a
growing part of the population and to the rise of populist parties and
nationalist movements;
m.
whereas
the potential of the Council of Europe as a Pan-European political platform for
EU and non EU members is not sufficiently exploited;
n.
whereas
the present European Union cannot today fulfil all expectations of all European
citizens for democracy, prosperity, stability and security as well as life-long
education and training opportunities;
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
should be passed, as it only leads to measures that are often too little, too
late;
2.
is convinced
that a profound reflection is required on how to achieve greater unity between
the countries of Europe for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the
ideals and principles which are their common heritage and to facilitate their
economic and social progress;
3.
recognizes
that greater unity between the European countries was achieved by the Council
of Europe and the European Union and notes that closer cooperation of these
institutions would enable more achievements and believes that the role of the
Council of Europe ensuring the participation of all European countries in the
project of peace and common values that should be enhanced;
4.
emphasises
the principle of “Unity in Diversity” where the European countries keep their
identity and tradition and cooperate for their common benefit;
5.
demands
that the competences of the European Union should be strengthened and
streamlined in areas where joint actions and policy are needed, such as foreign
and defence policy, budgetary and financial matters including the governance of
the Eurozone and external trade while more areas should be identified that can
be left to the member states and their parliaments following the principle of
subsidiarity;
6.
suggests
that the EU enters into a special relationship with the Council of Europe and
participates in accordance with the provisions of Art. 6.2 of the Treaty of the
European Union to fundamental conventions such as European Convention on Human
Rights, but also to the European Social Charter and the European Cultural
Convention. Convinced that through the Council of Europe all European countries
can be included in policies such as European Neighbourhood, migration and
combating anti-democratic attitudes;
7.
encourages
the Council of Europe to strengthen the task as „watchdog” and guardian for
democracy, rule of law and human rights especially in those member states where
even the independence of the judiciary is in grave danger;
7A. calls upon the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe to strengthen the critical eye on the
socio-economic and political activities of the Organisation for Economic
Development (OECD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD);
8.
appeals to the Council of Europe, the European
Union and the member states to achieve gender equality and to promote the
empowerment of women and girls;
9.
urges
Pan-European efforts to fight youth unemployment, and to better prepare the
society for an ageing population which affects, amongst others, healthcare,
pension schemes, housing and transportation, respecting the principle of
subsidiarity;
9A. urges Pan-European effort to take digitalization of the European
economy forward and to build a cyber-security strategy to protect sensitive
industrial data and infrastructure;
10.
proposes
that the European Union, and the Council of Europe and their member states
should be more active in defending and fulfilling democratic values, dealing
with migration issues including more and improved development assistance in
particular in the countries of origin with specific focus on the implementation
of the 2030 Agenda with its 17 sustainable development goals and the Paris
climate agreement;
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
the principle of subsidiarity;
12.
recommends
more presence and visibility of the leading personalities of the Council of
Europe and the European Union in the member countries;
13.
recommends
that the President of the European Commission should be elected by the European
Parliament;
14.
considers
regarding future enlargement of the European Union that further development should
have priority, strengthening the Union before enlarging;
15.
appeals
to the decision makers of the European Union and of the member states,
encouraging dialogue between national and European parliamentarians, to study
and follow the recommendations laid down in 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;
16.
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;
17.
recommends
the consideration of a security architecture for Europe including all member
states of the Council of Europe and calls for joint actions to fight terrorism;
there is an urgent need of an efficient control of the external borders;
18.
urges
all parties concerned to update and fully implement the Minsk Agreement to
solve the crisis in Eastern Ukraine;
19.
hopes
for 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 (including the “Gibraltar case”) and assuring
the continuation of the peace accord of the “Good Friday Agreement” of 10 April
1998;
20.
remembers
that the European project is foremost a project of peace and all European countries
have a responsibility for this project, i.e. sustainable peace, therefore:
- European
states should not deliver weapons to crises zones and participate in military
actions only within a mandate of the United Nations;
- European
states should always fully respect the sovereignty of other states;
- European
states should avoid, even in times of serious tensions, any Cold War rhetoric
and warmongering;
- should
be prepared to solve conflicts by dialogue and compromise;
21.
emphasises
the need of self-assertion of Europe, united in the Council of Europe as well
as in the European Union, facing new challenges such as the emergence of powers
like China or a new kind of isolationism in the US;
22.
is
convinced that mutual understanding, cooperation and solidarity for the common
good and the wellbeing of all Europeans will prevail over still existing
disagreements, tensions and conflicts.
The future of Europe:
never again war – never again dictatorship,
living together in peace and democracy!
living together in peace and democracy!
* The declaration has been adopted by
the majority of the votes.
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