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DRAFT OVERVIEW- 5 November 2013
SPRING ALLIANCE MANIFESTO 2014-2019:
Revitalise EU democracy to deliver future-proofed right based and equal society
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PROTECT AND IMPROVE
- DEMOCRACY (A)
- ECOSYSTEM(B)
- QUALITY EMPLOYMENT(C)
COHESIVE AND EQUAL SOCIETIES(D)
BY CHANGING ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE (E)
AND ENSURING GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY (F)
We recall that the EU project is to ensure every citizen a life in dignity, access to human rights and
that economic prosperity is one possible instrument to deliver it, not a goal in itself.
Our assessment of the last five years: 2009-2014
In 2010, the EU leaders have endorsed a clear agenda: to deliver by 2020 on 5 targets. They were
realistic, created a coherent framework for policies development and offer an integrated strategy for
the European Union. As Spring Alliance, we would have set higher commitments, but recognised that
the strategy, which has then been translated in each country in national targets, has been a powerful
tool to share a common project.
Where are we, four years after endorsing EU 2020 targets?
NOWHERE, with very little progress at the best, and clear worsening of the situation looking at
unemployment and poverty rate! But we do not share the assessment of EU institutions blaming
mainly the economic crisis for jeopardising the EU 2020 strategy’s success.
On the contrary, we believe that the crisis offered, and hopefully still offers, the opportunity to
change the economic model in order to make it Future proofed. Our evaluation is that:
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The wrong economic policies have been enforced, within a stronger and prescriptive
economic governance process lacking democratic control.
The wrong welfare reform and public budget consolidation have been implemented
The wrong budget has been approved, without rebalancing EU funds towards convergence
between regions and sustainable investment and fight against poverty but continuing to
support XX century infrastructures and agriculture policies
The wrong banking resolution mechanisms have been put in place; if we can see some
progress, the main causes of the crisis remain to be tackled (risk for the society/benefit for
the investors/speculators)
The wrong governance is in process: during that period, civil society from all over the world
has shown vitality and has raised questions about the necessary revitalisation of current
democratic processes. We have witnessed a shrinking space for social and civil dialogue.
What do we want for the 2014-2019 period?
EU policies should aim at reaching the EU 2020 targets and set the path for ambitious 2030 goals
with the view to:
 reach EU ecological footprint sustainable at the horizon 2050
 implement new governance and decision making processes for EU policies and programmes,
reinforcing representative democracy by investing in social and civil dialogue and ensuring
transparency
 Reduce poverty and the inequality gap (in wealth, income, gender and Art 19 discrimination
grounds)
 Invest in public services and common goods.
OUR LIST OF DEMANDS
DEMOCRACY
- Ensure democratic control including on economic policy choices
- Deliver on fundamental rights including by implementing the EU Charter
- Develop an environmental justice system
- Embed structured (or regular) dialogue with organised civil society
ECOSYSTEM
- Promote Health with a specific EU programme
- Deliver on Climate and energy strategy commitments mitigating against social impact
- Protect Biodiversity
- Manage sustainably Resources
QUALITY EMPLOYMENT
- Reinforce Social dialogue
- Promote decent and quality employment, accessible for all
- Enforce the health and safety at work directive
- Develop EU programme on job transition towards a low carbon economy
COHESIVE AND EQUAL SOCIETIES
- Guarantee an adequate Minimum income/ social protection floor and access to public
services to all
- Deliver on poverty target through an EU integrated anti-poverty strategy
- Adopt and operationalize at EU level, the Council of Europe Convention on human rights
- Propose a renewed Gender equality strategy
ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE
- Reform the Financial sector to ensure than private risks are not covered by public guarantee
- Decrease income and wealth inequalities by progressive tax reform
- Apply Fundamental rights clauses in all policies including internal market policies
- Invest in a resilient industrial system and quality public services
GLOBAL REPSONSIBILITY
- Ensure Policy coherence for EU development programme
- Target inequalities and ensure food security while continuing to deliver on poverty target
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Ensure tax justice (fight tax haven and implement transaction tax)
Set ambitious goal sharing responsibility and burden to fight climate change (COP 2015)
Exclude public services and common goods from Free Trade agreements
Propose coherent and human rights based migration policies