PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC WANTS

The European public is increasingly at a loss when it comes to understand decisions taken by the European Union. There is a need to rebalance forces in Brussels.  Brussels is not Europe, and the people who work here have no monopoly on European vision.

The European Council and the European Parliament should do more to embody people's real expectations in areas such as job creation, combating youth alienation, protection of savings and access to health care. Citizens and especially the young people expect concrete action and initiatives for their future, not woolly strategies expressed in wooden jargon. EU citizens are growing increasingly sceptical of the Union’s ability to provide concrete and timely responses to their concerns. Those who used to be Europe’s strongest supporters: farmers, businesspeople, craftspeople, retailers are finding it more and more difficult to identify with overly detailed decisions which they mainly perceive as constraints. There is a need to move away from the technocratic approach to EU-policy making.  Today there is a conscious attempt to formulate as many policies and measures as possible in quantifiable, scientific, objective terms. From banking to food regulation, the technocrats have taken over from the politicians. What is needed is increased political judgement, a sense of what will work and what will not, a capacity for synthesis in the first place rather than analysis, for intuitive knowledge as opposed to norms and standards on which to base policy.

The crisis facing Europe is first and foremost a crisis of estrangement between the EU and its citizens. Citizens seek participation, democracy and accountability and a number of organizations and individuals are taking different initiatives and creating forums for debate, information and campaign to strengthen citizen’s participation in building the future Europe of citizens. They should be supported!

Citizens from all the Member States of the EU  are concerned about Europe. They want a democratic European Union - one in which the major decisions are made by the citizens after adequate time has been allowed for open discussion of the issues, with a full expression of all points of view. They want a European Union in which the power of the state derives from the people and from their elected parliaments - not from agencies, governors, chancellors, presidents and commissioners. They want to have their say and be co-deciders of the major decisions which determine their  future . They want an open debate about the future of the EU which involves all levels of society and all political standpoints.  They don't need a 'publicity' campaign to make them aware of why they should vote!