The Manifesto for European Economic Relations organized by Confrontations Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Astrid Foundation by Giuliano Amato and Franco Bassanini: for an integrated and supportive eurozone
A manifesto that invites citizens of all nationalities in Europe to commit themselves to participate in every way in the efforts to safeguard the monetary union and relaunch the process of European integration.
It is the one packaged and presented in Paris on the occasion of the Entretiens Economiques Européens (European Economic Relations) by Confrontations Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung and Giuliano Amato and Franco Bassanini's Astrid Foundation.
The manifesto, which can also be subscribed to on Astrid's website, warns of the urgency of reform the very architecture of the eurozone to provide it with a solid foundation of solidarity and the ability to govern. Only in this way will it be possible to calm the markets and restore public finances, re-establishing competitiveness and sustainable development.
But how to bring together all these economic and civic forces and bring the initiative to fruition? According to the manifesto, it is a battle for everyone, not just for the shrewdest politicians, but for every single citizen.
First of all, renegotiating the European treaties. A community summit will be held on 9 December in which the Franco-German proposal for reform of the treaty will be presented towards a fiscal union. This is one of the imperatives of the Manifesto signed by the Giuliano Amato and Franco Bassanini Foundation.
But not only. On the table is also the Eurobond issue, which has so far divided even more than the one concerning the revision of the EU Treaties. The manifesto is favourable, in view of the aforementioned solidarity.
The European Council in December will work above all on consolidating the eurozone, which according to the ideas of the Manifesto must be based on three pillars. first, given the explosion of sovereign debt crises, is to establish a common budgetary policy. From Maastricht onwards, in fact, the Union was above all banking: single currency, but fragmented budgets. The issuance of Eurobonds will also serve to make up for this.
Il second pillar plans to restore the competitiveness and growth potential of all member countries. That is, true integration, given that differences in competitiveness are the main cause of dis-integration. But to achieve this, the manifesto hopes for strong cooperation between states. The EuroPlus Pact of March 2011 is no longer sufficient.
The third and final pillar is an important and supportive social investment. In the renewal of the agreements, references to social market economies must not be missing, in order to arrive at a new model of social welfare: renew training and employment, exploit human resources, place young people on the labor market by accompanying them in their professional transitions.
And to implement all this? The Manifesto suggests the establishment of a European Ministry of Economy and Finance. It would be an excellent starting point, in addition to all the necessary urgent interventions that have been talked about in recent weeks.
Read the full text on Astrid's website
Signed in Paris on November 24, 2011,
for Confrontations Europe, by Claude Fischer and Philippe Herzog
for the Astrid Foundation, by Giuliano Amato and Franco Bassanini
for Bertelsmann Stiftung, by Joachim Fritz-Vannahme et Isabell Hoffmann
