Brussels, 26/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - As we announced earlier (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.7), the International European Movement (IEM) has published its first contribution to the Convention on the Future of Europe, the result of work by a group presided by Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, President of the European Movement Belgium. The IEM takes a stance for "European federalism that should be the subject of consensus within the Convention, with its form set out in a constitutional text for Europe".
In answer to the question put by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing on what Europeans expect of the Union, the IEM says: peace, freedom and security for all, economic prosperity, the development of the European social model, respect of diversity among the peoples in Europe and a Union that speaks with a "single voice". Regarding the means to meet these expectations, the IEM mainly insists on: unity in diversity, "a democratic system of government for the Union understood and supported by citizens", "common values based on fundamental rights constitutionally guaranteed", "a wider market of goods, services and capital and monetary unity", a social market economy, structural funds for achieving social cohesion, a common sustainable development policy, "diversified management respecting the diversity of cultures, peoples and regions of Europe", "the attribution of public responsibilities in the EU respecting the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity and organising convergence and cooperation between the different levels". The EU must also be "respected and influential in the world" thanks above all to a common security and defence policy "in the context of our alliances and the United Nations security system, respecting the traditions of neutrality of some European countries", and to a world policy of fundamental rights, a powerful common aid and development policy in favour of poor countries, dialogue between civilisations and cultures and cooperation for creating a system of world governance.