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INTRODUCTION. EUROPE AND GLOBALISATION
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– Maintaining an open, anti-protectionist trade policy that is also
designed to defend the social achievements of the European con-
tinent, in contrast with the closed borders policy being pursued by
the current US administration.
– Focusing on the creation of high-quality employment through a
policy of productive investment, with a particular focus on R&D+i,
education and equal opportunities, while also promoting energy
infrastructure, discarding failed policies of austerity, and seeking
to capitalise on the revolution in technology and automation that
threatens to damage the European labour market. (See chapters
by Manuel Ausaverri and by Philipp Fink, Antoine Guillou and
Robert Schachtschneider.)
– Clear progress towards an environmentally sustainable economic
union that involves fiscal, banking and budgetary union (with EU
resources). In practice, this means creating a Treasury or Monetary
Fund within the eurozone with the capacity to lend money and
issue debt, and a harmonised tax system with the primary objec-
tive of abolishing tax havens and stamping out the shocking prac-
tice of tax avoidance by multinationals. (See chapter by Juan
Moscoso del Prado and José Luis Escario.)
– In parallel, the EU must unequivocally demand the USA’s coopera-
tion in the fight against tax evasion, something which the USA,
unlike other OECD members, has so far refused to do.
– The construction of an autonomous European defence and for-
eign policy, without prejudice to existing NATO commitments.
(See chapters by Patxi Aldecoa, Vicente Palacio, José Manuel
Albares and Carlos Carnero.)
– The construction of a social Europe that guarantees the entire
European population decent levels of protection for workers’
rights, healthcare, a minimum wage, and unemployment and
pension provisions. This should be regardless of the country of
residence or nationality of citizens, and must defend children’s
rights. (See chapter by Juan Moscoso del Prado.)
– Welcoming refugees who are fleeing war and political persecution,
by creating safe routes to reach Europe without the immense loss of
life in the Mediterranean (5,000 lives in 2016), and with costs shared
among all the countries of the EU. (See chapter by Petra Bendel.)
– A European agreement setting out detailed and effective coopera-
tion between legal systems and police forces to combat one of the
biggest problems our societies face: violence against women.