Prague Resolution

Prague, 13 July 2012.The European Commissions‘ 2020 strategy was one of the highlights of the "Europe on the way to the social collapse? Financial markets - poverty - participation" Summer Academy held in Prague from 8th - 14th July 2012.

 
Delegates discussed and examined the EU recommendations in great detail before concluding the Europe 2020 strategy did indeed contain positive responses to some of the issues which have emerged from the current economic crisis in Europe.

However delegates were concerned that the positive aspects of Europe 2020 cannot be realised in a neoliberal climate where objectives and the means to achieve those objectives contradict each other.

Politics cannot remain the economic and financial markets dogsbody any longer but rather the economy must begin to align with the values of Christian social ethics in order to better serve citizens. People and employment are more important than capital. This applies to all. In particular a free education must be the basis for providing a livelihood for young people.

We oppose the privatisation of the welfare state; It is one of the reasons why the social divide between rich and poor is growing

Our political demands:

• Regulating of the financial markets
• Tax reforms (transaction tax, wealth tax, business income tax, harmonisation of taxes)
•  Preserve and enlarge the welfare state
• Fair wage and good working conditions
• Public commodities in the hands of citizens

To enforce these requirements, there is a need for national and international networking in order to overcome the helplessness of the current situation as imposed by the decision makers and the powerful.

The current functioning of the European Commission suggests to us that our democratic values are under severe risk. The fiscal pact is a clear indication of this.

We stand for a different Europe, for social justice, democracy and participation