S&D group priorities: Hannes Swoboda

Socialists and Democrats must unite to battle the crisis and present Europe as a solution, not a burden, writes Hannes Swoboda.

With the debt crisis, erosion of democracy and growing division, there is no doubt Europe has been through better times. However, the problems, not to say the dangers, it is facing are also an opportunity to address the shortcomings that we have seen. The harsh austerity policies promoted by the council have only led to economic problems and inequality. As a major force in European politics, the left has a duty to reclaim the idea of the European Union as a progressive project. The S&D group, the second largest in the European parliament, is well-placed to contribute to this effort, thanks to its central position in the European political system.

Simply stating that the council has come up with wrong answers is not enough. We have to offer solutions. Over the past months and years, our group has put forward many proposals, including a financial transaction tax, eurobonds, and binding targets for public investment. We must now build up on this work and develop a comprehensive and compelling programme for the recovery of the economy. Such a project must be acceptable to citizens from all EU countries, from Germany to Greece and from the UK to Romania. It needs to combine austerity with solidarity and growth, shield public services from market intrusions, regulate markets and focus on employment. Above all, the future EU economic governance must be grounded on democratic principles.

While one of our biggest challenges is the creation of growth, this should not be done at the expense of sustainability. On the contrary, it is now clear that these are mutually reinforcing goals. Our aim is to establish a modern and competitive European industry focused on environmental innovation. Concrete steps will be taken, building on pilot projects, successful examples and existing R&D programmes – all of which favour job creation.

While tackling economic issues is essential, the crisis we are currently undergoing is also of a political nature. European integration is often seen as a vehicle of market-driven globalisation governed by remote elites rather than through democratic politics. We will therefore continue to call for the strengthening of the role of the European parliament. Coordination with national parliaments and European citizens are essential elements of a truly democratic EU, one that would listen to criticisms while preventing individual states from blocking integration or, worse, from sliding towards authoritarian regimes.

This attention to democracy must also prevail in our neighbourhood policy. I will keep up my personal engagement in this area to ensure that the revolutions in our southern neighbourhood do not turn sour.

Fighting the erosion of democracy also requires us to intensify our political work and actively pursue a diverse society. This must be done at each level and in every country. Women, for instance, are still the victims of unacceptable discrimination at work, earning on average 17.5 per cent less than men over a lifetime. The S&D group cannot tolerate such injustice and will fight for equal pay for equal jobs. Accordingly, I am strongly committed to guaranteeing diversity within our group. Women’s special concerns will only be taken into consideration in our daily business if women are strongly represented and hold top posts. Before my election, I proposed to create the function of first vice-president, to be held by a person of the opposite gender to the president’s. Moreover, women’s representation in hearings and other events organised by the group needs to be increased.

The same holds true regarding young people, who feel increasingly let down by the current system, while their contributions are often of priceless value. It is high time to build a network of young people across Europe, with whom we would exchange on a permanent basis, both in order to learn from them and to mobilise the youth for a social Europe.

Let me insist: the S&D group has a crucial role to play in the fight against the crisis. To make our solutions find their way into concrete policy legislation, our agenda must resonate broadly across society. Socialists and Democrats need to form civic and political alliances around all of the above issues, starting with economic governance.

For the S&D group, this means closely cooperating with the Party of European Socialists, national social-democrat parties, the Democrats in Italy, academia and progressive think tanks. It also requires collaborating with progressive forces outside of our movement. Only this political strategy will enable us to make our voice heard, our proposals known, and to trace the path towards the different kind of Europe that so many are hoping for: a Europe that will not be the problem, but the solution.

Hannes Swoboda is president of parliament's S&D group