UfE-Statute

(version Mihailis)

[…] deleted from the first draft

(…) comments / questions

Preamble (tbd, to be determined)  

General Provisions  

Name and Term of the Party  

  1. This pan-European party is called ‘United for Europe ’ [in English]
  2. It is abbreviated [to the common shortname] UfE.
  3. The party was established on ???, and will exist indefinitely.  

Registered Office of the Party (tbd)  

Objectives of the Party  

  1. UfE strongly supports the historic process of European integration and will contribute to its furtherance.
  2. UfE wants to return Europe to its inhabitants by establishing democratic and transparent structures on the continental level by overcoming the ‘democratic deficit’ which presently exists there (see IV.1).
  3. UfE wants to contribute to the creation of truly European public space, debate and identity, regarding them as essential parts of a legitimate European democracy (see IV.2).
  4. By promoting the long term goal of a European Federation based on the principles of subsidiarity and cultural diversity, UfE offers a vision of a final stage of European integration (see IV.3).

Means to Further the Objectives  

  1. As a pan-European party, UfE will take part in the elections to the European Parliament (EP) and will pursue its political aims from within the EP.
  2. UfE offers citizens a forum, allowing them to participate directly in European politics.
  3. As a pan-European party, UfE will run in every member-state of the European Union with the same, transparent program.
  4. UfE is a progressive forerunner and agenda-setter that focuses entirely on its European agenda. It does not take part in any elections other than the elections to the EP.  

Structure and Organs of UfE (tbd)

a. As a pan-European party, UfE is not organized along national borders .b. UfE’s primary language of operation is English.      

Members  

Conditions of Membership  (tbd)

Cessation of Membership

  1. Members of UfE are physical persons who join the party
  2. All European citizens who accept the ideals, the objectives, and the statutes of UfE, can become members of UfE

Political Aims

 UfE strives to:  

Overcome the ‘Democratic Deficit’

  1. Strengthen the role the European Parliament plays towards the other European institutions and the national governments (what sort of role is this to be?).
  2. Democratize the European Parliament and thereby improve its public control. (what do you mean by ‘democratize’? what do you mean by ‘public control’? we might benefit from a little more theoretical language about these issues.)
  3. Cr eate a truly bicameral parliament in which the Council guarantees the representation of the interests of the nation states, whereas the EP is elected and represents the European people in a democratic and representative manner.
  4. G ive the EP sole budgetary power on the European level and the right to raise a European tax in order to achieve fiscal independence and transparent financial structures. (I would like to know why this is an objective)
  5. Lobby for a European constitution that is easily understandable for its citizens and adopted by national referenda in each of the member states.
  6. Support a European constitution outlining a system of checks and balances on the European level . (what should be the contents of such a constitution? does UfE have an opinion on that, or does it just want a consitution of any sort? 

Create a European Political Identity, Public Space and Debate  

  1. Promote a better understanding of the process of European integration and European institutions. This would involve lending support and encouragement to the creation of pan-European media services, such as newspapers, TV-channels or websites.
  2. Introduce a true European citizenship that helps people to realize and to develop their European identity in conjunction with their national identities.
  3. Support a European constitution clearly outlining a common system of values, rights and duties based on a secular, democratic understanding of the role of public structures.
  4. Increase direct participation of European citizens through the party structures.   

Establish a European Federation  

  1. Consisting of an effective, democratic umbrella framework above sovereign nation states to decide on key issues instead of a centralized European bureaucracy.
  2. Creating a Federation based on the principles of subsidiarity and cultural diversity.
  3. Strengthening the regions in the European Union and allowing them to interact autonomously with the European Union institutions and with each other.

Policy Areas on the Federal Level  

  1. European Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
  2. tbd