Paper 6

The urgent need for a renaissance of Europe

More than 350 million European citizens, including many new young voters, will have the opportunity in May 2019 to vote for a new European Parliament, which will be followed by the formation of a new European Executive.

The aim of this new Spring paper is to encourage people to go and vote.

“The urgent need for a renaissance of Europe”!

Six priorities

1. A single, high-quality, democratically elected EU President, with a simplified executive, a 3-year action plan with an autonomous budget, and annual KPIs (key performance indicators).

2. A change in governance based on a unifying project, introducing the citizens' initiative referendum to involve citizens more closely.

3. A strong and integrated Europe can only be built by adopting qualified majority voting in place of unanimity. The areas of common interest, where European law takes precedence, must also be clearly defined. Common interest includes foreign policy, immigration and defence, but not only these.

4. This unifying project must also reposition European leadership in technological innovation, R&D and European defence, on the basis of strong partnerships with the USA, China, Russia and emerging countries.

5. Our Europe is a positive force that must communicate its successes better, especially to young people, to encourage them to vote in the European elections. The future of the planet is a key priority for young people, and it can only be won if it is pursued at European level.

6. Europe must involve young people more in its decision-making processes and also strongly promote job creation by facilitating the mergers and partnerships that should give rise to world-class European companies.

Spring, launched in 2013, is a private think tank of about a dozen curious and unresigned members and some forty supporters who share the same concerns about Europe.

Spring wants to give citizens back the momentum needed to pursue more ambitious European ideals.

April 2019