European Peace Project
1. A democratic path to democracy!
The scenario EU* can be implemented as the European peace project by the citizens, with and for the citizens. They can initiate it on "Our New Europe" and then implement it in a Europe-wide referenda.
The citizens will have the last word on all important European issues. The crises (Brexit, Euro, refugees, Ukraine) are used as opportunities. A new Constitution will be elaborated and implemented democratically.
2. Crises are Opportunities for our new Europe!
2.1 Brexit
The exit of other countries from the EU shall be avoided by open-minded Brexit negotiations, conducted in a constructive spirit.
The Brexit shall contribute to a prosperous, democratic and diverse new Europe, where all countries, including the United Kingdom, can occupy the place determined by its citizens, e.g. also in the Common Market or the European Free Trade Zone.
2.2 Refugees
A European Refugee Union consisting of the like-minded European countries shall be reinforced by voluntary agreements with other European countries and with countries of origin and of transit.
The Union will be the basis for an effective, democratic common European refugee policy, which respects the needs and the potentials both of all European countries and of the refugees.
2.3 Euro
A close Economic, Fiscal and Monetary Union, led by an economic government - including transfer payments and revenue sharing as well as criteria for membership, accession and withdrawal – shall stabilize, legitimize and legally support the Euro.
Countries that do not want to join the Union, shall have the possibility to participate at the European Common Market or a European Free Trade Zone. Economic cooperation and free trade will bring prosperity, stability and sustainability to the continent.
2.4 Ukraine, Russia, Syria
A common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy at variable geometry shall allow Europe to play its necessary important role on a global level.
The conflict in the Ukraine shall be settled with the help of Russia and the US. The Ukrainian people shall be given the opportunity to vote on their country's future in a referendum, for instance for a neutral, federal (decentralized) bridge state between East and West, in a large European free trade zone from Reykjavik to Valdivostok.
3. Constitution for the Citizens' Europe!
A new, diverse, democratic Europe can only come into being democratically - with the citizens; and it has to be based on a new Constitution. This Constitution has to be deliberated and adopted by a Constitutional Council, elected by the citizens of all participating countries, who then shall ratify and put it into force in a referendum.
The Constitution is the basis for direct democracy and a flexible and subsidiary Community of European States (CES) with variable geometry, including a politically integrated Economic, Fiscal and Monetary Union, an effective, efficient and humanitarian European Refugee Union and a common European Foreign, Security and Defence Policy.
Preamble
“We the citizens adopt the following Constitution of a democratic and diverse, strong and peace-making, free, fair and prosperous Community of European States (CES), open to all European countries:”
4. Democracy+Citizens: Learning Process by Referendum!
Indifferent, resigned, and frustrated citizens, feeling to be ignored by the European authorities, are the end of the common Europe and the European Peace Project!
A succesful, prospering common Europe - and thus the European Peace Project - crucially depends on millions of responsible, interested, dedicated and enthusiastic Europeans.
Where are they? Positive and negative experiences, e.g. in Switzerland or in the EU, respectively, show:
- Nothing can arouse the citizens’ interest for Europe better than a binding referendum in all European countries on the future of
Europe.
- Nothing can strengthen the sense of solidarity among all Europeans, as well as the citizens' sober-mindedness, far-sightednes and direc-democratic
competences more effectively than constitutionally defined referenda on all key European issues.
- Nothing can better promote the citizens’ enthusiasm and commitment for their Europe than regular, open, fair referendum campaigns on Europe!
- Nothing will strengthen the citizens' feeling to be taken seriously by Brussels as responsible Europeans more than the possibility to decide themselves on
all essential all-European issues.
zz - Nothing frustrates the European citizens more than politicians, who ignore, violate, rejecte or simply misuse referenda for their own purposes.
A diverse, democratic Europe of the citizens, with and for the citizens is the best guarantee for European countries, peoples and cultures to live and cooperate in peace, freedom and prosperity.
Such a Europe will also play its necessary important political, economic and peace-keeping role on a global level. The European peace project will become reality!