Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/302202
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 APRIL 2014 17 FINANCIAL SECTOR EPP says it will reform financial markets so that all banks in the EU follow the same rules, and, globally, will seek a better regulatory framework for financial markets. The Socialists say they will create a financial sector that serves everyone by capping bankers' bonuses, separating investment and commercial banking, implementing a robust banking union and an independent public European credit rating agency and introduce a Financial Transection Tax. The Greens want to reduce the tax burden on labour and move towards taxing pollution and waste. They also pledged to do their utmost to enact a financial transaction tax despite powerful lobbies opposed to this plan. Large corporations and wealthy individuals should contribute their fair share, and the Greens advocate a more common European approach to corporate and wealth taxation, including minimum rates. FOREIGN POLICY The EPP holds that the EU must maintain and develop a strong transatlantic partnership, combining a free and fair market built on common values and mutual trust. Together, the EU and the US can take the lead in developing strategies to address global threats and challenges. The EPP also stress that a longer-term approach must be developed for the relations with our eastern neighbours. The EU must remain committed to supporting fragile democracies in Eastern Europe. For the Southern Mediterranean countries, the EU should develop a vision and propose new strategies. Only the promise of shared prosperity can gain support of the wider public in the region. The Socialists want to see human rights come before business and profit, to make sure EU jobs are not undercut by unfair overseas competition and to create a safe world free from weapons of mass destruction. They support stronger EU-US trade and investment relations to provide much-needed economic growth and new jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. However, they also believe that a comprehensive transatlantic trade and investment partnership must include conditions and guarantees to ensure we make the most of our mutual interests without compromising European standards. The Socialists also support stronger ties with Russia, China, Iran, and emerging powers such as Brazil, India and South Africa. The Greens want the EU to establish a value-driven common foreign policy and to play an important international role, to address the structural causes of poverty, promoting global justice and solidarity, peace, and the defence of global common goods. In today's context of shifting global power, rising global inequalities and questioning of the universality of human rights, passivity is however not an option. The Greens insist on having a common voice on foreign and security policy. JOBS In order for Europe to remain a strong and competitive player globally, create jobs and ensure continued wealth, the EPP says a series of reforms are necessary, with sustainable and targeted investment being key. Creating the right conditions for new and sustainable growth and jobs is the party's primary political objective for the next five years. This can be achieved through structural reforms, which enables Europe to attract the private investment that creates growth and jobs. The Socialists want to create more and better jobs by introducing an ambitious European industrial policy, increasing funding for the Youth Guarantee plan and introducing decent minimum wages across Europe either by law or through collective bargaining. The Greens argue that the EU must put an end to social dumping, to zero-hours contracts, to low-pay jobs and to unfair internships. Greens advocate fair and gradually improving minimum social standards in Europe in accordance with national conditions and labour market models—particularly in terms of job quality and security, of wages, of public health, and of pensions. The Green New Deal will create many new quality jobs for high-skilled as well as low-skilled workers in a variety of industries, and it will enhance working conditions and workers health. MIGRATION EPP calls on EU Member States to cooperate closely on border management to ensure internal security is maintained and insist that FRONTEX must be reinforced. The EU must effectively cooperate with third countries' border security authorities to prevent crime from migrating too. At the same time, victims of political and religious persecution need genuine protection. Integration policies for migrants have to be developed and strengthened. Integration is a two-way street which involves both rights and responsibilities The Socialists want to achieve a common European asylum system to harmonise and improve the reception conditions, treatment of unaccompanied children, reasons for and conditions of detention, access to legal services, training of officials, time limits for processing arrivals and procedures for emergency situations. They also call for a positive approach to legal migration, constantly seeking to improve integration measures at EU and national level – especially to guarantee education and inclusion for the children of migrants. EU citizenship should be available to – but not imposed upon – second and third generation migrants, who were born and raised in the EU and form part of European society. The Greens believe that the EU has a duty to ensure that asylum seekers can find protection, however this cannot be achieved by FRONTEX and member states which violate human rights in their border policies. They call for greater efforts by the EU as well as by member states and more coordination for 'rescues at sea', and the establishment of legal and safe ways for entry, for example with humanitarian visas. The Greens also want to get rid of the current rules set by the 'Dublin Regulation' that force refugees to apply for asylum only in the country where they first entered the EU. ENLARGEMENT Judicious enlargement, while retaining EU's identity and capacity to integrate others. In order to become EU member not only fulfillment of political and economic criteria must be safeguarded but EU's capacity to act must remain intact. Despite the financial crisis and negative populist campaigns, the S&Ds remain strongly in favour of the EU's enlargement to include the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland. Greens stick to the policy of EU enlargement and agree that the EU should be open to new members, provided they fulfil the membership criteria. They support an EU Accession perspective for all the countries of the Western Balkans and want to speed up fair and credible negotiations with Turkey. The Greens also want to strengthen the Eastern Partnership and specifically the EUs engagement with countries like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. They also propose that the EU should work with civil society, granting asylum and support to defenders of freedom and democracy and granting scholarships to the youth of neighbouring countries. Moreover, the EU should strengthen its partnerships with other existing regional organisations from Africa, Asia and Latin America Europe 2014