: The backside of the garden gnome of the feel@home performance with the European Central Bank in the background.

Europe of people, not for the banks

We are living a growing crisis of the whole system, which amplifies the problems of the world communities: food, energy, ecological issues, gender gap, etc... In fact, the crisis affects the lives of all people across the world.
In Europe, the shock has also been tremendous.

This crisis is caused by neoliberal capitalism, which is mainly pushed ahead by irresponsible elites in charge of economics and politics. Even though, the bill for this mess is now being presented to the working people.

The world has been plunged in this hole particularly due to the hegemonic role of the USA and mainly so by the Bush administration.

The actions of the hegemonic power and the elites endanger peace, international security and coexistence.

The crisis demonstrates once more the failure of neo-liberal globalization.
The profits have been maximized in the financial markets by the main players, without any state control or intervention, generating a lack of democracy, the end of welfare state and an ever growing precariousness and low wages policy.
The deflationary measures adopted by governments have also put the financial and credit system at risk.

Governments and economic bodies such as the IMF, World Bank and WTO have imposed privatization and deregulation. As a result, the neoliberal foundations of the EU treaties are called into question: “open market economy with free competition”, the unchecked free circulation of capital, the liberalization and privatization of public services, and the status and mission of the European Central Bank.

This historic crisis strikes the heart of capitalism. As a consequence, it challenges us to contribute to the people’s resistance, and open a perspective of change to Europe.

The European Left Party believes that the only way out of the crisis is to fight for a democratic and social Europe: a Europe of people and not a Europe for the banks.

This is also a political crisis. The “No” to the Constitutional/Lisbon Treaty in France, the Netherlands and Ireland has shown an increasing people’s disagreement with the policies of the EU, and a perception that the European Union is a far off and incomprehensible construction that doesn’t concern them.

We reaffirm our NO to the Lisbon Treaty. A new democratic process that reflects the people’s will must be open. European and national parliament’s roles should be reinforced. Co-decision process must be enlarged. Popular petitions and other participatory methods should be implemented. European citizens must be able to discuss and decide on an alternative to the Lisbon Treaty.

The EU interferes with the daily lives of the peoples of Europe. Fifteen years after the Maastricht Treaty, neo-liberal orientations prevail. The living and working conditions of the majority of Europe’s people have rapidly deteriorated: longer working hours, longer working lives, insufficient wages, growing long term and youth unemployment, mini jobs, temporary employment and unpaid internships. On the other hand, public services are solely used for profits.

Accompanying these problems, there are also psychological and physical pressures, diseases, fear, loss of solidarity, and violence against the weaker.

The EU and its member countries policies towards the migrants dramatically reflect the social deterioration. But profits have increased steadily and tremendously. Managers receive astronomic salaries, even when their actions have negative consequences. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

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