A Peaceful and Cooperative Europe

NO War, NO NATO. Europe in Peace

• Recent events like the Caucasus conflict, developments in Kosovo, and the USA strategy of bilateral treaties regarding the construction of American military bases in several European countries linked to the ongoing arms race (including the missile defense system), make it even more important that the EU respects international law and strive for conflict solution by political means.

• The militarization of EU foreign policy linked to NATO has been an accomplice and active agent of instability; therefore, it must be replaced by an alternative concept based on dialogue and international cooperation.
  The current approach doesn’t assure us in any way that Europe will never start a war from its soil again.

• The EL doesn’t consider that war and militarization are political instruments and consider that security for all is a viable objective by the use of alternative means.

• Disarmament and conversion of military industries are crucial. The EL favours a “disarmament agency” instead of the EU Defense Agency. Furthermore, militarization of oceans and outer space has to be prevented.
  Logically, we are against the provisions of rearmament in the Lisbon Treaty.

• Emerging conflicts in Europe, arising from the refusal of governments to rethink the cooperation on a just and equal basis since 1990, point out to the need of a new collective security system in the European continent.

• The regional crisis in Caucasus (August 2008) eventually became a war conflict involving the USA. Some highly positioned elements in the USA administration even said that if there was the need to bring war to Europe to “help their Georgian friends”, so they would do it (Sarah Palin*). The danger of spreading conflicts and instability is extremely relevant and requires the engagement of civil society to strive for a political solution.

• On the other hand, the situation in Afghanistan has demonstrated a growing contradiction between the European interests and the USA, since the majority of European countries have refused to increase their military participation there, which in turn brings into question the NATO's strategy of expansion.

• NATO is playing an ever growing political role in European politics and has become an even more functional tool of the US administration, being deeply present also inside the decision process of European institutions, endangering peace even more.

• The EL reaffirms its demand for the dissolution of NATO.
  We support instead conflict's solution by political means within the OSCE system, in the framework of international law and the principles of a democratized UN. Solutions must guarantee access to energy sources, environment protection and human rights.

• The withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan is necessary.
  We are against the Satellite Defense installations, and fully support the Czech, Polish, Bulgarian and Romanian citizens in their fight against those plans.
  We reject any military misuse of the hugely expensive European Galileo System (for which there are even plans to be shared with the USA*).

Millenium Development Goals

• The development and trade policies of the EU must fully meet the Millennium development goals in reality, and must realign to the principle of equality of all countries.

• The bilateral partnership agreements are not the correct route for cooperation.

• The fight against still growing poverty must be the priority, focusing on real development cooperation and avoiding the continuation of a kind of colonial relation (both by favouring only one side exports and as a means to maintain geopolitical domination).

• Conversion of food production into oil programs must end.

• Structural adjustment programs from the World Bank and IMF must be subject to substantial review.

Peace and Stability in the Mediterranean and the Middle East

• We support a further development of a Mediterranean cooperation, which is also key to achieve peace and security in the Middle East.

• We need to guarantee the active participation and awareness of all political forces and civil society.

• The process must be democratic and transparent, bridging the gap between the North and the South of Mediterranean. 

• The EL refuses the confrontations policies with Iran and demands strict political negotiations. 

• Western Sahara: the EL guarantees its commitment to the cause of the self determination of Sahrawi people on the basis of existing UN resolutions 1754 and 1783.

• Turkey must accept a legally binding agreement assuring human rights for all people and therefore carry on the necessary reforms, specially regarding the rights of the Kurdish community. This would be also another contribution to overcome the Middle East problem.

• Cyprus: official negotiations between the leaders of the two communities under the auspices of the UN should lead to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution. The recent election of Dimitries Christofias as the President of the Republic opens up hopeful prospects which the EL fully supports.

• Europe must assure the creation of political and economic conditions allowing for a peaceful coexistence between all European countries without exclusions. This must be achieved by a variety of agreements both bilateral and multilateral. Political and economic divisions must be overcome through truly active steps.

• Neighboring policy must be consistently implemented, especially in what regards to the Western Balkans and the CIS countries.

• The EL supports a further enlargement of the EU on the basis of conditions such as human rights guaranteed as daily practice, preservation of democratic governance and respect for minorities.

• Solving the Middle East conflict is an absolute precondition for stable peace also in the Mediterranean region.
  This depends on the recognition of Palestinians right to have an independent and viable state side by side with Israel. The EL will do its utmost to demand and push the EU to do its job on this matter, as well as seeking more support and active steps from the Arab countries.

• We are against the US Greater Middle East plan and the military occupations of Palestinian territories. The “Wall” must be removed and the strict implementation of UN resolutions is urgent.

*(comment added by the editor)