There are Alternatives

There is widespread disappointment and frustration about the EU: people are increasingly turning their back on European politics. However there are also many Europeans struggling for their jobs and social security, for public services and the right to participate in the political decision making process. People are willing to defend their political, social and individual rights. Europeans strive for gender equality, democracy, justice, for lives with dignity and in solidarity.

The EU is at a crossroads. Either it continues its current capitalist policy, which is deepening the financial, security, food and energy crisis. Or the EU attempts to become an area of sustainable development and social justice, of peace and mutual cooperation, of equality between woman and men, of democratic participation and solidarity: a Europe where antifascism, antiracism, civil liberties and human rights are common policies.

Alternatives to failure exist and the choice is in the hands of people. Policies at the European and national levels can and must be changed towards:

This change requires a synergy between society and politics as well as hard work of political actors and democratic forces. The alternatives are possible through a dual strategy of struggle: in the streets and also in institutions.

Following this view, the EL is committed and joins the struggle of the peace movements, movements against globalization, against precariousness, and all resistance of workers, women and youth against the status quo.

At the EU’s institutional level, the EL joins other socialist, communist and the Nordic Green Left parties in cooperation within GUE-NGL*. The pluralistic character of this group has enriched the creative power of the left opposition in the European Parliament. We want to further develop this experience in the newly elected European Parliament.

The neoliberal policies were possible, among other reasons, because of the great coalition between the conservative parties and the European Socialists. But this is also creating contradictions inside the social-democratic parties.

The EL competes at national and European levels against those perspectives and judgments about the current European policies.

In the light o the current crisis, the Left is more than ever called to play an effective role in bringing about political action for a consequent alternative against the right wing political and cultural hegemony. We must regain political space and launch consistently our proposals, since the political struggle must also be able to prevent the populist and extreme right parties from filling the political void left behind by the governing parties, widespread discontentment and social frustration.

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