AD manifesto calls for sustainable, democratic, equal Europe

Alternattiva Demokratika has launched its manifesto for the European elections, saying the Greens will campaign for transparency and accountability in politics and give citizens “a reasonable voice”.

The Greens said their manifesto – ‘We are Europe!’ – reflected a call for a sustainable, democratic and equal European society.

“Think of it: taming the forces of financial markets and of global corporations, effectively fighting tax fraud and evasion, transforming Europe’s energy supply to combat runaway climate change. These are all examples of urgent actions that are beyond the capabilities of even the largest of our member states. We need collective cooperation within the EU to deal effectively with these issues,” AD said.

“By electing Arnold Cassola or Carmel Cacopardo as an MEP, we Maltese will be achieving three objectives:  we will be breaking once and for all the dualistic tribal mentality that has suffocated Maltese politics for the past 50 years; we will have more influence in Europe since the Maltese people will be  represented for the first time in a third group – the Green Group – in the EP; we will have a proven guarantee of transparency, accountability and a reasonable voice for citizens and communities,” AD said.

Amongst the several issues raised in their manifesto, AD said it wants the EP to overhaul the EU’s migration policy, by allowing asylum seekers to seek protection legally using humanitarian visas, work towards better coordination of rescue missions at sea, and also abolish the Dublin II rules.

“These rules force refugees to stay in the EU country where they first applied for asylum, thus creating a disproportionate burden on countries like Malta. An AD ,ember of the European Parliament will keep working to convince the EPP and the S&D, who to date have only been sympathetic to Malta’s disproportionate challenges in this regard in principle, to accept the abolition of the Dublin II rules.”

AD also wants to see an equal representation of women in local and EU institutions through affirmative action, and remove practices of discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and disability.

On the economy, AD said it wants to “tame the local building frenzy” and place sustainability at the heart of every major economic decision both locally and in the EU.

The European Greens want to propose the creation of a World Environment Organisation by combining and expanding the role of the different disjointed agencies that already exist within the United Nations.

“We cannot measure the quality of life only in coarse, monetary terms: we need new indicators to complement and extend the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of sustainable prosperity and well-being,” AD said.

“AD in the European Parliament will make sure that management of Malta’s limited resources is given the priority it deserves especially in waste management, water use and land use and that directives in this regard are adequately transposed.”

It also reiterated its commitment to keep insisting on the respect for the spirit of the Birds Directive through the abolition of hunting in spring, and to halt the illegal occupation of the coast and countryside, citing Armier and other illegal developments.

AD said it wanted the creation of a Commissioner for Small Countries so that their peculiar situations have a critical voice in EU institutions and decisions.

It is also proposing a ‘Green New Deal’ as a new strategy in job creation: transforming economies with innovation, community action and eco-efficient solutions; regulating once again the financial industry; and resurrect the Eco-Għawdex initiative to increase competitiveness and job creation in Gozo.