Cohesion, agriculture, social justice, single market

What doesn’t work well?

In the field of agriculture, we find the same big differences between regions. This is not necessarily the result of different traditional ways of doing agriculture, but from differences in the endowment of small and medium farms in different regions, as well as from the knowledge and information to which farmers have access. One of the major problems is, in many European regions, especially in the west of the Union, that the soil is impoverished by intensive agriculture and increased use of chemicals.

The European Union is moving towards ecologically balanced agriculture to stimulate diversified crops and biodiversity, as well as organic farming, which uses modern, digital agricultural technologies that are as less polluting as possible. At the same time, European policies in this area also address issues related to sustainable rural development.

What solutions do we propose?

One of the main short-term measures in the field of agriculture will have to be the involvement of the European Union in disseminating information on the methods and benefits of sustainable agriculture that take into account the environment, which can contribute to reducing carbon dioxide release through traditional soil cultivation techniques.

In the medium term, it is important that agricultural funding programs focus on changing the way agriculture is done and, in particular, on financing projects that help create economically profitable farms so that those involved in agriculture enter at least in the middle class, without the need for subsistence and social assistance measures.

The farmer, regardless of the European state in which he works, must become an important link in a food chain in which incomes are shared fairly. Agriculture is a vital economic sector, and the status of the farmer must be an illustration of this.

This is where the major role of the European Union comes in, which, together with the Member States, must analyze the situation of agriculture and farmers in each Member State and intervene where national, regional and local strategies and policies do not deliver the expected results. As a consequence, we want greater involvement at the European level where needed.

In the long run, European agriculture will have to become sustainable, and to be based on mixed crops that ensure both a stable income for the farmer, no matter what calamities may occur, as well as a very fertile soil – which helps absorb and retain an extremely large amount of carbon dioxide, thus helping to prevent climate change effects.

What doesn’t work well?

Harmonious development of all types of settlements leads to an increase in the chances of European citizens to prepare for a decent life. At the moment, social justice is rather focused on short-term financial support and is insufficiently dedicated to issues of preparing people of all ages and social backgrounds to adapt to our ever changing society, be it in terms of social or professional life.

Although the European Union has very few responsibilities in this area, at present we consider it important to have a wider involvement in the social, educational and cultural field to ensure a proper preparation for all European citizens, which would enable them to access the single market, labour, the popularization of Europeanism and European culture.

What solutions do we propose?

The European Union currently has no responsibilities in the field of social justice, but given that there is a possibility at European level to analyze different social systems with varying degrees of efficiency, it would be important to have European involvement in those systems which need to be improved significantly.

Involvement can be achieved in two ways: once by supporting the development, evaluation and adaptation of reforms directed towards dysfunctional social systems. Secondly, it can be done by financing reforms in those social areas that have problems, mainly in education for up-skilling and adaptation to the job market, and in provision of health services in order to ensure a decent living for retirees.

In the long term, the European Union should become a supervisor of social justice and have the right to collaborate in changing strategies when needed.

What doesn’t work well?

The European single market currently provides a single labour market and a consumer market with around 450 million consumers. The major problems in this area come from the fact that we have a series of non-harmonized laws, as the specific legislation of each state imposes difficulties in trade and services provided at European level, which is a major barrier in the way of a real common market in all areas of activity.

One of the major challenges of the common market is the legislative adaptation to new technologies, in particular to services and the digital market, affecting both the common market and consumer protection. We are at a time when companies physically participating in this market are forced to comply with stricter legislation than in many other international economic environments, while third-country companies have access to the market without complying with consumer protection legislation.

What solutions do we propose? 

Improving the internal market requires legislative harmonization in several key areas: services, public procurement and supervisory authorities, including customs services.

The challenges of the digital market and related services entail the need for legislative harmonization at the European level in these two areas, which have proven to be extremely useful, but at the same time pose major dangers with negative effects on both European society and democracy, as well as on consumer protection.

The field of digital services presents the danger of spreading false news, being part of the algorithms that lead to the economic growth of large social platforms. The European Union must take a united approach to this issue, of economic growth based on the proliferation of false news, to increase the safety of online browsing at the European level, but also  within all Member States. Although the Digital Services Act, proposed by the European Commission and currently being debated by Parliament and the Council, will have short- and medium-term effects, it is important to ensure a permanent evaluation of the algorithms used by online platforms.

One of the short-term measures to ensure a functioning single market is to regulate the digital market by providing a system of fair competition between companies within the European Union, which must comply with numerous regulations on safety, environmental protection and social justice, and companies in third parties who have to comply with less drastic regulations. Also, the phenomenon of generating online clicks must be eliminated from the digital market, so it is based on fake news, on articles meant to shock and divide society, which most often are not based on real information.

By adapting to regional and local realities, strategies and funding from cohesion policies, improvements will be felt in local communities, whether we are talking about road infrastructure adapted to new environmental requirements with alternative mobility tracks and green curtains, or we are talking about supporting private investment in domains absolutely necessary for the respective area or improving hospital conditions.

Adapting to new European policies through well-used cohesion funds and creating a modern infrastructure, leads to a raise in quality of life by increasing economic opportunities and jobs, improving the breathing and automatic health of all inhabitants, or beautifying human settlements.

Measures to change the way agriculture is practiced and the fair and timely distribution of profits in a food chain will lead to a higher standard of living for European farmers, making this economic area profitable and attractive, and having an effect on rural development as a whole.

Mixed crops will have direct contributions to the economic security of the farmer, but also to reducing climate change by helping ease the intensity and frequency of natural disasters.

The implementation of measures adapted to the regional and local needs of basic vocational education will reduce the number of people in need of social assistance, will contribute to the integration into the labour market of a large number of inhabitants and will increase the chances of harmonious development of children in disadvantaged areas.

Tailor-made health strategies will ensure a medical system that can meet local challenges, whether we are talking about areas with many occupational diseases or areas heavily affected by pollution. A well-developed medical system to which all citizens have access increases the safety and desire of people to stay in their cities or villages.

A pension system that can ensure a decent living for those who have worked a lifetime is not only a necessity but also an obligation of the state. That is why the involvement of the European Union where it is needed, where there are major problems, through collaboration and the transmission of information on good practices, would bring with it major improvements that would be felt by all citizens, regardless of whether they are or will be beneficiaries of pensions, and will contribute to creating short, medium and long term security.

An internal market in which public services and public procurement practices are legally harmonized will allow all citizens to benefit from high-quality services from the best companies, regardless of where their headquarters are. Public procurement accessible to all those who can provide services or products throughout the European Union will have direct effects on the quality of services, infrastructure, and products that public administrations and other institutions must provide to the citizens. The competition given by a real market opening will lead to benefits for all citizens.

A way to ensure consumer protection by carrying out similar procedures throughout the European Union, including customs services, will make the European single market open to all products and services regardless of their origin, truly creating a market of around 450 million consumers. The protection of these consumers will be equally ensured, regardless of the Member State in which or from which they purchased their products, and will also have beneficial effects on European producers, limiting access to products and services that endanger consumer safety on the European market.