PARIS, SEPT 27 (DNA) – Faced with the great challenges of our times, such as defence and security, great migrations, development, climate change, the digital revolution and regulation of a globalized economy, have European countries found means to defend their interests and values, and to guarantee and adapt their democratic and social model that is unique worldwide? Can they address each of these challenges alone?

We cannot afford to keep the same policies, the same habits, the same procedures and the same budget. No more can we choose to turn inwards within national borders. The only way to ensure our future, is the rebuilding of a sovereign, united and democratic Europe. A sovereign Europe

The six keys to European sovereignty

1. A Europe that guarantees every aspect of security- In defence, Europe needs to establish a common intervention force, a common defence, budget and a common doctrine for action. We need to encourage the implementation of the European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation as quickly as possible, ant to supplement them with a European intervention initiative enabling us to better integrate our armed forces at every stage.

In the fight against terrorism, Europe needs to ensure closer ties between our intelligence services by creating a European Intelligence Academy.

Every aspect of security needs to be ensured, collectively: Europe needs a common civil protection force. A Europe that addresses the migration challenge We need to create a common area for border management, asylum and migration, in order to effectively control our borders and receive refugees in decent conditions, genuinely integrating them and returning those who are not eligible for asylum.

We need to create a European Asylum Office that will speed up and harmonize our procedures; establish interconnected databases and secure biometric identification documents; gradually establish a European border police force that ensures rigorous management of borders and the return of those who cannot stay; and finance a large-scale European programme to train and integrate refugees.

A Europe looking to Africa and the Mediterranean Europe needs an external policy focused on a few priorities: firstly, the Mediterranean and Africa.It needs to develop a new partnership with Africa, based on education, health and the energy transition.

A Europe exemplary in sustainable development Europe needs to be the spearhead of an efficient and equitable ecological transition.

It needs to foster investment in this transition (transport, housing, industry, agriculture, etc.) by fixing a fair price for carbon: through a significant minimum price within its borders; and through a European carbon tax at its borders to ensure a level playing field between its producers and their competitors. Europe needs to establish an industrial programme to support clean vehicles and the required infrastructure (charging stations, etc.).

It needs to ensure its food sovereignty, by reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and establishing a common inspection force to guarantee food safety for Europeans. A Europe of innovation and regulation adapted to the digital world Europe needs to lead and not undergo this transformation, by promoting its own model in globalization, combining innovation and regulation.

It needs to establish an Agency for breakthrough innovation, jointly funding new fields of research, such as artificial intelligence, or those that have yet to be explored. It needs to ensure equity and confidence in the digital transformation, by rethinking its tax systems (taxation of digital companies) and regulating the major platforms.

 A Europe standing as an economic and monetary power We need to make the eurozone the heart of Europe’s global economic power.

– In addition to national reforms, Europe needs the instruments to make it an area of growth and stability, including a budget allowing it to fund common investments and ensure stabilization in the event of economic shocks.

A united Europe

1. Concrete solidarity through social and tax convergence We need to encourage convergence across the whole EU, setting criteria that gradually bring our social and tax models closer together. Respect for these criteria needs to be a precondition for access to European solidarity funds.

Where tax is concerned, we need to define a “corridor” for corporation tax rates; in social affairs, we need to guarantee a minimum wage for all, adapted to the economic realities of each country, and regulate social contribution competition.=DNA

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