Our mission is to build a pan-European community who can inject fresh ideas into our stale politics, mobilise people from across Europe, and campaign for a more dynamic, decent and democratic Europe. We are a non-partisan movement that is open to anyone who shares our aims. European Spring was founded by Philippe Legrain, an independent writer and political entrepreneur. His book, European Spring:
Why Our Economies and Politics are in a Mess – and How to Put Them Right, sets out how to solve the current crisis decisively and fairly, suggests ways to create lasting shared prosperity by making our economies more adaptable, dynamic and decent, and sketches how to make both national and EU politics more open and democratic. You don’t have to read the book, still less agree with everything in it, to join the movement for a European Spring. What we believe
Our movement is for people who believe in individual freedom as well as social and technological progress. It is for people who want to advance the common good by standing up to powerful vested interests, rather than scapegoating the weak, the poor and immigrants. We have no time for xenophobia, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. Our movement is for people who want a Europe where we work together more while remaining open to the rest of the world: we want to change the European Union, not break it up or leave. It is for people who want a bigger say in shaping a better future. How we operate
We aim to organise locally and nationally, and collaborate across Europe. We are happy to work with politicians and members of any political party who share our values and want to make common cause with us. We don’t accept money from governments, EU institutions or lobby groups. We publish details of all donations of more than £40/€50 as well as online accounts of how all money is spent. European Spring is registered as a company limited by guarantee (ie, non-profit) in England as European Spring Limited, company number 09199580. What we campaign on
In our initial time-frame, the next five years until the European Parliament elections in 2019, we will have three main areas of work. Dynamism
We need a more vibrant, enterprising Europe with rising wages and lower unemployment. Specific demands could include:
A smaller, simpler and safer financial system that serves the needs of the real economy and isn’t subsidised by taxpayers
Eliminating the tax subsidies for debt and property speculation
Reforming EU fiscal rules that impose never-ending austerity
A pan-EU investment programme in the infrastructure of the future
Opening up the labour market to young people and other outsiders
Welcoming migrants who want to contribute to our societies and can help pay for our pensions
Breaking the stranglehold that some companies, big and small, have over cartelised markets
Making it easier to start a business
Creating a digital single market and a pan-European energy market
Decency
We need a fairer Europe that promotes equality of opportunity and a greater correspondence between rewards and merits. Specific demands could include:
Lightening unbearable debt burdens by making it easier for households and companies to work out their debts
Writing down Greece’s public debt and the bank debt unfairly imposed on taxpayers, notably in Ireland
Shifting taxes off hard work and enterprise and on to carbon emissions and unearned wealth from land ownership and inheritance
Providing decent, efficient public services that serve their users’ needs
Opening up opportunities for everyone to get ahead
Providing every young person with a capital lump-sum and thus some financial security and the potential to build their own business or invest in their future. Democracy
We need a much more open politics fit for the internet age at both EU and national level. Specific demands could include:
More use of citizens’ initiatives (official petitions) to address issues MPs neglect
Greater transparency about the funding of political parties and lobbying
Experimenting with new forms of deliberative democracy that engage citizens in informed decision-making, for example, citizens’ assemblies and online consultations
Holding ministers accountable for decisions taken in Brussels by publishing minutes of Council meetings and voting records
An open contest for power to select the new European Commission president with primaries across Europe
Proper accountability for unelected EU officials
Open party lists for European Parliament elections
Encouraging a wider range of people to go into politics
