As you know, Belgium will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council from 1 January to 30 June 2024. The Spain-Belgium-Hungary "trio" has drawn up the "Eighteen-month programme" (1^er July 2023 - 31 December 2024)" with reference to [1].

As part of this process, our Board of Directors studied, adjusted and validated a proposal developed under the leadership of Frank Geudens and Hugo Jacobs, who have worked tirelessly with our Samen Europa Regional Section over the last two months to produce it.

We have therefore written to the Belgian Prime Minister and his government to express our support and our priorities within the 18-month programme of the "trio", as we see them.

This is the first time that our association has addressed the Council of the EU, thereby extending our sphere of influence, which until now has covered two of the EU's three main institutions: the Commission and the Parliament.

[1] Council of the European Union, POLGEN 62, 10597/23, 20 June 2023.

Here is the text.

We want more Europe and a better Europe

Developing a Social Pactthe european model for the future¹

Social. We believe that it is vital for Europe to become more social, with increasingly equitable access to healthcare, with social rights and true European solidarity. In our view, the economy must be subordinate to social justice. In other words, Europe should enter into a " Social Pact".

Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be drastically framed so that it can be judiciously exploited without going astray. It will be the subject of a great deal of attention in terms of repercussions, and will be used for the benefit of our prosperity and well-being.

L'education must be more based on critical thinking, free examination and pluralist, neutral and non-dogmatic humanism. It will aim for the maximum development of all citizens. Across Europe, young people from disadvantaged families should be given more support and their individual talents should be further nurtured. While respecting each person's origins and roots, we aspire to a European identity, a European culture, and a culture of peace and equality. The development of multilingualismwill receive even more attention. Exchange programmes should become accessible to all sections of the population.

Protecting citizens and freedoms¹

Any breach of the rule of law in the EU should lead to progressive sanctions, up to the most severe if necessary, such as the suspension of certain rights deriving from the Treaties and the deprivation of voting rights within the EU for the country concerned.

The gender neutrality in European regulations. In our view, gender is irrelevant. Equality intergenerational and mutual respect should be much higher on the European agenda.

Building a climate-neutral, ecological, fair and social Europe¹

The ecosystem and the climate should be given priority in the European Convention on Human Rights, with a multiplication of financial efforts. To achieve this, we need to finalise the EU's accession to this "European Convention on Human Rights". And we believe it is important to really achieve the objectives of the "Green Deal" in all its facets. Europe must take greater responsibility for the future of our planet.

Promoting Europe's interests and values in the world¹

The human rights and the fundamental conditions of the EU should require a prior opinion of the European Court of Justice, even subject to the possible annulment of a national law. The freedom of the press and the freedom of research and development of every citizen will be respected. The neutrality of the government must be fully guaranteed.

Governance. Humanist values should permeate the European institutions and their procedures to a greater extent. The election of the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission will be direct. The common foreign policy, the adoption of basic legislation by the European Parliament and the abolition of the unanimity rule will be adopted. Our defensive security must be more collectively European. Negotiations for the integration of candidate third countries must be resolutely pursued.

The founding principles of Europe are the levers of a better society based on equality. Equal democratic rights, self-determination in one's own life choices, must be free from religious or dogmatic constraints. We believe that freedom of thought based on mutual respect should be enshrined in a "European Constitution".

Appendices

Developing a Social Pact: the European model for the future

Europe will either be social or it will not. European society must be at the service of its citizens. Making Europe more social. Economic organisation will be subordinate to social justice. As soon as the economic comes into conflict with the social, social values will prevail. We want Europe to conclude the "Social Pact".

The principles of the Enlightenment have been broadened and deepened with universal social rights since 1944. These were proclaimed at the launch of the renewed operation of the International Labour Organisation in Philadelphia under the motto: Peace is only possible through social justice.

Growing inequality within and between societies is the cause of countless ills. Unfair societies are also unstable societies. Internal divisions emerge, and sooner or later internal conflicts. The result is generally undemocratic.

Remember Paul De Grauwe's quote: "Anyone who has a few billion in his savings account is a danger to democracy".

The European social model has been, and still is, at the forefront of social progress since the Second World War. What unites Europeans is our penchant for social justice and strong protection. In this sense, the European Union is a model for the rest of the world.

Europe must be the driving force behind a new project for society, where economic development and social progress go hand in hand. Our economy must serve people. Let us be at the forefront of the world by concluding a Social Pact.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can help Europe to continue its development. Greater efforts in the technological field are needed to guarantee and even strengthen our position. The resulting social transition and the monitoring of ethical principles also require particular attention.

Education  

It takes a "village" to raise a child. Education is a social task. Education in Europe must therefore focus not only on the transfer of knowledge, but also on the full development of each individual. The foundations for this development will be laid from the earliest age: crèches, kindergartens, nursery schools and even day nurseries play a very important role in this respect. To achieve this, we need well-trained staff and decent facilities.

Migration flows are increasing diversity in Europe, posing many challenges for schools. While respecting the origins and origins of each individual, we must strive to create in our young people a European identity, European and global citizenship and a shared framework of humanist values. International cooperation between educational experts is necessary in this respect.

The principle of subsidiarity across Europe will be strengthened. Projects will be extended, with opportunities for every type of training. Cultural exchange is the basis of mutual understanding and respect, helping not only to discover but also to accept and cherish the complexity of the world. Democratic education from a multiple perspective is becoming a necessity. We are firmly committed to multilingualism. Increasing digitalisation can be a tool and a support in this respect.

In this complexity, Europe, the European project and values are essential, in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. It is therefore natural, not to say necessary, for the past and future image of Europe to be addressed in all courses. European competence must prepare our young people for a new supranational and post-national future.

Education in Europe will not be dogmatic: it will respect everyone's identity, whatever their world view. This implies de facto a neutral education provided by an institution that is not linked to religion, economics or philosophy. The school is not an island and must constantly remain in touch with society and the social context in which it finds itself.

Protecting citizens and freedoms

Gender neutrality and intergenerational equality

Gender should not be a determining factor (exceptions for police or medical reasons, for example). We need a neutral European identity card with basic data. Parents, regardless of their number and gender, have the same rights and duties, including maternity and paternity leave.

The world is changing faster and faster, so in the space of a generation, more and more things are changing. Greater attention needs to be paid to equality between the generations.

Building a climate-neutral, ecological, fair and social Europe

The fight against climate change must be included in the European Convention on Human Rights. Implement all aspects of the Green Deal. To make the fight against climate change more social (both globally and within rich countries), a fund must be set up.

 We enshrine this idea in the European Convention on Human Rights, we approve the European Commission's Green Deal and we want it to be implemented in all its aspects!

This requires a great deal of financial resources, which need to be pooled in a fund. It is from this fund that adaptations to combat climate change will be made, so that they can also be borne by poor countries! So Europe will be taking on an even greater responsibility for the future.

Promoting Europe's interests and values in the world

Violation of the foundations of the rule of law will result in the most severe sanctions, such as suspension of membership and loss of voting rights within the EU.

The rule of law is a very important pillar of democracy and aims to establish a balance between the powers of the State in order to respect fundamental rights and freedoms. The judiciary must operate in complete independence, without interference from other public authorities in appointments, promotions, discipline or the content of justice.

Violations of this independence must be punished by the most severe sanctions in the European arsenal, and not just by the suspension of grants. The rule of law will protect fundamental rights, which are certainly subject to change.

Some Member States have already been condemned by European courts in this respect. The European response must therefore send a very strong signal to those States that do not take the rule of law seriously or that threaten to do so. Freedom of action and freedom of expression for all citizens are very important.

Governance

We must advance European integration through a forward-looking, democratic and humanist approach. Europe must commit itself to preserving prosperity and well-being, improving defensive security, guaranteeing independence and ensuring peace and prosperity.

Defensive security, i.e. guaranteeing independence and maintaining peace, is decisive for our future.

An appropriate intergovernmental system is needed. A constitutional and federal Europe should be actively sought. Europe must be a social system with values and standards, with active and participatory citizenship.

Citizens will be involved, through various channels and at all levels, when new initiatives are launched. The EU must first strengthen the decision-making process and institutional balances before continuing its expansion.

Editorial Committee