Draft resolution
1In 2011, democracy was at the centre of the European
public debate and the object of very controversial perceptions.
For those who were especially encouraged by the strong peoples’
movements of the Arab Spring, 2011 even became “the year of democracy”.
2However, for many other Europeans, democracy is one of the
main victims of the financial crisis which started in 2008. This
confirms the conclusions of the 2008 and 2010 Assembly debates on
the State of democracy in Europe, according to which European democracies
are in a downturn and are experiencing a crisis which undermines
the trust of many citizens in their political institutions.
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 2, add the following sentence:
"In 2012, some Assembly debates are on current "threats to democracy" posed by Europe-wide austerity programmes and their impact upon social and democratic rights, upon local and regional authorities, and in particular upon young people who stand to suffer most from the economic and financial crisis."
3The crisis has, in particular, revealed the limits of the
power of democracy and has aggravated public distrust in democracy.
In a broad sense, it has been the consequence of some serious shortcomings
in the functioning of democratic institutions, which were not able
to anticipate, prevent, and quickly and adequately react to it without
causing hardship to the people whom they are meant to serve and
protect.
4There is growing concern among Europeans who are witnessing
the decline of their democratic capacity to cope with the consequences
of the international financial crisis.
5For these Europeans, it became evident that their national
democracies were unable to protect them from the negative consequences
of a financial crisis. As they do not want to forego the benefits
of democracy, some demand instead that democracy is developed at
the transnational level in order to provide European institutions
with the legitimacy to intervene and limit the market and economic
forces in the interest of the basic needs of the people and nature.
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 5, replace the words "in the interest of the basic needs of the people and nature" by the following words:
"in the public interest and wherever such forces have a negative impact upon social and democratic rights or upon the environment".
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, after paragraph 5, insert the following paragraph:
"In order to win back the confidence of their citizens, states must meet challenges now confronting them. Such include diminished trust in representative democratic bodies and political parties, the movement of millions of people within the continent, or from outside it into Europe, the inability of the nation state to deal with certain problems beyond its control, as well as increased extremism across Europe, an issue already examined by the Parliamentary Assembly in its Resolution 1754 (2010) on the "Fight against extremism: achievements, deficiencies and failures."
Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
In Amendment 7, at the end of the first sentence, add the following words:
“, which include the need to fully debate the construct, implementation and evolution of the Euro.”
Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
In Amendment 7, second sentence, after the words “as well as increased extremism” insert the following words:
“and nationalism”.
6The global crisis is a consequence of many complex economic
factors and regulation deficiencies, some of which result from previous
policy mistakes.
7In a number of European countries, political processes have
thus recently come under extreme pressure from, on the one hand,
markets and international financial institutions and, on the other,
citizens.
8Faced with the collapse of their economies and, in some cases,
the risk of sovereign default, governments implemented harsh austerity
policies, including lowering of wages and social benefits and increasing
taxes. Confronted with a sharp fall in living standards, which put
large clusters of population near or below the poverty threshold,
people in many European countries took to the streets protesting,
at times violently, against government policies perceived as the
diktat of markets, and against being asked to pay the cost of the
crisis.
9The present problems facing democracy are the accumulated
result of many years of bad governance, political short-sightedness,
and unwillingness of governments and citizens to face reality.
10In an increasingly globalised economy focused on the financial
market, there is a dissonance between the impact financial agents
may have on a sovereign State's economy and the fact that their
interests may not coincide. Furthermore, the concentration of power
in the hands of globally integrated financial networks carries even
more risks for the stability of nation States and governments.
11A sound State is not usually possible without a lively and
strong democracy. But a strong democracy also needs a sound State
in order to be able to fulfil its potential and to meet the expectations
of the citizens, especially by providing social justice. To this
end, all means of making a State more accountable should be considered,
including the development of close links with representative civil
society organisations, the encouragement of a fearless press diverse
in its ownership and the promotion of an educated citizenry.
12After the outbreak of the crisis, States turned out to be
the last resort for saving the market economy: the complete disintegration
of the financial markets and private banks has only been prevented
as a result of State intervention by national governments, which
sharply increased sovereign debts.
13Refinancing private companies from public budgets resulted
in an additional tax burden on citizens, and further eroded their
trust in the fairness and efficiency of the State.
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, paragraph 13, after the words "Refinancing private companies from public budgets", insert the following words:
"and in an untransparent manner".
14In order to solve the current crisis and devise long-term
stabilisation strategies, States should regain or develop capacities
to regulate international financial markets. This should also include
the ability and political option to tax financial transactions if
there is international agreement to this end.
15Sound States should develop strategies to reduce sovereign
debts which, at the same time, preserve economic growth and social
integration. This goal includes a State’s capacity to collect taxes
and adapt taxation levels to the current and long-term needs of
society. This also requires acceptability of tax levels by the majority
of citizens for a fair sharing of tax burdens.
16Sound States should also be capable of developing strategies
for growth and the modernisation of society, particularly through
investments in infrastructure as well as in sustainable development
projects, notably for energy saving and the use of renewable energy.
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, paragraph 16, replace the words "investments in infrastructure" by the following words:
"investments in new infrastructure (e.g. housing and sustainable urban development)".
Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
In Amendment 9, delete the words “(e.g. housing and sustainable urban development).”
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 16, add the following sentence:
"Wherever appropriate, planning "red tape" should be reduced or removed in order to facilitate and stimulate sustainable development."
Tabled by Lord John E. TOMLINSON, Mr Brian BINLEY, Lord Alexander DUNDEE, Mr Oliver HEALD, Ms Sandra OSBORNE
In Amendment 10, replace the words " 'red tape' should be reduced or removed in order to" with the following words:
"regulations should".
Tabled by Mr Jacques LEGENDRE, Mr Jean-Louis LORRAIN, Ms Daphné DUMERY, Mr Stefaan VERCAMER, Mr Erich Georg FRITZ, Ms Anette HÜBINGER
In amendment 10, delete the words "in order to facilitate and stimulate sustainable development".
17For the future, sound States will need increased capacities
for co-operation with other States since many policy areas are already
too large for most of the nation States to regulate.
(If adopted, amendment 11 falls)
Tabled by Mr Luc RECORDON, Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Mr Raphaël COMTE, Mr Andreas GROSS, Mr Dirk Van der MAELEN, Mr Roman JAKIČ
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 17, add the following sentence:
"Decision-making bodies should in particular be based on more democratic legitimacy at the European level, where the development of a true economic government could be the next step in the political integration process."
(Falls if amendment 1 is adopted)
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 17, add the following sentence:
"Decision-making bodies, in particular those at a European level, should be more democratic."
18Sound States are based on strong democracies. To become strong,
democracies need to make the existing representative democratic
structures more representative. This is possible with the inclusion
of direct democratic elements which have to be carefully designed
in order to increase citizens’ participation, as well as their social
learning and their experiences, to be able to determine – together
with other fellow citizens – their life. This would contribute effectively
to the aim that all tiers of power should be guided by the common
interest rather than by particular interests. Failing to do so only
strengthens citizens’ aversion to public politics and disadvantages
also those who act in good faith.
(If adopted, amendments 12, 13, 14 falls)
Tabled by Mr Luc RECORDON, Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Mr Raphaël COMTE, Mr Andreas GROSS, Mr Dirk Van der MAELEN, Mr Roman JAKIČ
In the draft resolution, replace paragraph 18 with the following paragraph:
"Sound States are based on strong democracies. To become strong, democracies need to make the existing democratic structures more representative. This is possible with the inclusion of direct democratic elements which have to be carefully designed in order to increase citizens' participation, as well as with the promotion of active citizenship as suggested by the Parliamentary Assembly in its Resolution 1874 (2012) on "The promotion of active citizenship in Europe."
(Falls if amendment 2 is adopted)
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, paragraph 18, second sentence, after the word "existing", delete the word "representative".
(Falls if amendment 2 is adopted)
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, paragraph 18, replace the words "as well as their social learning and their experiences to be able to determine – together with other fellow citizens – their lives" with the following words:
"as well as with the promotion of active citizenship as suggested by the Parliamentary Assembly in its Resolution 1874 (2012) on "The promotion of active citizenship in Europe"."
(Falls if amendment 2 is adopted)
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, paragraph 18, delete the last two sentences.
(If adopted, amendments 3, 4 falls)
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, after paragraph 18, insert the following paragraphs:
"19. All tiers of government should serve the public rather than the interest of particular parties. States discharging their functions properly and thus worthy of respect should resist the abuse of political, administrative or judicial power, unethical behaviour such as corruption, favouritism as well as undue influence exerted by the media or by political lobbyists. At the same time states should encourage economic growth and promote social cohesion. However, unless such balanced political directions are pursued in this way, then the disillusion of citizens with their decision-makers will become further exacerbated.
20. The "Twelve Principles of Good Governance at Local Level" provide useful guidance. They were adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in March 2008 in the framework of its "Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level”, the latter applying to all tiers of government, and to their current forms in Europe."
(Falls if amendment 15 is adopted)
Tabled by Mr Luc RECORDON, Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Mr Raphaël COMTE, Mr Andreas GROSS, Mr Dirk Van der MAELEN, Mr Roman JAKIČ
In the draft resolution, after paragraph 18, insert the following paragraph:
"All levels of government should be guided by the public interest rather than the interests of particular stakeholders. Sound States, capable of performing their main functions and maintaining a high level of trust amonst their citizens, need to be made strong against the abuse of political, administrative or judicial power, unethical behaviour such as corruption, favouritism for private stakeholders as well as undue influence by the media or interest groups, whilst being enabled to develop strong policies in favour of growth and social cohesion. Without permanent efforts to make States strong against such phenomena, citizens' confidence in decision-makers will further decrease."
(Falls if amendment 15 is adopted)
Tabled by Mr Luc RECORDON, Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Mr Raphaël COMTE, Mr Andreas GROSS, Mr Dirk Van der MAELEN, Mr Roman JAKIČ
In the draft resolution, after paragraph 18, insert the following paragraph:
"An important reference for political decision-makers are the "Twelve Principles of Good Governance at Local Level", adopted by the Committee of Ministers in March 2008 in the framework of its "Strategy for Innovation and Good Governance at Local Level", which represent a modern instument and an interesting reference for all levels of government."
19In order to be able to defend the sustainability of the European
economic and social model and the freedom of citizens to implement
European political values, there is a need to Europeanise democracy
as well as to democratise Europe.
20Against this background, the Assembly invites the member States
of the Council of Europe to:
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, after paragraph 20, insert the following paragraph:
"In particular the Assembly calls upon national parliaments to fulfill their key function to uphold representative democracy in Europe, to reflect and counsel on the best ways in which modern democracy might adapt, and in its own work and debates would also seek to facilitate that purpose within the 47 member states of the Council of Europe.".
20.1consider,
for instance in the framework of the World Forum on Democracy to
be held in Strasbourg in October 2012, the ways in which democracy
can be strengthened by deepening it at all levels of the nation
State and also by constituting it at the transnational level;
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 20.1, replace the words "by constituting it at the transnational level" with the following words:
"by reinforcing it at the transnational level".
20.2engage in a dialogue with it on the state of democracy
in Europe, with a view to devising a concerted action plan;
Tabled by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph paragraph 20.2, replace the words "with a view to devising a concerted action plan" with the following words:
"so as to consolidate the Council of Europe’s role as the "guardian" of democracy within the wider Europe, in particular combating extremist movements themselves partially arising from current European policies".
Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
In Amendment 17, delete the words “, in particular combating extremist movements themselves partially arising from current European policies".
20.3consider the ways in which this debate can be organised
in member States in order to raise awareness and to explore ways
to strengthen democracy, build sound States and democratise Europe in
order to prevent it from further losing legitimacy.
