Defense and EU Reform! Renew Europe’s Plan for Europe

Defense and EU Reform! Renew Europe’s Plan for Europe

“Today we also need a real European power. And we must give ourselves all the necessary financial and military means to make it happen. Because Putin will not stop in Ukraine. Our values can’t be protected unless we are strong enough to overcome those who oppose them.” You just heard from Sandro Gozi, one of the lead candidates for Renew Europe, the liberal group in the European Parliament that promotes EU defence, Competitiveness, and pro-European reforms. Renew Europe comprises Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from across the entire continent. The way it works is that national parties from various corners of the EU join forces with other parties that share similar liberal ideologies. So, look for your country on the screen and you can see which of your national parties aligns to the Renew Europe Group. This means that if you cast a vote for: The party in the Netherlands The FDP in Germany Or the Renaissance in France you’re kinda voting for the Renew Europe’s master plan for Europe! And this is why this video is so important – as we will explain what they are all about. So, who are Renew Europe’s lead candidates, and do they have a manifesto? Well, it’s the EU, so it’s obviously complex. Renew Europe consists of two European Parties: ALDE and EDP. This means your local parties might align with either ALDE or EDP, which are both part of Renew Europe. Plus, there are national parties like France’s Renaissance, which isn’t affiliated with a European Party but still teams up with Renew Europe. Because of this structure, both ALDE and EDP have their own manifestos and lead candidates: Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmerman from Germany’s FDP and Sandro Gozi from Italy’s Democratic Party. And then there is Macron’s Renaissance party, who has its own national manifesto AND lead candidate: France’s Valerie Hayer. This arrangement results in three lead candidates for Renew Europe, which is quite unusual as typically there’s only one. But here’s the good news: despite these complexities, they’ve managed to align on European priorities, which we’ll dive into in today’s video. As with all of these videos, we are focusing on 6 areas, starting with DEFENCE. “It’s been 2 years since Russia’s illegal and brutal attack on Ukraine. An attack on Europe. On our values. It’s become clear that our security and safety isn’t just a concern, it’s the heart in our economy, our freedoms and our very way of life.” “Defence, defence, defence” – that’s Renew Europe’s rallying cry, positioned as their top priority. The liberals stand out with the most forceful language on defence among all European Political Groups. They advocate for a significant boost in EU and National Military Spending to boost defence capabilities. This includes the creation of an EU defence fund. They call for joint procurement of military assets and the establishment of a European Military Academy. They want to help Ukraine triumph over Russia at all cost and also want to deter threats from other authoritarian regimes. “So we cannot say we support Ukraine, but. There can be NO But. Because Putin only hears the but. Instead we must support Ukraine fullstop.” Renew Europe doesn’t mention an EU army, a topic previously promoted by member parties, including Macron’s. However, they aim to establish a European Defence Union by 2040, in partnership with European and NATO allies. This initiative seeks strategic autonomy, so that Europe can defend its own territory with more standardised armed forces. Next up is one of the hottest topics in Europe: MIGRATION. Liberals call for well-regulated and humane migration management. They suggest setting up EU-run facilities outside the EU to process asylum applications more efficiently. And advocate for a shared responsibility approach, which likely includes relocating approved migrants across Europe. They also aim to create agreements with third countries to prevent irregular migration. Regarding human rights, Liberals are committed to dismantling smuggling networks, enhancing reception standards, and making asylum processes more effective and humane. They aim to launch a European Action Plan for search and rescue in the Mediterranean and reform Frontex to secure EU borders while upholding human rights. The liberals call for economic legal migration pathways so that European economies can have the necessary workforce for their growth, as labour shortages are a reality. Also, good news for Romania and Bulgaria, as Renew Europe supports full Schengen accession for those that meet the criteria. And then there’s Climate Change. And to be honest, it’s not heavily detailed on the Renew Europe campaign page. While they do mention that it’s time to implement the Green Deal, specifics are completely missing. But there IS a dedicated section on farming where the liberals recognize farmer frustrations. Their lead candidate, Valerie Hayer, who comes from a farming family, likely influenced Renew Europe’s comprehensive action plan for farmers. This plan aims to significantly reduce bureaucracy, simplify regulations, enforce standards on non-EU imports, and increase financial support. As for energy, Renew Europe strongly supports strategic energy autonomy, with investments into renewable, carbon-neutral, low-carbon, waste-based, and nuclear energy. Next is the Economy, which ranks as the second highest priority for the liberals. Renew Europe recognizes that Europe is losing ground to China and the US, so they’ve made a 10-point plan to boost competitiveness. Check the description for a link to the full document. “Second priority: Competitiveness. We want a good business environment in Europe. Lets cut red tape. Let’s make trade fairer, better. Lets mobilise private investment. Not for the corporations, but for the people, for the workers. For those who want to innovate. Any hard work deserves fair reward but we can pay fairly only if we generate growth and opportunity” Renew Europe wants to empower small and medium enterprises by making it easier for them to access incentives, loans, and equity. They want to complete the Capital Markets Union, which will help SMEs obtain funding and hopefully encourage them to stay within the EU. There’s also a commitment to allocate 3% of the EU’s GDP to Research and Development by 2027. Additionally, there’s a strong push to provide better education and training programs, especially in critical skills areas. For example, the creation of "Net Zero Academies" to help Europeans drive and contribute to the green and digital transitions. Then there are social issues. Renew Europe champions a vision of a Europe where everyone can freely live their life, no matter their beliefs or who they love. They actively defend women’s reproductive rights and fight against gender-based violence. They are also pushing for the recognition of same-sex marriages and rainbow families across the continent. As you might expect, the manifestos of more left-leaning parties like the Left or the S&D, linked above, focus on a wider array of social policies. Now finally, what about EU Reform & Enlargement? Renew Europe is a strong supporter of the EU but they also recognize its flaws and are pushing for significant changes. They want treaty change, which is similar to a nation state changing its constitution. “And this is why we need treaty change. We must get rid of the VETO’s that paralyse the union. We must strengthen the European Parliament, we must give the voter the power to elect the president of the European Union, and citizens must vote directly for European Political Parties. ” These are significant reforms, demonstrating that Renew Europe is truly striving to live up to its name by wanting to reshape Europe. Notably, Renew Europe advocates for the removal of veto powers, particularly in foreign policy, to enable quicker and more effective decision-making. They are the only Political Group I’ve covered so far that explicitly includes this in their priorities or manifestos. Renew Europe also supports expanding the EU to include countries like Ukraine, but stresses the need for major reforms to handle a larger union. “Today we must reform the Union to unify Europe and we must promote a new global alliance of democracies for a new world order. Here we are. Standing strong. More united than ever before. We are the best defenders of Europe. This is why we must Renew Europe Now.” And that’s an overview of Reform Europe’s plans! Craving more detail? Dive into their priorities or the ALDE manifesto linked below for the full rundown. We are excited to bring you a series of seven videos, each dedicated to a different political group in the European Parliament. These videos are designed to equip you with the knowledge you need to vote confidently. For instance, you can start by exploring the EPP here, or delve into the S&D here. Subscribe to our channel now to stay updated as we release more EU election content! And if you’re passionate about helping us spread knowledge on the EU, think about joining our Patreon community. Until next time!

EU Elections 2024: Is Renew Europe worthy of your vote on the 6-9th of June? We will look at their vision for defense, migration, climate change & energy, economy, social and EU Reform. Renew Europe is a political group in the EU parliament that include national parties like France’s Renaissance, the Dutch VVD and the German FDP. Valerie Hayer, Marie-Agnes Strack Zimmermann and Sandro Gozi are their lead candidates. This video is part of a series where we will feature the EPP, the S&D, The Left, Reform Europe, Greens/EFA, ECR, and I&D. Stay tuned to understand the diverse political landscape of the EU!

Associations of National Parties to EU Political Groups:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/election-results-2019/en/breakdown-national-parties-political-group/2019-2024/

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Action Plan for Farmers:
https://app.box.com/s/cuaz0v8d623aak5k3i58fqqogduuuqcy

10 Point Plan for regaining Competitive Edge
https://app.box.com/s/45tn82mwegobayznzmqy4wh9imr6o6c9

Priorities:
https://www.reneweuropenow.eu/fr/priorities

Other Sources:
https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2024-02-27/renew-europe-presents-its-10-point-plan-to-relaunch-eus-competitiveness
https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2024-02-27/eu-security-renew-europe-spearheads-call-for-a-leap-forward-in-european-defence
https://assets.nationbuilder.com/aldeparty/pages/6401/attachments/original/1712824919/ALDE_Party_2024_Manifesto.pdf?1712824919
https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2024-03-05/new-eu-defence-industrial-package-is-an-important-step-to-build-a-safer-europe
https://app.box.com/s/45tn82mwegobayznzmqy4wh9imr6o6c9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renew_Europe
https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/europawahl-2024-kandidaten-deutschland-100.html#fdp-zimmermann