ЛААКЕНСКАЯ ДЕКЛАРАЦИЯ БУДУЩЕЕ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО СОЮЗА (ДЕКЛАРАЦИЯ ЛААКЕНА). Декларация. Европейский Союз. 15.12.01

The expectations of Europe`s citizens

     The  image  of a democratic and globally engaged Europe admirably
matches  citizens` wishes. There have been frequent public calls for a
greater  EU  role in justice and security, action against cross-border
crime,  control of migration flows and reception of asylum seekers and
refugees  from  far-flung war zones. Citizens also want results in the
fields  of  employment  and combating poverty and social exclusion, as
well  as  in  the  field  of economic and social cohesion. They want a
common  approach  on  environmental pollution, climate change and food
safety,  in  short,  all transnational issues which they instinctively
sense  can only be tackled by working together. Just as they also want
to  see Europe more involved in foreign affairs, security and defence,
in  other  words,  greater  and better coordinated action to deal with
trouble spots in and around Europe and in the rest of the world.
     At  the  same time, citizens also feel that the Union is behaving
too  bureaucratically  in  numerous  other  areas. In coordinating the
economic,  financial  and  fiscal  environment, the basic issue should
continue  to be proper operation of the internal market and the single
currency,  without  this  jeopardising  Member  States` individuality.
National  and  regional  differences  frequently  stem from history or
tradition.  They  can  be  enriching.  In  other  words, what citizens
understand by "good governance" is opening up fresh opportunities, not
imposing  further  red  tape. What they expect is more results, better
responses  to  practical  issues  and  not  a  European  superstate or
European  institutions inveigling their way into every nook and cranny
of life.
     In  short,  citizens  are  calling  for a clear, open, effective,
democratically  controlled  Community  approach,  developing  a Europe
which  points  the  way ahead for the world. An approach that provides
concrete  results  in terms of more jobs, better quality of life, less
crime,  decent education and better health care. There can be no doubt
that this will require Europe to undergo renewal and reform.