EU

SPD: “Europe is the best place in the world”

The Brexit vote, has shocked the German social Democrats. At a conference in Berlin discussed the future of the EU and called for a more social and fairer Europe.

President of the EU Parliament and member of the SPD, Martin Schulz speaks at the SPD conference

Whenever the SPD is in trouble, and seeks the political wisdom of the former Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt. “Little of time”, quoted party leader Sigmar Gabriel of the German social Democrats. The have applied for the withdrawal of the French from NATO, and this is the case, hopefully, for the announced withdrawal of the British from the EU.

The chances were good that the British would return one day, Gabriel, the party members from all over Germany courage. The SPD has gathered in Berlin to discuss the European policy program of the party. These consultations would take place under the dark cloud of the Brexit vote, had not suspected the party in the planning of the conference. And so the applause is particularly large if the European values are invoked, as the defenders of the social Democrats.

Criticism of the Tories

With British Conservative party leader Gabriel goes hard to the court: The result of the referendum, he blamed the “Duo Infernale”, the conservative British Prime Minister David Cameron and his party colleague Boris Johnson, who had headed the Brexit campaign. If the British Conservative thought now, to be able to the EU, and at the same time the greatest advantages of keep left, then you are wrong.

Shoulder-to-shoulder for the EU. Foreign Minister Steinmeier, the EU Parliament President Schulz and the Chairman of the party, Gabriel

It was “a good sign that the youth in the UK is smarter than your strange political Elite,” says Gabriel. It was now, to have contact with the young Britons do not tear off, which voted by a large majority for remaining in the EU. It is conceivable for the SPD chief, living in Germany British in addition to the British, the German citizenship, so that they can remain citizens of the EU.

Now what, EU?

And what should he do to the Rest of Europe now? Don’t whine, says Gabriel, but the EU is better. “Europe is the best place in the world.” Nowhere else you could live so freely and democratically. The EU should make these qualities more to the front, and at the same time more for the 25 million unemployed to do. “The competition in Europe must not lead to people losing their Jobs,” says Gabriel. The competition in Europe was none of the worst wages or if the lowest tax rates.

Mandatory minimum tax rates in Europe also calls for the EU Parliament President Martin Schulz. In addition, the company would have to pay tax on their winnings in the European country in which they achieved this. Who has to save with his tax European banks, while he himself can’t find a Job, the turn says, understandably, of the EU, Schulz. Freedom had been considered in the EU, perhaps too much as the freedom of capital, Gesine Schwan to consider the Chairman of the SPD’s basic value Commission.

As a model of Peace admired

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After the Brexit vote for the British is discussed far and wide, what does this mean for the European Union. For SPD leader and economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, The number of the EU is clear: commissioners must be reduced. (02.07.2016)

The conclusion of the social Democrats: The EU needs to be in many areas of social and equitable, the participation of citizens to participate. For instance, at the conclusion of the trade agreement CETA with Canada, the wanted to ratify the EU-Commission, without the participation of the national parliaments. “Foolish, you can’t be. The destroyed trust in the European democracy,” said Gabriel.

The EU is already much better than its reputation. Outside of Europe, you’ll be admired as a model of Peace, reported foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Why then grows on the old continent, the skepticism? “We have not countered hate speech against the EU decided enough”, says the SPD member of the German Bundestag Axel Schaefer and does not take himself from this criticism. During the Brexit debate, and that many falsehoods have been spread about the EU.

EU Parliament President Schulz reminded of the history of the European Union as a counter-model to hatred and war: Who’s landing the axe on the EU, he warns, the set free of demons, such as xenophobia and racism – and which would have destroyed Europe.