Federalism

Belgian philosopher Philippe Van Parijs analysis the issue of inequality from a European and international perspective. Comparing the contrasting the economic systems of the US and Europe, he outlines a series of measures to reduce inequalities that exists across Europe today.

Why do the Greens need to reconsider the ideal of equality in the light of the ecologic and economic crises and what are the challenges linked with such a project? GEJ editor-in-chief Benoit Lechat introduces the 4th edition of the Green European Journal “Equality and Sustainability”.

Responding to the debate sparked by the publication of ‘For Europe’ by Cohn-Bendit and Verhofstadt, GEF Co-President Pierre Jonckheer argues that the crisis is forcing each Member State to question staying together, each presenting a different response.

Whatever line the Green Party takes, all eyes should be on the French Greens, whose rejection of the Fiscal Treaty demonstrates that you can maintain your independence even while in government.

GEF Co-President Pierre Jonckheer responds to European Commission President Barroso’s ‘State of the Union’ speech in 2012.

A political union, with a “Eurobond Parliament”, might offer a solution to the Eurozone crisis.

The seemingly never ending Eurozone crisis has evolved into a start choice – does Europe take a leap forward into closer political union, or face a break-up of the single currency?

The financial crisis has lasted for five years and there is no end in sight. The excessive public and private debt and the overleveraged banks are a heavy burden on the real economy. They also worsen the unemployment problem by preventing stimulus and fuelling deflation. The debt problem must therefore be treated as a priority.

This brave critique of the ‘new German nationalism’ is welcome. But there are two mains weaknesses in the position of Habermas and his colleagues: the crisis does not allow us to re-start from the beginnings of the European Union. What the European democracy needs is a real tax revolution, a kind of New Deal or a Marshall Plan, something like a social movement and maybe a step aside from the structures that were designed to exclude it.

There are three crucial elements to assessing the shockwave of the current crisis, which has shaken up the Euro and the debts of European states (known as sovereign debt).