We all want to feel safe. To wear whatever we want without getting attacked. To walk fearlessly in the streets alone at night. We want a world free of violence, especially of violence that’s triggered just because of your gender identity or expression, or because of who you are.
The European Union should end the tax exemption for aviation fuels and allow for fair competition between aviation and more sustainable transport modes. There is a window of opportunity for the kerosene tax to be introduced at EU level because of the Energy Taxation Regulation revision due to be proposed by the Commission in mid-2021.
Worldwide around 25 million people are estimated to be in forced labour, being made to work against their will under threat of punishment. The products they make can end up in the European market, making European citizens unwillingly consumers and contributors to this exploitation. This has to stop!
A growing number of municipalities and regions in Europe are prepared to welcome asylum seekers; and many citizens want to help and show solidarity. We want to make sure that people who want to welcome other people with open arms are actually able to do so, and without being harassed or intimidated.
Forests are indispensable. They cover 30 percent of the earth’s land area and host 80 percent of the world’s land-based species. Forests provide us with fresh water and oxygen, and are essential for regulating the global climate. We want a world with forests, where we can all breathe and enjoy nature as it should be - unspoiled.
We need agro-ecological and organic farming that is locally adapted, respects animal welfare and fosters biodiversity, and that allows farmers to produce healthy and nutritious food for all.
The internet has given people the chance to connect to each other, express themselves online and gain access to knowledge and information at the click of a button. We want to make sure the internet is a democratic space where people feel safe and able to share content freely.
To mitigate the consequences of climate change in the limited time that we have, we need to take ambitious measures based on what scientists have determined is necessary to deal with the growing climate crisis. We need strong, legally binding emissions reductions targets, independent oversight to check that climate action is truly being taken, and proper financing to deal with this crisis.
We want a housing system that works for people. Where everyone across Europe, from Paris to Warsaw, Dublin to Athens, has access to affordable, quality, healthy homes. We should all be able to rent a home without the “airbnb effect” driving up monthly prices, and we should even be able to buy a home, just like many of our parents and grandparents were able to do.
In theory, the EU institutions have some of the best ethics rules to prevent conflicts of interest. But those rules are very fragmented and poorly enforced. As a result, there have been multiple cases of unethical behaviours in recent years and their insufficient handling by the EU institutions has harmed the trust of European citizens.
We want the EU to be a transparent, ethical and responsible actor in this chaotic world, actively contributing to democracy, freedom and peace. We want to make sure that weapons made in the EU do not end up in the hands of dictators and are not used to commit any human rights violations.