Forty Green parties today endorsed the European Green Party's common manifesto Courage to Change for the election campaign and the next European Parliament legislature. For the 12th priority, the Greens put the choice to the people through a participatory process called European Citizens’ Choice (citizenschoice.eu).
The manifesto was adopted by a vote of the 311 representatives of all Green parties active in Europe, at the European Greens Party congress in Lyon, France. 98,8% voted in favour. The vote on the manifesto and campaign priorities concluded a successful three-day European Green Party congress in Lyon, France, attended by more than 1.200 people.
European Greens’ leading candidate Terry Reintke said: “We will fight for a diverse green and social Europe, a democratic Europe where racism and hatred have no place, where we set today the course for a just transition to a climate neutral industry for tomorrow. This is a decisive moment, together we stand up against the far right, it will take courage, but we are stronger.”
European Greens’ leading candidate Bas Eickhout added: "These elections are going to be extremely important: our planet is rapidly heating up, a gruesome war is being fought on our borders, and inequality is increasing. We are the antidote to the far right. We show how a green, social and inclusive Europa is possible."
The Green and Social Deal
In Courage to Change, the Greens set out their proposals to the millions of people who will vote in the European elections. With 11 priority issues, the Greens explain how the fight against extreme weather events goes hand in hand with the protection of living standards and the creation of green jobs.
The manifesto calls for an EU-level Green Transition Fund worth 1% of EU GDP per year to fund green infrastructure and industries in all parts of Europe. To prevent energy poverty, the Greens will introduce an Energy Guarantee to keep household energy consumption affordable. The Greens also foresee a European Climate Ticket for public transport across Europe.
The Green and Social Deal will break the economic dependence on fossil fuels that has led to rising energy bills and food prices, geopolitical weakness, and climate breakdown.
In the Manifest, the Greens also propose new pro-European measures to protect individual rights and freedoms against the rise of the far right and neo-fascism, such as the end of national vetoes at EU level - something that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is abusing to sabotage Europe's support for Ukraine. The European Greens strongly support the accession of new member states and Ukraine.
European Citizens' Choice
One of the final twelve priorities of the European Greens will be picked by the public. In December and January, a crowdsourcing campaign collected 5500 suggestions from all over Europe. Today, the online voting of the European Citizens' Choice opens. Until 24 April, citizens can vote for their favourite among ten options. Among the proposals are a ban on algorithms that spread disinformation, a ban on private jets, and the creation of a European Artist Status. The winner will be announced at the European Greens' campaign rally in May.
Pictures from the Congress, free of charge: you can use our pictures from the congress free of charge, please just put "Copyright European Greens/[name of photographer]" next to them. There are photos by Magali Ribot, Margot L'Hermite and Bernal Revert, their names are mentioned right under the photo, on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeangreens/53505010602/in/dateposted-public/
The 11 priorities: https://www.datocms-assets.com/87481/1708092100-priorities-2024-as-adopted-lyon-4-february-2024.pdf
The full text of the manifesto Courage to Change: https://www.datocms-assets.com/87481/1708539548-egp_manifesto-2024_courage-to-change.pdf
