The Greens offer an alternative way to revive the European dream: We want to make Europe a place of sustainable jobs, a place of solidarity for people both inside and outside the EU, and a place of democracy and citizens' rights. The EU must unite people, and not just economies – we want a Europe, where cooperation is valued, not only competition. Europeans, not big business or industrial agriculture, must be the next Commission’s priority.

In the immediate future, the EU must address four pressing threats: Unemployment, social inequality, climate change and the worrying developments in Ukraine. We need to initiate an economic and social investment plan to reverse the disastrous effects of austerity, to create innovative jobs and give people – particularly young people – hope.

Secondly, Europe must change its approach to TTIP. We can’t just trade away our hard-won health, labour, and environmental standards. A Green Commission will ensure completely transparent TTIP negotiations and for the ISDS provisions to be removed from the negotiation table.

Thirdly, we want to revise and enhance the climate targets in view of the Paris 2015 COP. A Green Commission will join with the Parliament in setting ambitious CO2 reduction targets, promoting energy efficiency and promoting renewables. This will not only create Green jobs throughout Europe, but make us energy independent in the long-run.

Finally, the crisis in Ukraine must come to a peaceful settlement – the European Union must play an active role in pursuing a peaceful crisis resolution strategy and stabilising Ukraine economically. Sanctions remain an important tool; weapons exports to Russia and Ukraine have to be stopped immediately.

In short, a Green European Commission President would make Europe deliver on jobs, social protection and climate change!

The full proposals (including the four long-term policy priorities) for a Green Commission can be found here.