The European parliament's ECR group and the international alliance of like-minded political parties were formed in 2009 because we were not satisfied with the direction in which the EU was heading. We became the only mainstream power in parliament committed to making the EU focus solely on areas where it can add value, such as opening markets, supporting cross-border cooperation, energy security or research and innovation. We are also the only group that believes the EU should decentralise powers back to national capitals, town halls or to families and individuals.
The EU is now facing a profound competitiveness crisis while most other regions of the world are growing more quickly. The euro area public debt crisis has greatly damaged the economy and has caused considerable hardship for millions. This is why the EU needs a programme that prioritises economic growth and competitiveness.
We believe that well-targeted public investment is necessary, but long-term growth is not achieved by increasing public expenditure. The EU budget must not lay an extra fiscal burden on businesses and taxpayers.
"The euro area public debt crisis has greatly damaged the economy and has caused considerable hardship for millions"
It is not up to European politicians or administration to create jobs. Our task is to remove barriers on the single market and in the area of international trade and to help businesses to thrive. It is crucial to reduce the burden of EU regulation. When proposing new legislation, the commission must carry out single market and value-added tests to make sure that the proposal does not hamper the functioning of market.
The ECR strongly supports continuing negotiations for a transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement with the US. We have already delivered a number of agreements that will break down the barriers to European companies trading with major economic powers, making products cheaper and giving businesses new opportunities.
In the light of recent proposals for energy and climate strategies, it is regrettable that the commission does not take a more positive stance on the contribution nuclear energy can make to helping us achieve long-term low-carbon energy goals. The ECR is concerned that the attainment of EU climate targets will become increasingly difficult for European industries and households.
Our group will continue to tackle the federalist tide, promoting a wider agenda of pan-European reform as the means of making the EU more flexible, open and economically vibrant. We will continue to oppose attempts to introduce new European taxes or harmonise the present ones as it has often been proven that one size does not necessarily fit all. We also do not share the belief that creating new functions and assuming more powers is the right answer to present challenges.
That is also why the alliance of European conservatives and reformists (AECR) will not field a candidate for the commission presidency as part of the 2014 European elections. The AECR considers the process being followed by other pan-European parties as lacking in public support and legal authority. To participate would be to legitimise the idea that a European executive should be chosen by a federal legislature. Yet federalism has no treaty basis, nor any backing from the electorates.
Our mission is to bring a new EU paradigm for the 21st century, which is flexible integration, and to abandon the old, outdated vision of a centralised federal European superstate.