2024 CEEP : Preamble

Council Meetings 13th Council Meeting
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Here is the Board’s Proposal for the 2024 CEEP’s Preamble.

It will be put to vote in a motion at the 13th Council Meeting. Feel free to discuss it here or even submit counterproposals or amendments to the discussion here. Please note that although this discussion and thread is open to all pirates, final motions and amendments need to be supported and submitted by a Council Member though their delegates.

Note : the board chose to submit the 2019 version.

Preamble

Today’s European Union (EU) as a supranational institution is a project of its member states rather than of its citizens. Pirates believe that Europe should be organised in the common interest of all European citizens, as well as the interests of member states.

Pirates in the European Union have adopted this election programme and strive together to make our vision for the Union a reality.

The democratic deficit within the European Union has existed since its formation and has not been sufficiently addressed in the course of the integration process.

An important goal of all Pirates is to build a solid democratic foundation for the Union. In order to achieve that goal it is crucial to ensure that political processes are more citizen-friendly. Together we must encourage the development of a common European space for culture, politics and society to protect the existing rich and diverse cultures that exist within the Union.

The EU must live up to its own principles on subsidiarity. Decisions should not be taken at EU level if they can be better resolved at national, regional or local level. Equal and easy access to communication and an informed citizenry are basic requirements in legitimate democratic decision making. Political decisions at the European level need to be preceded by Europe-wide debate and allow for the adequate participation of all.

Pirates strongly believe that all people must have the right to fair and equal treatment. It is essential that society respects the rights of minorities. We will stand against discrimination of any kind and oppose movements that act against Human Rights.

The Internet as a medium of communication offers tremendous opportunities for political development, overcoming top-down, one-way communication. Pirates will therefore defend the freedom of the Internet with fierce determination at European level as well as on a global scale.

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Proposal to replace the Preamble

Submitted by: PPSE
Proposal: to replace the entirety of the draft preamble in the Board proposal with the following text:

Preamble

A movement for the 21st-century

Born of a vision of the free exchange of information and knowledge enabled by the Internet, the Pirate parties of Europe are truly a movement for the 21st century. As pirates, we are children of this new generation, embracing a culture of creativity, free sharing, communication and collaboration.

The pirates want to build a solid democratic foundation for the EU and its member states, by making political processes more transparent and accessible, allowing for meaningful citizen participation. Decisions at the EU level should be preceded by European-wide debate within member-states.

The EU tends to primarily see the internet as a new digital commercial market, overlooking the potential for a new creative culture of free knowledge and sharing. We want to promote the development of this potential and of digitisation in general - a development that must be carried out with insight and care. The dominance of big tech companies should be reduced. The rapid development of AI must be focused on benefitting all of society. The EU and its member states must refrain from (the temptation of) mass surveillance of their citizens. The Pirates will defend the freedom of the internet with fierce determination at both the EU and the global level.

We want to see a free, fair and sustainable society, that embraces the protection of the fundamental human rights, integrity, dignity, the rule of law, justice, non-discrimination and rights of minorities, while promoting responsible self-empowerment in all areas of life and society.