Athens, Greece – the setting where last week, 25 of the European Movement International member organisations gathered for the 2014 Members Council. With the European elections just around the corner, the event gave way to a public debate on “the EU in crisis: 2014 EP elections, the way ahead?”, with interventions from Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International, Michalis Angelopoulos, President of the European Movement Greece and Georges Kremlis, MEP candidate.

A large proportion of the Members Council was dedicated to debating how to safeguard the future of the 2 of the EU’s fundamental freedoms: those of freedom of movement and immigration. Following presentations from the European Training Centre on Human Rights and Humanitarian Action and Bridging Europe, the Members Council moved to adopt new policy stances that address these challenges.

Furthermore, the European Movement Members Council pledged support for the ‘European New Deal’ European Citizens Initiative (ECI). The main objectives of the ECI are to create a special programme of public investment for the production and financing of European public goods (renewable energy, research and innovation, infrastructural networks, ecological agriculture and the protection of environmental and cultural heritage). Moreover, the fund would include a special European Solidarity Fund to create new jobs, especially for young people. The ECI proposes to generate funds for the ambitious programme by increasing the own resources of the European budget through a financial transaction and carbon tax.

Read the resolutions on freedom of movement, asylum and immigration and the European New Deal ECI, or view the pictures from the event.