Today voters in the North East go to the polls in one of the closest fought, and most important, European elections in years. The sessions of the European Parliament take place a long way from the North East. Yet the laws it passes affect all of us, every single day and, on balance, for the better.
Whether it’s setting air quality rules, international climate change policy, business regulations, job creation priorities, or energy generation methods, the European Parliament has a say. Members of the European Parliament elected from the NE represent them in the EU’s only democratically elected institution. They can make a real difference, providing they have the right values and vision as well as the right specific policies.
This is why the vote today matters – it’s a chance for NE citizens to shape the future they want for their region.
The Green Party’s current MEPs have shown how this can be done. They are part of the Greens/European Free Alliance group– the fourth largest in the European Parliament. They have been able to deliver a number of positive changes. Greens have led the way, for example, in capping bankers’ scandalous bonuses and called for reforms of the banking system to ensure it works for all of us – not just the privileged few.
They have delivered a ‘youth guarantee’ – a promise of a job or training place for every unemployed young person that wants one. They have won support for a new ‘carers leave’ to ensure that those of us caring for older or disabled relatives aren’t penalised at work.
Green MEPs have shaped the EU’s farming and fisheries policies – banning the cruel and wasteful practise of ‘dumping’ dead fish at sea. They won key votes on climate change policy to ensure that the UK adopts a target on delivering new renewable energy projects – and the jobs that go with them.
But crucially, EU policy is about a long-term vision. Ours is a vision of a new sustainable Europe, one that puts fairness first, one where discrimination is never tolerated, and one in which our environment is protected. We want the EU to be reconstructed around its real regions such as the NE, to which power should be devolved wherever practicable.
Encouragingly, when people hear this vision and examine our policies, they like what they hear. It is not surprising then that the Greens are overtaking the Liberal Democrats. We have also strongly challenged the reactionary and bigoted rhetoric of UKIP candidates. But we need more support to make a decisive difference. We believe that we really do offer a sensible programme for the common good. So please Vote Green today in the European elections and where you have Greens standing in your local elections you can vote for them as well, because Green councillors will also work to change the North East for the common good! From Shirley Ford, Alison Whalley and Caroline Robinson, North East England Green Party candidates for the European Elections