Anna De Smedt, 5th place Voor U (List 17)
The European Community is our means to ensure YOUR future prosperity and security in a world full of threats and challenges.
I want to prepare Europe for You to guarantee Your security, to compete commercially and industrially on a global scale and to defend Your values. A successful Europe that encourages individual initiative and entrepreneurship, rather than restricting it. A Europe that does not interfere with your daily life, because that freedom belongs to YOU.
A secure Europe
Without security, all our other promises are meaningless
Europe belongs in NATO as the cornerstone of our security. We must actively contribute to this and not let our security depend on the US. The current threats are real and we are currently not ready for them. Our way of life, our values, our dreams are doomed without a strong defence. We should not doubt this for a moment.
Our security is closely linked to the security of countries that share our values, anywhere in the world, but first and foremost on our borders. Our future security depends on the strength of our support for Ukraine and, if necessary, others in the same situation
But our internal security is also a European matter: a decisive response to illegal immigration, with reception outside Europe's borders and effective return.
A Prosperous Europe
Europe should bring you prosperity, not misery
Europe's regulatory tyranny must be curbed: a Europe that decides whether you can use plastic straws or refill bottles of olive oil is the playground of lavishly rewarded for services rendered politicians who have too much time on their hands. I stand for a Europe For You, but not for bullying you!
Barriers in the single market must be removed, be they subsidies, specific rules or obscure principles. Fewer rules, done with favouritism and back-room politics so our businesses can flourish again.
Excessively expensive projects with which Europe wants to prove its own moral superiority without any real impact, and in particular the so-called 'green deal' should be reconsidered, adjusted or scrapped in the light of the current geopolitical situation. We cannot mortgage our children's future, shut down our businesses and plunge ourselves into poverty for a few thousandths of a degree difference on a global scale. At the same time, we invest in innovation, nuclear energy and new technologies that can make a real difference in the long run and have a future without mountains of subsidies.
A Europe of values
Without our European values there is no European project
The individuality of European countries and their customs and traditions is a strength. Let different countries and regions have their own traditions and customs. Together we have fought for our values and our freedom. That is why we are going to defend them.
Europe was built on the values of the Enlightenment: Reason, Freedom, Equality, Progress, Secularism and Humanism. We must defend and promote these values. Other principles, including freedom of e.g. religion, should never be placed above these values. When discussing, e.g. the principle of equality between men and women, the values of the Enlightenment always take precedence.
As an open society, Europe welcomes visitors and immigrants who contribute to our society economically, and who share these values. Those who believe that dogma is above these values do not belong in Europe. A good test is whether people who come to settle here would also be willing to fight with us to defend our values.