Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12338 | 08 July 2010

How much and what kind of state is needed in a democratic and just society?

Signatories: Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Pedro AGRAMUNT, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Anne BRASSEUR, Luxembourg, ALDE ; Mr Erol Aslan CEBECİ, Turkey, EPP/CD ; Mr Joseph DEBONO GRECH, Malta, SOC ; Mr Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA, Spain, SOC ; Mr Jean-Claude FRÉCON, France, SOC ; Mr John GREENWAY, United Kingdom ; Ms Ana GUŢU, Republic of Moldova, ALDE ; Mr Håkon HAUGLI, Norway, SOC ; Ms Sinikka HURSKAINEN, Finland, SOC ; Mr Tadeusz IWIŃSKI, Poland, SOC ; Ms Birgen KELEŞ, Turkey, SOC ; Mr Tiny KOX, Netherlands, UEL ; Mr Aleksei LOTMAN, Estonia, UEL ; Mr Dick MARTY, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr José MENDES BOTA, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Gebhard NEGELE, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD ; Mr Ivan POPESCU, Ukraine, SOC ; Mr Leander SCHÄDLER, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD ; Mr André SCHNEIDER, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Björn von SYDOW, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Luca VOLONTÈ, Italy, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Over the last 20 years there has been a tendency all over Europe to assume that a reduced, weak and non-intervening state would serve best the interests of a free and democratic society. This tendency was particularly strong and seemed especially legitimate in central and eastern European countries where an omnipresent oppressive state and a totalitarian society had to be reformed.

However, in the past two years, many states have intervened massively to support banks in order to prevent the collapse of the financial and economic system. Now many begin to recognise that regulations are very much in need and they are trying to find a new role for the state.

We consider that a report by the Parliamentary Assembly would be of importance for citizens and parliamentarians in order to redefine what kind of state a democratic society in the future needs in order to promote justice and fairness in the daily lives of our fellow citizens.