Ireland’s Green Party has renewed its call for hate speech and hate crime legislation in its newly-released European election manifesto which was launched today, adding that their aim is to “keep the extreme-right from any position of influence.”
The party says it is seeking to “work toward a renewed LGBTQIA+ Equality Strategy that would ensure that trans, intersex, and non-binary people are also protected under the EU legal framework, closing legislative gaps in the areas of non-discrimination and hate crime.”
They also call for “an EU-wide ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and forced sterilisation of transgender people.”
“HATE SPEECH” AND “DISINFORMATION”
They go on to say that they will “ensure that the EU Action Plan Against Racism is implemented”, adding: “…National Action Plans must be mandatory for all member states.”
Notably, the EU Action Plan Against Racism says that “the effective implementation” of “the Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law” is a “key” part of “ensuring that hate speech and hate crimes receive an effective criminal response.”
The document adds:
The Green Party says that they will “ensure” that this plan is implemented if elected.
They further go on to add that the EU’s Race Equality Directive should be updated “to explicitly cover policing and institutional violence.”
The party also warns of “the increasing threat of disinformation and interference in sovereign democracies”, saying that this is a matter of “particular concern” that “must be met by robust cybersecurity efforts.”
CREATE “PAN-EUROPEAN MEDIA” TO DISPEL “EU-RELATE MYTHS”
The party says that one of their goals is also to support the emergence of “pan-European media outlets”, arguing that these are “essential to help inform and empower European citizenship, and foster a European identity, while dispelling EU-related myths.”
The manifesto features calls to “recognise the need for an EU framework to prevent media concentration and enable journalists to work freely.”
PUSHING FOR “A FEMINIST EUROPE” BY “ENDING THE GENDER PAY GAP”
On the topic of gender equality, the party says it will promote “a feminist Europe” that will “guarantee policies that ensure financial independence for women”, including by “ending the gender pay gap via binding measures for companies and public authorities.”
They also say they will “defend a gender balance in EU decision-making, including for the top jobs.”
“The EU Commission and the Council need specific portfolios for women’s rights and gender equality,” the document reads.
It also says that abortion is “a fundamental right”.
LOOKING INTO UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME SCHEMES
The Greens are also saying that Universal Basic Income (UBI) schemes should be “researched and studied”.
Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a social welfare system in which all citizens receive a regular, unconditional sum of money from the government regardless of employment status or income.
“[We] argue that Universal basic income should be researched and studied, and advocate for national basic income pilots.”
Notably, Green Party Arts Minister Catherine Martin has already rolled out a Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme, which, according to CitizensInformation.ie, “aims to support the arts and creative practice by giving a payment of €325 a week to artists and creative arts workers.”
“HARD RIGHT” THREATENS “THE VERY PURPOSE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION”
The party also emphasised the need to fight “the extreme right” electorally.
“When elected, Greens will seek to build a progressive coalition in the European Parliament – to defend the Green Deal, the principles of a democratic EU and to keep the extreme-right from any position of influence,” the party said.
“…As Greens we will recognise that this election is one of the most crucial the European Parliament has faced since the first popular elections in 1979. The governing majority of centre left, centre and centre right looks likely to lose its majority for the first time. The rightward shift of the European People’s Party offers a prospect of the involvement of the hard right via the European Conservative and Reformists.
“Greens must work with those of the left and centre to ensure this does not happen, including building a progressive majority to protect the Green Deal and to exclude those that would destroy the very purpose of the European Union.”
The full manifesto can be read here.