You can find the original Finnish version here.

Europe has a responsibility to offer the world a vision of justice and moderation.

The recent food, energy and financial crises have shown that globalisation without ground rules poses a threat to the future of humankind and the planet. The global crises require global solutions. We  need people and our surroundings - the environment - to be brought back to the core of the decisions being made to solve the crises.

The relations between peoples and countries should be based on principles where human life and the environment are seen as valuable in their own right and protected, rather than seen as means to promote economic or political interests.

Global solutions can only be sustainable and acceptable when they respect the values mentioned above and when they reach across generations and geographic boundaries. Sustainable solutions can  be achieved with strong vision and leadership is needed to achieve sustainable solutions. The European Union has the opportunity and the responsibility to take a lead on the global scene.

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Europe's responsibility extends to the past, the present and the future.

The foundation for Europe's wealth was created through colonization of the rest of the world and the protection of its own industries. A responsible Europe acknowledges its role in creating the structural inequality that has led to unprecedented poverty, as a result of which about one billion people are malnourished today.

Europe is already the largest donor of development funding but the crises that erupted in 2008 have revealed the frailty of its commitments. At the same time as billions of dollars have been pumped into supporting the banking systems, it seems that many European countries are failing on their aid commitments. The achievements of the past decades in the developing countries, for example the reduction in child mortality and the increase in school attendance, are in danger of crumbling if Europe does not stand by its promises.

There have also been some encouraging signs of European leadership. Due to the actions of the EU, a statement was agreed at last year's donor countries' conference in Accra which emphasized the participation of the developing countries. Sustainable development and aid effectiveness is best achieved when the developing countries themselves have the responsibility to decide on the choices and measures concerning their development.

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At the moment Europe's responsibility requires leadership in resolving the problems causing the international crises. Crises like these can only be avoided in the future through radical changes in the financial and market systems. These systems have to be harnessed to serve people instead of the other way around.

Regulation and guidance can only work effectively if they are supported by as many countries as possible. Ensuring broad support requires creating real opportunities for participation. The democratization of the international financial institutions and, above all, significantly increasing the voting power of the developing countries within the institutions, are central steps towards improving participation.

In these difficult times a responsible Europe should promote the utmost importance of multi-lateral negotiations and agreements. This can be achieved by emphasizing and strengthening the institutions of the UN.

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Foe Europe to be a responsible actor in the future it needs to develop its own role as a challenger against the current omnipotence of competition and free market ideology and the logic of endless growth. Poverty, hunger and conflicts are created by structural inequality. Inequality persists as a result of the rich North protecting its own standard of living.

Creating a just world requires change in the basis of growth and power, as well as in current consumption habits.

The vision of justice and moderation also requires courage from Europe to lead from a "weak" position. Europe should agree to make concessions about its own standard of living and persuade its 500 million citizens that in practice it is only a Europe that accepts its responsibility which can secure not only the future of Europe, but of the whole world!