What difference can it make? A comparison of the parties' electoral manifestos

The analysis reveals a sharp ideological divide between left-wing parties (PES, EGP, EL) and right-wing parties (EPP, ALDE) concerning the causes of the financial crisis and the role of public investment. While there is broad consensus on the need for a transition to renewable energy, the European Green Party (EGP) is the only party providing specific quantitative targets for carbon emissions and energy efficiency. Democratic reform is prioritized by smaller parties (ALDE, EGP, EL), whereas the larger PES and EPP parties largely ignore treaty reform in their platforms.

• Parties disagree on the causes of the financial crisis: the European Left (EL) attributes it to a "global crisis of capitalism", the EGP and PES cite "[n]eo-liberal deregulation" and "[a]usterity only policy", while the EPP identifies national debt and "spend-now-and-pay-later policies" as primary drivers.
• There is a conflict over public investment and debt: the EGP, PES, and ALDE support public investment in green technologies, with the EL proposing a "European public bank" and "public re-appropriation of strategic sectors". Conversely, the EPP argues that "more government spending is not the answer" and favors "structural reforms" and Public Private Partnerships.
• Tax policy preferences vary by ideology: the EL, EGP, and PES demand a financial transaction tax, and the EGP and EL advocate for taxes on capital, pollution, and waste. The EPP and ALDE focus on redesigning taxes to "stimulate entrepreneurship" and "encourage the setting up of new businesses".
• The European Green Party (EGP) is the only party to set specific quantitative environmental targets, aiming for a 30% reduction in emissions by 2020 (relative to 1990), 55% by 2030, and a "carbon-neutral society" by 2050, alongside a 40% reduction in energy consumption by 2030.
• Energy strategies differ on technology and pricing: the EGP advocates for a "phase-out" of nuclear energy and rejects "fracking", while ALDE is the only party promoting "carbon capture and storage technology". The PES focuses on fighting "energy poverty", whereas the EPP emphasizes "affordable energy prices" to preserve the industrial base.
• Proposals for democratic reform are led by smaller parties: ALDE, EL, and EGP support a new European Convention. The EGP specifically proposes a ratification of results "through an EU-wide referendum" and the introduction of "pan-European lists with transnational candidates".
• Parties differ on the role of the European Parliament and Commission: the EGP wants the Parliament to have "the right to initiate legislation", while the EL argues the Commission's role should be "limited to its executive duties". The EPP maintains that the principle of "one commissioner per country" must be kept.

APA

Müller, M. (2014). What difference can it make? A comparison of the parties' electoral manifestos. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/what-difference-can-it-make-a-comparison-of-the-parties-electoral-manifestos/

Chicago

Müller, Manuel. What difference can it make? A comparison of the parties' electoral manifestos. Green European Journal, 2014. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/what-difference-can-it-make-a-comparison-of-the-parties-electoral-manifestos/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Müller |first1=Manuel |title=What difference can it make? A comparison of the parties' electoral manifestos |publisher=Green European Journal |date=1 May 2014 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/what-difference-can-it-make-a-comparison-of-the-parties-electoral-manifestos/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mller2014what, author = {Müller, Manuel}, title = {{What difference can it make? A comparison of the parties' electoral manifestos}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2014}, month = may, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/what-difference-can-it-make-a-comparison-of-the-parties-electoral-manifestos/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }