Left-wing groups spell out the case against EU treaty

THE Campaign Against the EU Constitution — formed in 2005 — is a broad coalition of progressive and left-wing political parties, organisations, trade unionists and individuals committed to democracy, peace, justice, Irish neutrality and equality.

Sat, 09 Feb, 2008 - 00:00

Letters

Unlike the Government, we are not going to engage in a negative campaign but promote information and awareness of the implications of the Lisbon treaty for Ireland and the wider world.

We are not anti-European — many of us have worked on European issues or in the EU for decades.

We are deeply concerned, however, at the EU’s current direction and believe an alternative path is not only possible but urgently required.

The debate on the Lisbon treaty has already started. While the Government has yet to set a date, people have already begun the difficult task of reading and understanding the treaty.

As we collectively assess its scope and purpose, the key question for our campaign is: what values do we want to see reflected in Europe in the 21st century? We want health, education and water supplies provided equally to all. We will not watch the deterioration of essential public services along with increasing private provision where those who can afford it pay for a better quality service and the rest make do.

We want a foreign policy that seeks to resolve conflicts without military action or support for despotic regimes. There is no need for increased military spending to send Irish soldiers into EU battle groups and to be party to US foreign and military policy abroad. The use of Shannon by US troops and torture flights should stop now.

We want economic policies geared to full employment, decent wages and sustainable development here and elsewhere. We do not want a policy of ‘price stability’ prioritised above all else where restrictions on state borrowing or public spending determine everything, even if the outcome is unemployment and cuts in public services.

We want an end to an increasingly remote way of law-making and acting at a European level. We do not want more decisions affecting our lives to be made in a way over which we have little or no control by people who are unaccountable, and enshrined in laws we cannot revise.

Remember, more than 80% of domestic law already comes from EU decisions. The Lisbon Treaty — the same in substance as the previous EU constitution — will take us in the direction of more privatisation, more right-wing economic policy, more militarisation, less neutrality and less democratic control. This is why French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005 and that’s why we should reject it here in Ireland when the referendum is called.

Joan Collins

Community and Workers Action Group

Eugene McCartan

Communist Party of Ireland

Brian Leeson

Eirigí

Michael Youlton

Irish Anti-War Movement

Murial Saddler

National Platform

Roger Cole

Peace & Neutrality Alliance