Campaigns // éirígí say no to the Lisbon treaty

Frequently Asked Questions About the Lisbon Treaty Answered

• Q. What exactly is the 'Lisbon Treaty' we are voting on?
• Q. Why is it so complex?
• Q. Why should I vote NO?
• Q. So the Twenty-Six county state is the only one to have a referendum?
• Q. What will it do?
• Q. What are the main impacts?
• Q. How will it will undermine Irish sovereignty and weaken Ireland's voice in Europe?
• Q. How will it promote greed over need?
• Q. How does the Lisbon Treaty create a United States of Europe?
• Q. How does the Lisbon Treaty undermine Irish Neutrality?
• Q. But doesn't it protect the environment and fight climate change?
• Q. How would it affect non-European countries?
• Q. What should I do next?
• Q. How can I campaign against the Treaty?

Q. What exactly is the 'Lisbon Treaty' we are voting on?

A. The Lisbon Treaty is a renamed European Constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005. It will have the same impact as the Constitution with some minor cosmetic changes. It is made up of 297 amendments (fixes) to current treaties, 12 Protocols (mini-treaties) and dozens of declarations. It runs to clsoe to 300 pages.

Q. Why is it so complex?

A. After France and the Netherlands rejected the EU Constitution, European politicians deliberately rewrote it as a complex and unintelligible series of amendments (fixes) in an attempt to hide what it does from the public and to sidestep the need for referendum in many countries.

Q. Why should I vote NO?

A. There are many reasons to vote NO with the first being the failure of the Twenty-Six county government to provide each voter with either a clear explanation of what is contained in the Lisbon Treaty or an actual copy the treaty. It's only common sense not to sign a contract that you have not read or do not understand.

Q. So the Twenty-Six county state is the only one to have a referendum?

A. Yes. At present it looks likely that the 26 counties will be the only state permitted to vote. However it should be remembered that while those living in the twenty-six counties will vote on the Lisbon Treaty, those living in the British-occupied six counties will have no such opportunity. This means that over 1.8 million Irish people will have no say on the future direction of their own country.

Q. What will it do?

A. Some Irish and European politicians want to see the creation of a federal Europe where all-important decisions will be made by a single European government based in Brussels. For such a 'United States of Europe' to happen all national governments will first have to surrender sovereignty to the EU and Brussels. The adoption of a single European Constitution would be an important step on the road to this type of Europe.

Q. What are the main impacts?

• It will undermine Irish sovereignty and weaken Ireland's voice in Europe
• It will promote greed over need
• It creates a United States of Europe
• It Undermines Irish Sovereignty

Q. How will it will undermine Irish sovereignty and weaken Ireland's voice in Europe?

A. If passed, the Lisbon Treaty will give the EU increased powers in more than 65 policy areas. The treaty also increases the 'democratic deficit' at the heart of the EU. Smaller countries, like Ireland, will suffer the most from changes, which include:

• The ending of a 'national veto' in at least 30 new areas of law-making
• Smaller countries, including Ireland, losing their sole EU commissioner
• A dramatic increase in the voting power of the larger countries

All of this means that the people of Ireland will have even less control over policy effecting healthcare, education, housing, energy, justice, policing and almost all other important policy areas. Instead the governments of larger EU countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Italy will effectively dictate policy in these areas.

Q. How will it promote greed over need?

A. The Lisbon Treaty, like all EU treaties before it, promotes the greed of private business over the needs of people. In real terms this means that private corporations will be able to make vast profits from essential services such as healthcare and education, just like they do in the USA. Debacles such as the privatisation of Eircom and water charges for schools are only a taster of what is to come if the Lisbon Treaty is passed.

Q. How does the Lisbon Treaty create a United States of Europe?

A. The Lisbon Treaty contains a number of measures designed to bring about the eventual creation of a de-facto United States of Europe. These include:

• The creation of the powerful new positions of EU president and EU foreign minister who will represent the EU - including all member states - internationally
• The confirmation of the primacy of EU law over national law
• Giving the EU the power to conclude international agreements in its own right
• Giving the EU the power to change the Lisbon Treaty itself without referendum

Q. How does the Lisbon Treaty undermine Irish Neutrality?

A. The Lisbon Treaty lays the groundwork for a fully-fledged European Army by requiring all EU countries to 'progressively improve their military capabilities' and 'to make civilian and military capabilities available for the implementation of EU… defence policy'. The treaty also brings the EU even closer to NATO, which is dominated by the military of the United States of America. The EU, like NATO and the USA, requires no UN mandate for military action.

Q. But doesn't it protect the environment and fight climate change?

A. There is some symbolic language used on protecting the environment but no increased powers. The treaty also prioritises the use of nuclear energy over renewables through EURATOM and emphasises supporting those making profit from the energy market over environmental factors. It provides no 'new' powers to deal with climate change that don't already exist. What lacks is the genuine political will to deliver.

Q. How would it affect non-European countries?

A. Developing countries would be disadvantaged by measures to liberalise trade regardless of the impact on their economies, meaning that the economies in these developing states will fracture as they merely become providers for the richer states in Europe, leading to loss of jobs, raised cost of living and forced immigration for many European citizens.

Q. What should I do next?

A. You should read more on this website and through the links provided on what this Treaty will actually mean for you. You should discuss what you find out with family, friends and colleagues. You should join the campaign against the treaty. You should Vote NO.

Q. How can I campaign against the Treaty?

A. You can support the NO to Lisbon campaign by contacting info@eirigi.org or by supporting the Campaign Against the EU Constitution, of which éirígí is a member.