Momentum Grows for Many No’s

09/06/08

Speaking from outside Leinster House, Dublin on Friday (June 6), éirígí spokesperson Daithí Mac an Mháistír welcomed the results of the latest opinion poll on the Lisbon Treaty, which indicates that voters intend to bin the document.

“This reflects the feedback we have been getting at doorsteps and on the streets over the last number of weeks,” said Daithí.

éirígí activists had travelled to Leinster House in a removal van on Friday morning in an effort to highlight what the Twenty-Six County administration intends to give away if the Treaty is ratified on Thursday (June 12).

Dressed in overalls, the activists offloaded boxes which were symbolically labelled ‘democracy,’ ‘neutrality,’ ‘sovereignty’ and ‘workers’ rights’ at the gates of the parliament building as passers-by looked on.

“Voters are deeply concerned at the loss of sovereignty, the undermining of workers’ rights and the militarisation of the European Union,” Daithí continued.

“It is clear that voters will not be bullied and will be guided by the arguments. The fact is that this is a second-hand constitution for a united states of Europe, which has already been rejected by the people of the Netherlands and France. The electorate in the Twenty-Six Counties are preparing to send a powerful message of solidarity to working people across Europe, most of whom have been denied a vote on this issue. Consequently, it is time the EU bureaucrats listened to the will of the people.”

While the Twenty-Six County government is currently preparing the ground to reduce public spending in essential areas such as health, housing and education, the Lisbon Treaty clearly states that its implementation will result in an increase in military spending. This will be further expanded by the French Presidency next month who, it has been revealed, will call for a specific GDP allocation to military spending, along with proposals to strengthen the EU’s Rapid Reaction Forces.

The chief-of-staff of the German army, General Wolfgang Schneiderhan, is clear about the EU’s military ambitions.

“I am utterly convinced that the European Union has to develop its ability to react to military and civil crises. Working together with NATO we can improve the ability of both organisations to tackle the threats that face our world.”

This is not scaremongering. This is what Irish voters are being asked to sign up to. The EU intends to build an alliance with the US-dominated NATO.

The Treaty provides for “mutual defence,” with member states who may be “victim of armed aggression on its territory”. In this event “other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all means in their power”.

The so-called solidarity clause outlines what is expected of member states in response to an actual or perceived threat of a “terrorist” attack. The Union “shall mobilise all the instruments at its disposal, including the military resources made available by the member states,” to:

“Prevent the terrorist threat in the territory of the Member States; protect democratic institutions and the civilian population from any terrorist attack; assist a Member State in its territory at the request of its political authorities in the event of a terrorist attack.”

Daithí pointed out what the clauses meant.

“This is the type of argument that was used to justify the US-British invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and also leaves open the possibility of the EU taking pre-emptive action against a perceived threat to a member state. It must also be remembered that virtually all the major states in the EU have long histories of perpetrating imperialist and colonialist aggression. Any agreements regarding ‘military cooperation’ and ‘preventing terrorist threats’ should be seen in this context.”

Daithí continued: “The Yes campaign has also failed to convince most people that the Treaty will enhance the rights of workers. Just days ago, the Labour Party produced a number of current or former prominent trade unionists who expressed the view that the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights enhanced workers’ rights.

“David Begg, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions went as far as to suggest that the Charter ‘is the most comprehensive body of social, economic and civil and political rights that exist anywhere’.

“The simple fact is that, while the Charter contains a series of laudable declarations, it confers no new rights upon the citizens of Europe and access to essential public services such as healthcare, housing and education are not considered ‘fundamental’ rights.

“The rights conferred within the Charter are open to interpretation by the European Court of Justice. This body recently outlined its view of social rights in the Laval Ruling, when it found that the ‘right’ of the market to exploit working people was judged superior to the collective action of workers. While upholding the right to strike, the ECJ made this conditional. Workers can take strike action so long as it does not interfere with the free movement of goods and services. The neo-liberal agenda at the heart of the European Union is confirmed by this ruling.

“Trade unions such as the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union and UNITE are aware of this and have called on their members to vote No. Meanwhile, SIPTU has called on the Dublin government to legislate for the right to collective bargaining, an indication that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is nothing more than an attempt by the EU bureaucrats to put a social gloss on a treaty whose core value is cut-throat competition.”

With Thursday approaching, éirígí is calling on activists and supporters to ensure that opinion on the Treaty is reflected in the polling booths.

Commending the work of those involved in the éirígí campaign and the Campaign Against the European Union Constitution (CAEUC), Daithí called on activists not to take the result for granted and to ensure the message that the Treaty is beatable is driven home over the next few days.

“Despite the huge resources thrown at this campaign by the entire political establishment in the Twenty-Six Counties and attempts to bully voters into delivering the ‘right’ vote, people have chosen instead to listen to the actual arguments and those arguments are compelling.

“I would urge activists to remain focused over the coming days, as the political establishment will throw everything at the No campaign in an attempt to ensure they are not embarrassed in front of their EU counterparts.

“éirígí will be redoubling its efforts to ensure this Treaty is confined to the dustbin of history, where it should have remained when rejected by the people of France and Holland.”