Organising For A No To Lisbon
The Campaign Against the European Union Constitution publicly commenced their efforts to prevent further EU encroachment upon the democratic, social and economic rights of European citizens on Monday (February 4).
The CAEUC is a broad-based campaign, covering a wide range of progressive opinion and groupings, which is determined to garner a majority No Vote in the upcoming Twenty-Six County referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Éirígí have taken the decision to align themselves with this grouping as they offer, in the socialist republican party’s opinion, the best opportunity of wining a democratic rebuff of the power-hungry plans of the EU bureaucrats.
Éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson attended Monday morning’s Dublin press conference along with other members of the Campaign.
Speaking after the event, Brian said, “The coming together of a wide range of progressive opinion in the CAEUC is an important development in the ongoing attempts to defeat the anti-democratic agenda of the EU. This fits in entirely with Éirígí’s stated policy of helping to mobilise large numbers of people in the everyday struggles of the Irish population.
“Our active opposition to the Lisbon Treaty stems from the two fundamental characteristics of the EU agenda.
Firstly, their consistent attempts to undermine the sovereignty of member states is a clearly regressive step in an Ireland that already has part of its territory occupied by the British government.
Secondly, the Lisbon Treaty and the agenda it owes its existence to are manifestoes for the privatisation of public services and attacks on workers rights.
The Treaty itself is a cynical re-draft of the EU Constitution, which was rejected by the electorates of France and the Netherlands in referenda in 2005. The reformed (Lisbon) Treaty includes many of the most reactionary provisions of that Constitution, but bypasses the need for democratic accountability by referenda in many member states.
For example, the Treaty, if ratified by the electorate in the Twenty-Six Counties, will provide for the removal of state vetoes in over 50 key policy areas, entitle the EU to conclude agreements and treaties in the name of all member states and harmonise market policy – leaving the door open for even more right-wing legislation.”
Brian continued, “There is an alternative to this dangerous longing for superpower status. It begins with the electorate using their right in the upcoming referendum to deny the unelected bureaucrats of the EU a further say over the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
When the electorate in the Twenty-Six Counties go to the polls on this issue, they will be voting not just on behalf of themselves but on behalf of every European citizen who is denied a vote on this most important of matters, most particularly our fellow Irish citizens in the Six Counties who are denied a say due to the continuing British occupation.
A majority No Vote in the referendum will open the door for a more solidly democratic debate on the possibility of cooperation between European states, as opposed to the building of an anti-democratic power structure.
Éirígí is of the firm belief that the alternative is cooperation between citizens in all the European countries on the basis of solidarity and respect for rights. We look forward to progressing this agenda in the time ahead with the CAEUC.”