Renamed EU Consitution

by John Meehan - CAEUC / Alternatives to Neoliberalism Tue Oct 30, 2007 22:17

Press Release on the Susan George Meeting on November 3 :

Reform Constitution – bad for Europe, bad for Ireland

In the week when unequal access to healthcare has led to the tragic death of Susie Long, Bertie Ahern and the heads of Europe's governments have agreed a treaty which will cause more such unnecessary deaths. The Reform Constitution they want to foist on the peoples of Europe regards all services – health, education, water, public transport, etc. - as a business opportunity.

Healthcare as a business – private hospitals, health insurance, etc – means those who can afford it get prompt treatment while those on lower incomes have to wait, if they live long enough. The Reform Constitution demands the 'liberalisation of trade' in health and other public services, which means privatisation.. Governments must encourage and allow public services to be run as a business.

The Reform Constitution commits the unaccountable European Central Bank to maintain price stability and control inflation – not reduce unemployment and poverty, East-West inequality or child poverty. Governments would be punished for spending too much; but leaving children go hungry and sick has no sanction. The Reform Constitution – despite the lofty aspirations in the Charter of Fundamental Rights – would set in stone the policies that cause inequality.

The Reform Constitution would increase the militarisation of the EU: all states would have to increase military spending. It commits the EU to work with NATO and in doing so would tie Europe to the foreign policy of the USA, which dominates NATO and is prepared to use first-strike nuclear weapons. In this framework a new EU foreign minister would represent the countries of Europe, undermining independence and neutrality.

The Reform Constitution gives a few new powers to the European Parliament, but takes away existing powers from member states in over 50 areas and consolidates the European Commission's power to draft and enact new laws. So democracy and accountability are further undermined.

The reform Constitution would take Europe in the direction of greater social inequality and increased militarisation. This is the wrong direction and it is what the people of France and the Netherlands voted against. We call for referendums on the Reform Constitution in all of the countries of Europe: the European elites should not be allowed to undemocratically determine the political direction of the EU for generations to come. We call for 'NO' vote in the coming referendum, as the first step towards a more equal, democratic and peaceful Europe.

Susan George will speak at a public discussion on the Reform Constitution on Nov 3 in Liberty Hall at 11.00.

€10 admission / concessions for low-waged

by NO Sat Oct 27, 2007 23:07

Theres an old saying IF IN DOUBT SAY NO , the easiest option and this goes for all walks of life. We have not comitted ourselves. On the other hand by saying YES to make things easier on us, then we are walking into erious trouble and making a bigger hole for ourselves and Why? We were never forced to...

by W. Finnerty. Fri Oct 26, 2007 17:36

If the people of the Republic of Ireland have any sense left in them, they will have NOTHING whatsoever to do this "new" European Constitution.

All it will do, which is what it is designed to do, is to greatly strengthen the present "government of the corrupt, by the corrupt, for the corrupt" style of "democracy" (so called) that we already have - i.e. "elected dictatorship" in reality, which the despotic cliques force-feed their victims with by cherry-picking the law to suit their own purposes, and which includes unlimited bullying for anybody who gets in their way.

Consider (for example) the fact that, in spite of several e-mail REMINDERS I have sent to him AND his senior colleagues in the meantime, our Chief Justice John L. Murray is STILL FAILING TO ANSWER the letter I sent to him through the registered post on August 28th 2007, a copy of which can be seen at: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...r.htm

by C Murray Fri Oct 26, 2007 15:46

The 4% that was 'removed' is article 3.3- otherwise known as the Convention on Rights.
It is to be attached as protocol. This was debated in July under the aegis of the Forum
on Europe [government funded].

Other changes include the creation of a more permanent longer lasting presidency and
a foreign affairs supremo (Blair's name was bandied about in Lisbon as a potential
candidate).

http://www.forumoneurope.ie/index.asp?IocID&docID1252

The British want a debate regarding referendum, Brown has said there will
be no Referendum but has opened a three month consultation window on the matter.
Here the public fora are not independent and the issue is not being 'brought out' with
Irish Times only printing info regarding what we may lose if we do not agree- without
providing information on the changes or the likely repurcussions of the Treaty in terms
of rights or food production/provision.