“What does the future hold for Europe?”

dublin | eu | press release Monday May 08, 2006 20:56 by Sinéad Ní Bhroin - The Campaign Against the EU Constitution email at caeuc dot org 0879266764

“What does the future hold for Europe?”

The European Parliament has posed this question as the theme for the European Day celebrations which took place on the 8th & 9th of May. In Austria, European Parliament President Josep Borrell and the Commission President José Manuel Barroso will be presiding over a forum to discuss the European Union in the world, globalisation and the EU social model, liberty security and justice, and the future funding of the EU.

Representatives of 29 national parliaments and the European Parliament will also be meeting today and tomorrow to debate questions of concern about the future of the EU as part of the reflection period on the future of Europe.

Bertie Ahern is tonight hosting an event in City Hall for Dublin City Councillors & other public representatives to celebrate European Day.

Cllr. Daithi Doolan, Sinn Fein Dublin Representative on European Affairs, will be presenting the Taoiseach with a letter on behalf of The Campaign Against the EU Constitution (CAEUC) - a collective of political parties, organizations, activists and concerned citizens who want a Europe based on social justice & democracy.

The Campaign asked that the Taoiseach & the Irish Government to begin meaningful dialogue with the Irish people on the future of Europe. Despite promises by all heads of state of a period of reflection on Europe after the French and Dutch rejections of the EU Constitution, there has been no action by our Government to create a mechanism by which Irish citizens can in real terms contribute to this debate.

The campaign drew Mr. Ahern’s attention to the primary reason for the French and Dutch NON votes: a rejection of the neoliberal policies contained in the EU Constitution. Threats to employment caused by neoliberal globalization, and a desire for high quality social protection, remain the primary concerns of citizens across Europe, as revealed in the Eurobarometer poll published on May 5th.

We noted Ireland’s long tradition of civilian power with a deep respect for neutrality. A debate will take place within the Dail before the summer recess on legislation with regard to Ireland’s further participation in EU battlegroups. We called on the Government to inform the public of these legislative changes so that we can exercise our democratic right to reject advanced militarisation of our society.

Currently it appears that the EU’s leaders are not attentive to the concerns of their citizens. An example of this is the Services Directive, which is intended to liberalise trade in services across the EU - including essential public services. Whilst the Directive was amended considerably by the Parliament during its first reading, there remain many momentous concerns with regard to workers rights and the protection of all public services against commercial pressures. Commissioner McCreevy has recently redrafted the Directive. We have particular concerns about this redraft with regard to social services and healthcare.

The spirit of the Directive has been to service business and not the needs of Europe’s citizens. We believe it is an attack on the social model of Europe. We call on Bertie Ahern and his government to reject the Services Directive when it is presented to the Council of Ministers later this year.

Another Europe is Possible.