OPPOSE THE IMPERIALIST AGENDA OF THE GOTHENBURG SUMMIT

10 June 2001

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) stands in solidarity with all the organizations and people in opposing the imperialist agenda of the heads of states in the European Union Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden from June 15 to 16, 2001. 

Since the 70’s, the imperialists led by the US, have pushed so-called free market policies in the wake of the failure of Keynesianism to cope with the worsening crisis of the world capitalist system.  Hiding behind the banner of “free market globalization”, imperialism has embarked on the most rapacious plunder of the world’s natural and social wealth. 

“Free market” globalization has meant unbridled superprofit-taking and the accelerated concentration and centralization of capital in a few industrial capitalist countries and among the biggest monopoly capitalists, and the wholesale transfer of public funds and resources to the monopoly bourgeoisie.  US imperialism has been most aggrandized by “free market” globalization.

But for the workers and other oppressed classes, it has meant the reduction of the wage fund, mass unemployment, cut backs on social benefits, the loss of hard-won rights and job insecurity.  In short, more intensified exploitation and oppression and more misery for all the working people.

As moribund and decadent capitalism reels from its severe crisis of overproduction and the heightened resistance of the people of the world against their exploiters and oppressors, the imperialists attempt to put their act together in the Gothenburg EU Summit.  They collude to exploit and oppress the people.  At the same time, they intensify their rivalry for control of resources and markets.

In this Summit, the EU heads of states plan to discuss and set forth the expansion of the European Union as did the U.S. in the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas last April. The most powerful countries in the European Union such as Germany, France and Great Britain are set to gobble up the weaker economies, especially of the countries in Eastern Europe. The big sticking point among the imperialists in the summit is whether or not to allow the free movement of people from the less developed economies of the former Soviet bloc who are applying for membership in the European Union. 

President George W. Bush will be attending the Gothenburg Summit to make sure that US economic, political and military interests are served and US imperialist dominance is assured. It is fitting that his prospective appearance at the EU Summit is arousing public indignation.

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle, comprising over 220 anti-imperialist and democratic organizations from 40 countries covering all the regions of the globe, stands directly against the anti-worker and anti-people agenda of the European Council and the expansion and consolidation of European imperialists in the region.

With its successful founding through its First International Assembly held on 25-27 May 2001 in the Netherlands, the ILPS brings together the sentiments and standpoint of the people of the world against such international institutions and free trade regions that intensify imperialism’s plunder of the world’s natural and social wealth.  The coming together and forging of strong unity among progressive anti-imperialist forces throughout the world is evidence of the growing resistance by the people against imperialism and its current “free market” policies.

Building on its successful establishment, the ILPS stands firm in its resolve to fight imperialism.  The workers and oppressed people of the world are prepared to fight imperialism in a growing crescendo of struggles for national independence, democracy and social liberation.  The ILPS is committed to help raise the consciousness and militancy of the toiling masses and oppressed peoples in the common struggle against the imperialists and their socio-economic, political and cultural instruments as embodied in this Gothenburg Summit of the European Union.

Expose and oppose the imperialist agenda of the Gothenburg EU Summit!

Down with US and European imperialism!

Long Live international solidarity!

For the International Coordinating Committee of the ILPS:

Crispin Beltran

Chairperson

International League of Peoples’ Struggle