Alliance Against Nice
“A Europe for People – Not Profits / War”
Vote “No” to the Nice Treaty
Press Conference, Buswells Hotel, Dublin
Press Statement - 19th September 2002
Major Alliance Launched in Campaign for “No” Vote.
A major coming together of political parties and Left groups today launches a new “Alliance Against Nice”.
The political parties and groups in the Alliance have a proven record of campaigning for workers’ rights, against militarism and the armaments industry and in defence of the environment.
The formation of the Alliance demonstrates the seriousness of the participants about waging a coherent and authoritative campaign to highlight the kind of Europe envisaged by the proponents of the Nice Treaty and to pose a real alternative for ordinary voters.
The Alliance Against Nice is made up of The Green Party, Sinn Féin, The Socialist Party, The Tipperary Workers and Unemployed Action Group and Seamus Healy T.D., Tony Gregory T.D., Finnian McGrath T.D., The Workers Party, The Socialist Workers Party, The Irish Socialist Network, The Independent Socialist Forum Against Nice and Mick O’ Reilly (member, ATGWU)
While all groups involved will have their own respective vigorous Referendum Campaigns, the Alliance has agreed a common political platform and joint actions.
Alliance Against Nice
“A Europe for People, Not Profits/ War”
Political Platform
The Alliance Against Nice is an Alliance of parties, groups and individuals who have proven records as campaigners for the rights of working class people, environmental protection and opposition to militarism.
The Needs of People before Profit
The Alliance Against Nice opposes the drive toward economic “liberalisation” which means wholesale privatisation of public services and state or semi-state enterprises while also attacking subsidisation of such services. The proposed new Article 133 of the Treaty on European Union consolidates these policies which are largely dictated by multinational corporations working through powerful lobbies such as the European Round Table of Industrialists.
The Alliance defends public ownership with democratic structures in key areas such as health, education, energy, telecommunications, postal services, water provision as well as recycling and refuse services.
No to Militarism
The Alliance opposes the strategy to create a European Army and an EU armaments industry.
The provision in the Nice Treaty for a political and security committee with permanent structures located in Brussels significantly advances the strategy to militarise the European Union.
The Alliance campaigns for the massive resources obscenely wasted on arms production to be invested instead in transforming the lives of those afflicted with hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and conflict worldwide.
The Alliance strenuously opposes any attack by the Western powers on Iraq and opposes any EU involvement if such an attack takes place and, in particular, campaigns that no facilities are made available in this State for American or other warplanes involved in such an attack.
A Europe for Working People
The Alliance campaigns against further attacks on the democratic rights of ordinary people in the EU as represented in proposals for the future of the EU Commission and “Enhanced Co-Operation”.
The Alliance campaigns to protect workers’ rights and living standards including adequate unemployment benefit and decent pensions.
The Alliance campaigns for the civil and economic rights of immigrant workers and strenuously opposes racism and xenophobia.
The Alliance supports the right of any country to join the EU who wishes to but rejects the claim that Nice is necessary for the enlargement of the Union.
The Alliance believes the real issue is that the conditions for enlargement contained in Nice will have a negative, possibly disastrous effect on workers and small farmers in many applicant countries. Nice will overnight impose neo-liberal policies on new member countries that will destroy public enterprises, jobs and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of small farmers.
For Real Democracy
The alliance stands for a democratic Europe. Power has been progressively transferred from national parliaments to Europe but there has been no reciprocal democratisation of the European institutions. The gap between citizen and the decision-maker, the governing and the governed has widened. The EU is a centralised and bureaucratic construction largely divorced from citizens of the EU. Further integration and federalism will not address the democratic deficit; it will simply cause it to increase.
The Alliance stands for a Europe where the wealth and resources are developed under democratic ownership and control to meet the real needs of the great majority as opposed to the superprofits of the major multinational corporations.
The Alliance calls for united action by working people, the ranks of the Trade Union Movement, environmental groups as well as anti-racist or civil rights organisations in the struggle for this new Europe.
Alliance Against Nice
“A Europe for People, Not Profits/ War”
Joint Action leading up to the Referendum Vote
Each of the parties and groups forming the alliance against Nice will have a fully fledged campaign, including in many cases canvassing, mass information leaflet distribution, public meetings and street activity.
The Alliance will organise mass rallies Dublin, Cork, Limerick Galway and other centers. Prominent speakers from the Dáil parties and other groups will address these meetings.
There will be mass distribution of an Alliance leaflet and active campaigning on the ground leading up to the public rallies.
There will be regular press conferences responding to the major issues raised during the Campaign.
Members of the Alliance would welcome public debates with proponents of the Nice Treaty
Contacts:
Paul Gogarty T.D. (Green Party) (01 - 003531 from the North) 618 3022
Aengus Ó Snodaigh T.D. (Sinn Féin) (01 - 003531 from the North) 618 4084
Joe Higgins T.D. (Socialist Party) (01 - 003531 from the North) 618 3038
Seamus Healy T.D. (01 - 003531 from the North) 618 3859
Tony Gregory T.D. (01 - 003531 from the North) 618 3488
Finian McGrath T.D. (01 - 003531 from the North) 618 3942
Aindriás Ó Cathasaigh (Independent Socialist Forum Against Nice) 087 2702045
Ann Marie O’Connor (Irish Socialist Network) 087 9444077
Richard Boyd-Barrett (Socialist Workers’ Party) 087 6329511
John Jefferies (Workers’ Party) 086 3004573
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