The new EU Constitution

national | eu | opinion/analysis

Thursday July 08, 2004 01:04

by MW

markwalshe at caramail dot com

Much celebration and praise, but what does the new EU Constitution contain?

As the Irish presidency of the EU came to an end last week, the political establishment was unanimous on the agreement reached on a new constitutional treaty: it was an unqualified success. The Irish Times hailed it as ‘historic and unprecedented’ and praised the Government for a job well done:

“The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, his Ministers and officials must be congratulated for the intense and focused work which has brought it to a conclusion.” (‘Historic and unprecedented’, Irish Times editorial, 19 June 2004)

According to Minister for Europe, Dick Roche, speaking on Saturday View (3 July 2004), press clippings from across Europe showed that there was ‘extraordinary praise’ for the Government’s achievements. On the same programme, Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell, who recently topped the poll in the European elections in the Dublin constituency, praised the media and the Government:

“The media has been very generous in its praise and I think that that praise is due. I think that the presidency has done a very good job... Fair play to the Government.” (Saturday View)

Even Vincent Browne, who has described the new constitution as ‘deeply-flawed’, joined in the chorus, praising Bertie Ahern, ‘this ordinary man [who] has had spectacular success in the last few days.’ (‘A nice man deserving of praise’, Irish Times, 23 June 2004)

And we, the people, are expected to share in the glory. Dick Roche again:

“It is a pity that we in Ireland can't, when we are successful, as a nation — and I don't mean politically — but when we are successful as a nation, I think it's a pity that we don't bask in it. We as a nation should take pride [in our achievements]”. (Saturday View)

Given the near-universal praise from all sections of the political establishment, from all the parties to practically the entire media, it’s not clear who he believes the ‘begrudgers’ and the ‘cynics’ to be. But what are we to take pride in? Why, as working people, should we celebrate the ‘achievements’ of the Irish presidency?

Continuing to trumpet the ‘achievements’ of the presidency, Dick Roche hints at the answer:

“We did miraculous things: we launched the Lisbon Agenda, which is going to be important in terms of people’s jobs, even if they don't know it.” (Saturday View)

And that’s precisely the point: even if they don’t know it. Dick Roche knows well that the Government has successfully avoided debate on what’s actually in the new EU Constitution, of which the Lisbon Agenda is a crucial part. Consequently, we don’t know what the Lisbon Agenda is, nor what implications it will have for our jobs.

So how can we possibly celebrate the the Government’s ‘achievements’? Are we expected to assume that it will be in our interests? Are we expected to believe that the Government will act in our interests in the same way it does in relation to Health and Education, in relation to the invasion of Iraq, in relation to the Nice referenda, in relation to the Citizenship Referendum?

The media has been crucially subservient in helping the Government avoid the debate by focusing on key questions such as whether Bertie Ahern might be the right man for president of the European Commission! The Irish Times ran a sycophantic, cringe-making editorial on the matter, which was entitled ‘Allez, Bertie, Allez!’ (Go, Bertie, Go!) and began: ‘Wanted: safe, tactful pair of politically tested hands from a centre party and small country.’ (‘Allez, Bertie, Allez!’, Irish Times editorial, 22 June 2004)

The media often portrays people as apathetic, uninvolved, almost oblivious to political matters, particularly in relation to the EU. Headlines such as ‘90% of teenagers polled unable to name local MEP’ (Irish Times, 7 May 2004) suggest that people are not really interested and therefore there’s no point in going through the ‘minutiae’.

On Saturday View (mentioned earlier), an RTE reporter did a vox pop on the streets of Dublin. One of the questions was: ‘Can you name the country that the EU presidency now passes to?’ There were lots of dumb-struck people, who hemmed and hawed before coming out with ‘Portugal’ or a straight ‘no idea’. One or two correctly named Holland, but the overall impression given was of people who didn’t really know and didn’t really care one way or the other.

Thus the Government and the mainstream media avoid the substantive issues. It all amounts to propaganda of course, because people are concerned about the direction of the EU. Wherever they are held, high profile EU meetings are now met with protests such as those organised in Dublin by the Another Europe is Possible alliance and anarchist groups on May Day this year.

The European election results have also shown a depth of anti-EU feeling that has prompted politicians to speak of the need to ‘sell’ the EU to voters. Thus outgoing president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, said that the low turnout and the gains made by anti-EU parties in some countries highlighted the need for mainstream national politicians to explain their views on Europe more clearly:

"I believe, as a pro-European, that there is a message from the results and the message is to our political leaders across the EU, that if they believe in the Union, they have a special responsibility to give leadership and to go out and sell what they believe in.” (‘Anti-EU vote “a warning” for states – Cox’, Irish Times, 15 June 2004)

In other words, it’s a marketing problem. Voters must be convinced of the wisdom of what’s already been decided. There will be no room for discussion or debate. It’s a matter of convincing the voters to ratify it:

“…the concluding compromises made last month preserved the document's basic integrity. This will make it easier to convince voters it should be ratified. That will require a political campaign to advocate and explain it here and throughout the EU over the next two years.” (A successful EU presidency, Irish Times editorial, 3 July 2004)

So what kind of ‘political campaign’ can we expect over the next two years? Let me make a prediction: the Government and the media will continue to avoid the debate on the substantive issues until close to the date of the referendum. Then it will effectively define the terms of the debate, warning us against turning our backs on an EU which has served us so well. Pro-establishment academics such as Brigid Laffan of UCD will appear on every TV and radio show from Questions and Answers to Prime Time to The Last Word to Five-Seven Live to Tonight with Vincent Browne… urging us to vote Yes.

Business groups will row in behind the Government, providing substantial funds for an aggressive advertising campaign. When we vote No the first time, we will be told, in patronising and paternalistic tones, that we didn’t really understand the complex issues involved. The question will then arise as to whether there should be another re-run, as we had with the Nice Treaty.

It’s not yet clear what form the ‘political campaign’ will take in the shorter term, but perhaps it has already begun with the lavish praise heaped on the Government over the past few weeks, and all the mutual back-slapping self-congratulation. As socialists, I think the best way to proceed is to educate ourselves and others on the implications of the new constitution. There are already a number of important sources, such as, for example, an article by DAPSE entitled ‘Europe at the Crossroads: Health and Education as Business Opportunity?’, which can be found at http://www.pana.ie/idn/301203.html You can listen back to the Saturday View programme of 3 July at http://www.rte.ie/radio1/saturdayview/ before Saturday 10 July.

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Comments (21 of 21)

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porker

by Tony

Mon Nov 01, 2004 00:37

Couldn't be clearer.

Re: Where are we based ...

by Porky "Bilderberg" Sutherland

Sun Oct 31, 2004 23:15

Well Tony I guess you could say we're a sort of a global thang, don'tcha know ....
Like a multinational sort of an arrangement.
I'm sure you know what I mean.

:Porky

Sun Oct 31, 2004 20:18

Well of course - Where is this fan club based?.

Thank you Tony

by porky "bilderberg" sutherland

Sun Oct 31, 2004 19:58

I always felt that we could count on your support. I take your submission as an endorsement of a "Yes" vote .....

Addendum

Sat Oct 30, 2004 14:23

Equally insulting is the proposition that the agreement on Irish soil is a factor to vote yes rather than a principled reason to.

Keeping (insert your country here) at the "heart" of Europe is an interesting but meaningless sentiment employed by Europhiles in (insert your country here)

Calmly Confident

Sat Oct 30, 2004 13:23

I am calmly confident that the plain people of Ireland know what is expected of them by their lords and masters and that they will rally to the ballot box to fulfil their duty just as they did on the occasion of Nice II .....

Long live the EU consitution !
A small but important step on the way to the One World Government and the global hegemony of CAPITAL !

Do not allow yourselves to be swayed by those naive deluded romantics who still believe in the chimera of national sovereignty .....

"All the hysterical hyperbolae about the loss of the national identity and so on may be believed by a growing number of people who have been provided with an illusory view of the reality of the national sovereignty that we actually have."

Sat Oct 30, 2004 12:35

I don't suppose you have actually read that turgid, impenetrable encyclopedia of political correctness, social engineering and socialism that is the "EU Constitution" by chance?

The assumption that Ireland can be counted upon to ratify this ideological and de facto power lunge is an assumption that underpinned the first Nice vote defeat.

History repeating and all that.

somebody noticed?

by pc

Fri Oct 29, 2004 18:35

Today's Dáil protest was organised by the so-called People's Movement, which claimed the EU Constitution would diminish Ireland's independence and speed up moves towards a federal Europe.

Opponents of EU Constitution stage Dáil protest

Euraisa

by john oakley

Fri Oct 29, 2004 17:38

I agree with paul above. Indeed George Orwell predicted the way that modern society is heading in 1984. People all over the word though are indeed waking up. Biometric ID cards, cashless society, RFID on clothes to track people. It's like a scary Sci-Fi film indeed.
The controlled media will have us think that the EU equals greater rights for all, but these commissioners are not even elected by the people. Think Peter Mandleson all the scandals he had yet he was elected the UK representative (minister).
This is incredulous what is happening, people in the Left and Right and Greens etc. are finally waking up to be sure.
We definitely do not want a Stalinist centralised state in the EU.
Oh how nice it is that France and the UK will get to vote on this one!! Isn't it fantastic we are given this privelige! What great leaders we have, how democratic we are!!!
Its outrageous. The Irish people should reject this, while they still have the right to vote.Electronic voting though will soon stamp that problem of peoples opinions out!

I agree EU constitution is a Superstate

by paul patriot

Fri Oct 29, 2004 17:25

Guys and girls wake up!!
Forget the left/right paradigm, it historicaly is just an illusion. look at infowars.com it is not a conspiracy theory it is a conspiracy fact. This Globalisation New World order Agenda is piting Monopoly Capitalism against Fabian Socialism, it is all the same thing set up by the same elites and bankers.
Ireland is a constitutional republic, we are not a democracy, even plato said that democracy can lead to tyrany. Think of it why is so much crap imposed on us (Unconstitutionaly) that the government knows it will be unpopular.Its because they have no choice the international bankers the IMF(which is a private bank) etc run the show.
The EU constitution = the death of the Irish constitution, the irish nation. Welcome to the western province of Euraisia sector 2!!! Its a sad day , I am not speaking in terms of left/right republican/unionists but for all people of Ireland we are doomed if we allow this be imposed on us.
Bit by bit our nationhood is being taken away ,
our judicial system our social policy, our ability to protect peoples health and interests.
GM foods being allowed in , Vitamins being banned, neutrality scraped, austerity measures, "public private " partnership, which actualy means selling off taxpayers assets to elites!
Wake up people incrementaly we are loosing our rights.
Constitutional rights you are born with, they are not given by governments, please research this educate each other and get active.
For cynics and the curious
genuinely read these websites, with the documentation of what the "global agenda" is.
www.savethemales.ca
www.infowars.com
www.policestate.com

29th October. 2004 signing date.

by iosaf

Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:48

venue - Rome.

Report brands Irish Republic 'corrupt'

by Re Peter

Sun Jul 11, 2004 01:02

The Republic of Ireland has been branded "one of the most corrupt countries in Europe" in a report commissioned by a British-based charitable trust.
The report declared that corruption was a central theme of life in Ireland and that human rights standards were below international levels.

Commissioned by the British-based Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the report said: "Ireland is now regarded as one of the more corrupt European states - and to have lost a considerable amount of foreign investment because of its international reputation."

The report, prepared by independent social researcher Brian Harvey, was published on Thursday following a baseline study almost a decade ago.

Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey faced cash allegations

It coincided with continuing proceedings at tribunals of inquiry into payments made to Irish politicians - including three-times former Prime Minister Charles Haughey - and alleged planning irregularities also implicating senior political figures, as well as a number of scandals.

But Mr Harvey found that while the continuing investigations had "done much to determine the nature of corruption, changes to improve the political and administrative system have been minimal".

"The fact that the problem is systemic has yet to be fully recognised. It is a serious gap in the modernisation of Irish governments," he added.

Mr Harvey called for the establishment of a special independent body to monitor corruption and cronyism in public life.

'Widening inequality'

His report also said the Irish Republic had "widening levels of inequality, extraordinarily low levels of investment in public services, and a depressing record on environmental protection".

He said that despite years of "unprecedented wealth" in the Republic of Ireland, resources had been squandered with many public services, especially health, in a worse state than ever.

The report also said the state was in breach of five international agreements related to the treatment of mentally-ill prisoners.

"It's unacceptable in the face of evidence about the widespread abuse of human rights that many would have characterised as being a feature of the Soviet system many years ago," Mr Harvey added.

Mr Harvey said problems requiring "urgent action" included:

A lack of police accountability to the government or the public
The "taboo subject" of links between the judiciary and political parties
Public appointments to state-run bodies.

Do YOU trust 'em?

Let the People Speak

by Web Comments

Sun Jul 11, 2004 00:54

Maybe he is past his peak. It would be fairly hard to top passports for sale, signing blank cheques for Haughy, appointing Ray Burke, lying about a referendum on Partnership for Peace, appointing Liam Lawlor to an ethics committee, the Bertie Bowl fiasco, losing a Nice referendum through sheer indolence and arrogance, the Flood Tribunal, lying to the electorate about public finances, said public finances being up in a heap and allowing himself and other cabinet ministers to flit about the country opening pubs and off-licences at the tax-payer's expense, and generally removing the last vestiges of dignity and honesty from the Office of the Taoiseach. Pretty hard to top all that!
Tim

Enda Kenny and the rest of us may be in for quite a few more surprises before the "past his peak" comment is fully justified. For sheer pompous arrogance you can't beat the news that in the event of a NO vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Nice Treaty the will of the Irish people will be converted to a YES by means of a Dail Declaration. Only an arrogant nutter would resort to such low tactics whilst retaining a smirk on his face like Al Capone escaping a murder charge on a technicality - such people reach many peaks and I'm afraid we shall continue to witness our Great Leader and his running dogs literally urinate down the backs of the Irish people for some time to come. In a country where Dishonour is worn as a badge of courage and virtue, the old saying that "a people get a government as good as they are" has never been more true. We shall see many more peaks to be sure....
Patrick

Any "leader" who goes to the country with a referendum, and rejects the results of that referendum because he does not like them, should not be leading our country. He should have resigned months ago.
Doreen

Without doubt. If Bertie was working in any normal organisation, he wouldn't be on the payroll after having made so many blunders. But then again what's normal about the Dail. It's sad to note that the reports on yesterday's debate portray it as a triumph for Bertie and consequently a defeat for the truth.
Brian

Yes,He has been on the job much too long.What has he done? Statesman he is not,especially when compared to DeValera and LeMass. He has worked hard at staying in power,and that's it. Ireland needs new leadership to really prioritise on bringing about a solution ,once and for all,in bringing N/Ireand into a united Ireland.That is the most important project facing a new Leader.Mr Ahern had his chance and did nothing in this regard.Bye Bertie!
M.H.Casey,Mesa Az.

It amuses me to hear Bertie moaning in the Dáil about Fine Gael "diggin' up the dirt agin" for, if there wasn't any dirt to be dug up - then he'd have nothin' to wurry about - would he? As for his oft-repeated claim that he never "tuk a bribe" - might I remind him that one doesn't have to take a cash bribe to be corrupt - a free flight to Old Trafford or Celtic Park and a seat in a VIP private box might suffice for a simple soul like Bertie. Corruption can take many forms - it can mean signing blank cheques (drawn on accounts funded by the Irish taxpayer) for a crrok, or simply being present at meetings where "strokes" were discussed without expressing any disapproval. Bertie's three wise monkey/Bart Simpson defence is both pathetic and risible. He's fatally wounded - with more damage looming from Flood II - the only real question is whether he'll take Harney and others with him. p.s. Well said Tim!
Mossie

all 25 referenda will pass just so?

by bored libertarian - (actually when I'm bored I get less libertarian and more just like kooky)

Thu Jul 08, 2004 20:03

well done angry liberal, carry on.

I agree with seedot that the Nederlander stint will probably be less neo-liberal gun ho than the Irish, if not for being considerably closer to Berlin than Boston. (hee hee hee). But you can't forget that the Dutch truly are members of the merrovinginvanjan set. (a term of my linguistic masturbation of late) And as such
will most certainly shape the future €urope in many very important ways, if not as "showy" or heavy with cultural "kitsch" as the Irish efforts. In some ways the "showmanship" phase of 25 state Europe is gone now, the plucky english speaking Celtic Tiger passes over the final tightening of nuts & bolts to a core and founder member of the European multi-layered institutional organisations.
Ray has mentioned recently, that it wasn't always the "EU" true, meaning I presume to remind all of the other shells of the emrbyonic Euro-Super-State. the EC, the ECC, the ECouncil, the EFTA, the EAA, et cetera... which go far beyond the simple functions or effects of anything as bening as "trade block alone".
Thus it will be the Dutch as core and founder merrovinginvanjans that spell out the "cultural" remit of the future EU. I find this fascinating. They will talk of Immigration, and Lisbon and perhaps employment. They won't talk much of the weight they are going to put behind the creation of a Euro Security Agency which has been headed by "their man" for manmy months, with not a peep said.
They likewise won't say much about redefining the relationship between ECHR, NATO/OTAN and the EU. But they'll be busy doing just that. It's going to be a very interesting next six months. And very little any Irish boy or girl does, writes, thinks or says will make any difference at all now.

Get used to it. Bertie never actually made the point of politely reminding everyone of that.

by Angry Liberal

Thu Jul 08, 2004 17:40

I think the original post encouraging self education is very worthwhile.

I think as socialists you should welcome the charter of fundamental rights and the improved postion it will give to workers without having to rely on directives that go through a centre right parliament.

The referendum will pass.

Dutch will be an improvement on neo-liberalism

by seedot

Thu Jul 08, 2004 17:18

Despite the mention above of 'revitalising' Lisbon, there can be no doubt that the Dutch presidency will be less gung-ho neo-liberal than the Irish. An example of this can be seen in the area of Software Patents - when the Council of Ministers attempted to overturn 99 of the 120 amendments that the EU Parliament made to the Patents Directive. This initiative was heavily promoted by Mary Harney in her guise of 'Friend of Microsoft'.

"On July 1st, the Dutch Parliament decided to direct Minister
Brinkhorst and Secretary of State van Gennip (Economic Affairs) to
withdraw the Dutch vote in support of the Council of Ministers' text
for the Directive on Software Patents. This is the first time in the
history of the EU that such a course of action has been undertaken."

the lie of the land-

by iosaf - I've got a spoon and i'll ram it down your throat.

Thu Jul 08, 2004 15:00

The Dutch as you know intend to build on the Irish Presidency and set a date for ratifiaction of the Constitution.
The priorities of their presidency are -
1. convincing the European peoples that an enlarged Union works.
2. revitalising Lisbon and making the EU the largest info-based skilled economy in the world.
3. finding an accord on immigration.
4. finding an accord on terrorism.

Of the "takeover" speeches which ought be the most interesting made in the Nederlands in the last week this one is probably the most indicitave of attitudes there to the Dutch work ahead, their minister for Euro affairs makes many references to the need for "reform"- (in english)
http://www.eu2004.nl/default.asp?CMS_TCP=tcpAsset&id=A92DF4362EC447FCB42301072EA30B5C

The former Dutch Premier Mr Kok is presently preparing a review of Lisbon to be presented march 2005. The Dutch are doing nothing to give the impression that they find the task ahead of them easy. The largest problem being unemployment. When the Irish took the presidency I left all the links for European Social Security and Unemployment "the magic figure of 8%" and suggested Lisbon is impossible to achieve for the moment.
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62842

the last comment on that article gives the Dutch timetable for "putting Lisbon back on the agenda".

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62842&condense_comments=false#comment80899

Now read the material. You're not getting any pudding until you read the material and at least make a small effort to get the names right.

The €U president's name is Balkenende.
This is very easy to remember-
think "balkans" and "end" and you'll have it.
The other important €U minister for the rest of the year is Mr Nikolai.
think "last czar of Russia" or something.

Access the info and educate yourselves

by Douglas McDonnell

Thu Jul 08, 2004 11:49

"Consequently, we don’t know what the Lisbon Agenda is, nor what implications it will have for our jobs.....Are we expected to assume that it will be in our interests? Are we expected to believe that the Government will act in our interests"

That attitude is a consequence of sitting on your arse and being spoonfed the answers.

I absolutely agree with the assertion of the original poster, that the best thing for you to do 'IS' to educate yourselves about the EU and stop sitting around waiting for someone to tell you whats going on. All the information is there, there is no excuse for anyone who can read not to know exactly what the lisbon agenda is or what the implications of the EU constitution are.
people have to stop being spectators.

Constitution

by mmcl

Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:52

Marks comments are heavy on analysis of media comment both existing and forecast.

Going on previous referenda and indeed the Mc kenna judgement every appearance by Bridget Laffan and others will be balanced by an oppnent of further integration. Personally I like it that way as BL wins every debate with the no surrender faction.

The Lisbon process is nothing to do with the constitution, it is a set of policies relating to both competiveness and social protection. That's like saying a white paper on economics is intrinsically linked with bunreacht na heireann

Mark doesn't even to go on to say what the main points in the constitution are so here goes

1. Primarily the document simplifies exisitng treaties into one document which, excluding appendices and other material, is fairly straightforward

2. It incorporates the charter of fundamental rights, quite a progressive document, thereby allowing the European Court of Justice utilise it in relation to EU institutions and law

3. It once again reweights votes in the council of ministers but provides for blocking minorities.

4. It provides for a permanent president of the council rahter than rotating every six months

5. It provides for a permanent foreign minister for the EU

Most other provisions repeat what was in previous treaties in a more logical way.

This Constituion will never come into being

by Tina

Thu Jul 08, 2004 02:00

Tony Blair has promised a Referedum in the UK. There is zero chance of it being approved, therefore the constitution cannot be enacted, ever.

EU Constitution

by John

Thu Jul 08, 2004 01:58

You are living in a fantasy world if you think there is going to be a No vote. So, there won't be a 're-run'. The No vote in the first Nice referendum was the best thing that ever happened, as it woke the pro-EU parties up. The only reason there was a No vote in the first Nice referendum was that the pro-EU parties were asleep, made no effort to campaign at all, and made no effort to bring their vote out. They were complacent due to a string of easy victories in previous referenda and the fact that all polls in the run-up showed the Yes vote miles ahead. When they pulled their finger out in the second Nice referendum, they won easily. The next referendum will be carried by a far larger majority than in the second Nice referendum. At the recent elections anti-EU parties got 15% of the vote. You are fighting a lost cause, so why not just pack it in now and save yourselves the trouble. I predict that now that the arch anti-EU politician, Patricia McKenna, has departed the scene, the Green Party will jump off the anti-EU bandwagon and try and scramble aboard the pro-EU one. It has to do this because its vote is stuck at 4%, sensible people wont come near it while its aligned with the loony left on this issue, and it hopes for a junior ministry in a possible future Fine Gael-led Government. So, next time round, the anti-EU campaign will consist of Sinn Fein, a few loony left parties, and the National Platform, led by that guy whose name I can't remember but who has been leader of the losing side in every referendum since about 1893. I can't see that motley collection winning anything.

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