Open Meeting to discuss EU Reform Treaty Referendum

by Sper - SP Thu Jan 17, 2008 13:37 info at socialistparty dot net 141 Thomas Street, Dublin 8 01 6772592

Madam,

Harry McGee of your Political Staff says that Mr. Declan Ganly, Chairman of the right wing group, Libertas, 'has found himself as the de facto figurehead of the campaign against the Treaty of Lisbon.' (The Irish Times Weekend Review, January 12). Mr Ganly is no such thing.

The Irish Times seems anxious to tar those who will campaign against this latest EU Treaty with a right wing brush. On two recent occasions, on a flimsy pretext, your correspondents have suggested the possibility that the politically repulsive Jean Marie Le Pen, Leader of the French National Front, might come here to 'assist the No Campaign.' In fact his presence would be a major hindrance.

One of Mr Ganly's problems with the Lisbon Treaty is that it does not give enough latitute to business corporations to engage in cut throat competition in the ruthless pursuit of private profit. As if it weren't enough that they have initiated the 'race to the bottom' - the use of vulnerable migrant and other low paid workers to undercut established wage levels and conditions - together with the push for privatisation of public services and attacks on workers' pension rights.

It is rather rich for Mr Ganly to pose as a defender of democraccy in Europe. He enriched himself from speculation in public assets privatised by the corrupt bureaucracies who previously controlled the Soviet Union and satellite states as personal fiefdoms. He was involved in the notorious 'privatisation vouchers' scheme in Albania which later caused an economic and social collapse. The level of Mr Ganly's concern for the proper planning and development of resources in the interests of the ordinary people of Albania can be deducted from the fact that he appointed the late Mr Liam Lawlor as an advisor to his privatisation projects!

Mr Ganly's business dealings in Eastern Europe mirrors those of the infamous Russian oligarchs, those individuals who became obscenely rich in a short time by seizing private control of socials assets that properly belonged to the Russian people, very many of whom were left in abject poverty by the privatisation process.

Privatisation and militarisation are further advanced within the EU by the proposals in the Lisbon Treaty. The Socialist Party will be advocating that working people in Ireland reject it. We will be campaigning both independenty and in co-operation with other genuine opponents of neo liberalism and capitalist globalisation, and certainly not as part of groupings who stand for an even more right wing agenda than that already enshrined in the European Unoion.

Yours, etc,

Joe Higgins
(Socialist Party Spokesperson)

by MichaelY - Campaign Against the Lisbon Treaty Thu Jan 17, 2008 15:31

Good to see Joe's letter today. He's absolutely right in dissing some of the media bullshit that Ganley and his Libertas Group are somehow at the helm of the NO campaign.
There are at least three groupings on the progressive side of the NO Campaign working togther: the National Platform and Dr. Coughlan, the Peoples Movement that has been holding meetings in Liberty Hall and nationally since November and the Campaign against the re-constituted EU Constitution Campaign - the Lisbon Treaty. Eirigi is also working for a NO vote

Kathy Sinnott's Group established after a large meeting last Saturday will also work for a NO vote. Their politics are at the moment in development and let us wait and see.

.For our campaign, the CAEUC, to which PANA, Sinn Fein, the Workers Party, the SWP, the iawm and many independents are affiliated, the key question is ‘What values do we want to see reflected in EU laws and policies in the 21st century?’

We want essential public services such as health, education and water supplies provided equally to all! We are not willing to watch the rundown of those services, along with increasing private provision where those who can afford it pay for a better quality service and the rest make do.

We want an approach to international relations that seeks to resolve conflicts without military action or support for despotic regimes! We do not see the need for increased military spending, sending Irish soldiers into EU battlegroups and to be party to US foreign and military policy abroad (see the forthcoming adventure in Chad where Irish troops will be guarding French uranium mines). The use of Shannon by US troops and torture flights should be stopped now.

We want economic policies that prioritize full employment and sustainable development, here and elsewhere! We do not want an economic policy, as argued by the European Central Bank (ECB), where a so-called price stability and restrictions on state borrowing determine everything, even if the outcome is unemployment, wage dumping and cuts in public services.

We want to call a halt to an increasingly remote way of making laws and acting at a European level, review what is happening and discuss a better way to proceed! We do not want more decisions affecting our lives to be made in a way over which we have little or no control, by people who cannot be called to account, and enshrined in laws we cannot revise ! Remember, over 80% of domestic law already comes from EU decisions. #

The Lisbon Treaty – the same in substance as the previous EU Constitution – would take us in the direction of more privatisation, more right-wing economic policy, more militarisation and less democratic control. This is why French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005 and that’s why we should reject it here in Ireland when the referendum is called.

The CAEUC opposes the new treaty because a social Europe should defend universal access to high quality public services – available by right; economic policy should aim for full employment and balanced, sustainable development; legal and human rights should be levelled up and Fortress Europe ended. Europe should be demilitarised and nuclear weapons decommissioned. Finally, decision-making should be democratic and accountable.

This is a long way from Ganley and Libertas - we believe it is close to our Socialist Party comrades and we are inviting them to work with us, as well as independently for a large turnout and a massive NO vote.

by SP - Socialist Party Thu Jan 17, 2008 17:19 info at socialistparty dot net 141 Thomas Street 00353 1 6772592

17th January 2008

Dear Comrades and Friends,

As you are aware, the EU Constitution has essentially been reframed as the EU Reform Treaty and is likely to be put in a Referendum in the first half of the year. Some campaigns and initiatives have been established and taken with a view to maximising the no vote, highlighting different progressive arguments as to why people should vote no. You are also aware that some rightwing reactionary elements, particularly Libertas, will have very significant resources with which to try and influence opinion and the campaign.

Notwithstanding other campaigns or initiatives that you may be involved in or the initiatives that you may be undertaking yourselves, the Socialist Party would like to invite you to a meeting to discuss the Referendum, the campaign and the possibility of organising some joint activities etc.

We would like to discuss if there is the basis and possibility of co-operation, joint activities or the establishment of a campaign that opposes the referendum from a leftwing, working class point of view. In particular, we believe it is important this time to try to establish a platform that emphasises the big business character of the EU, opposition to privatisation and the need for a defence of workers’ rights and a range of proper public services.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 6th of February at 6.30pm in the Teachers Club on Parnell Square, Dublin 1 and we hope you can send some representatives along.

Yours fraternally,
Joe Higgins
On behalf of the Socialist Party

by FG Thu Jan 17, 2008 17:22

This Socialist Party invitation is probably not as arrogant and sectarian as it looks. It is possible that the Socialist Party may not have known that there already IS a broadbased leftwing campaign for a 'No' vote in existence: CAEUC. It has been meeting and working for months.

This lack of knowledge could be as much the fault of the left involved with CAEUC as of the Socialist Party. The left is getting very diverse and 'spread out' which is a kind of 'positive' fault of growth, and needs more inter-communication. But also, the left is congealing into a number of camps remote from each other, even socially. Some are so isolationist that they might not even be on the grapevine.

The CAEUC should go along to the SP-convened meeting and invite all there to come on board the CAEUC with the rest. The Socialist Party would be a very beneficial addition to the united left campaign.

by MichaelY - Campaign Against the Lisbon Treaty Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:52

I agree fully with FG above. The issue here is not to criticise or blame other activists. It's great that the SP is organisng a meeting on the Lisbon Treaty. Joe's letters to the IT and to the Trades Council are also very welcome.

A couple of points: A few SP activists have already joined the CAEUC Constituency group in Baldoyle and a few DCTU comrades are also members of the CAEUC. The SP would be more than welcome to be part of and affiliate to the CAEUC.

I think we can win this referendum if we are clear in our political stance, plain in our language and united in our effort.

CAEUC launch meeting: Thursday February 7th.....the day after the SP meeting

by Torben - - Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:15

Give it a NO!

The Irish republic is the only out of 27 EU member states where the Lisbon treaty, the for-mer EU treaty, that was rejected by the French and Dutch in 2005, is to be confronted with a referendum. Because of this, the Irish people have an historic responsibility with regard to influence on the future.

There is no doubt that the Lisbon-treaty is a benefit for the big EU member states. Maybe that’s why the French government has changed the French constitution so the parliament can approve the treaty. It should make any one very suspicious.

The Lisbon-treaty means more EU control and less national democracy and decision mak-ing: centralisation, instead of national government. Brussels will se the order of the day. Also with regard to military and security politics. The EU wants to compete with the USA. Can YOU imagine two hegemonic superpowers? No, that could mean World War Three be-cause Russia and china becomes afraid!

If the world is to be more peaceful, a stronger UN, and the countries of the world should solve the problems together, vote NO to the Lisbon treaty.

Do it for the present generations, the climate, nature, world peace, democracy, and the gen-erations to come. If they are to have a god life, the problems must be solved by the UN, not the USA and the EU. That means more trouble.

by SPer - Socialist Party Tue Feb 05, 2008 18:23

The open meeting organised by the Socialist Party about left campaigning activity against the EU Referendum – due on Wed 6th in the Teachers Club – has been cancelled.

On the basis of consultations, it is clear there isn’t a basis for such campaigning activity at this point.

We understand some groups feel that with the limits on time and resources, their main focus will be on campaigning within the CAEUC.

The Socialist Party is part of the CAEUC and therefore within it and under our own banner, we hope to articulate a left opposition to the treaty. On behalf of the Socialist Party, I’d like to thank those groups who contacted us in relation to this issue.

Yours,

Joe Higgins