Address to the AGM of the Peoples' Movement against the EU
Arhus 30 October 2004
"The main task we all face in the next period is the EU state Constitution"
Thank you for the invitation
to your AGM of the Peoples' Movement against the EU in Denmark. I am today representing one
organisation and one alliance.
The Campaign against
Euro-federalism (CAEF in Great Britain) is oriented towards the labour and trade union movement. As one of the big four in the EU, Britain is a key state. The
battleground in Britain will concentrate on the
labour movement. The Labour Government and labour movement leadership are
largely in favour of the EU Constitution without any debate having taken
place. Hence CAEF has a huge responsibility.
Like the Social Charter in the
late 1980's, part III of the Constitution - the EU Charter of Fundamental
Rights - is being used to sell this new Treaty.
Thanks largely to one trade
union, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), the British TUC has
taken a neutral position and agreed to debate the
Constitution. Unfortunately a delegate to
the European TUC voted in secret in favour of the
Constitution.
The debate in the labour
movement is already a dirty fight. Those critical of the EU are by
implication accused of being fasicists or
fascist like.
The real top hatted fascism we have to guard against and prevent is
the EU with a state Constitution which allows the EU to change itself into
whatever it likes without referring to the Member State or the peoples of Europe.
The signing yesterday (29
October) on the site of the Rome Treaty was also the site of the centre of
the old Roman
Empire. This is one indication the
EU is a joint imperialism with an EU army to hand to go stomping around
the world.
- - - - - - - -
TEAM is a very important
international alliance of euro-critical organisations and movements with 60 organisations from 20
countries and 600,000 members. This includes right to left
political positions, reformers and those who want their country to withdraw from the
EU.
This alliance will become even
more important as the EU stumbles along. TEAM will provide: the
opportunity to exchange experiences; provide high quality material in
several languages; show there is growing resistance in all member state to
the anti-democratic EU monster; will sound the alarm when false stores and
accusations are broadcast; and will act as a growing network to provide
links between organisations and activists.
We need more organisations to
affiliate to TEAM. In particular we need trade unions to affiliate
directly to TEAM. Trade union delegates here are invited to take back to
their unions the invitation to affiliate to TEAM. Such affiliations would
significantly strengthen TEAM.
There will be an important and
key event in London in March or April associated
with the TEAM AGM. This will include a rally, seminars and the AGM itself.
Your organisations will be invited to send delegates to this
event.
Both CAEF and TEAM wish you
well in your work. I make a challenge - let us see who can obtain the
largest percentage vote against the EU state Constitution - Denmark or Britain. Together with others we will
win the referendums. Say No! to the EU state Constitution - Yes! to
Democracy.
JOHN BOYD
Secretary of the Campaign
against Euro-federalism
Co-ordinator (chairman) of
TEAM
Link to TEAM website