Press Statement 18.12.98
Statement to Congress of Democracy on 18 December 1998
Made on behalf of the Campaign against Euro-federalism
by Ron Dorman
My comments this morning will be brief and to the point but not to the
liking of our opponents. I do not propose to deal with the reasons for
opposing EMU - that has already been done by others.
Firstly, now amendments strengthening the original resolution have been
accepted along with a clear statement that racists and fascists are
excluded from our campaign we have laid the basis for victory against EMU
and the single currency.
Secondly, having united around the amended resolution we must get the
national campaign underway immediately; we must move into top gear as soon
as possible. Therefore, the Campaign against Euro-federalism proposes a
meeting be convened early in February with representatives of all
organisations in attendance today, and others we can draw in, with the sole
purpose of drawing up a coordinated national action plan using all the
resources we possess, human and material, a mechanism for monitoring
progress and calling everyone together when necessary.
The Campaign against Euro-federalism's job along with others, will be to
win the labour and trade union movement for the campaign. For this reason
the Congress must not give rise to the slightest perception in peoples
minds that we are a vehicle for party politics. If that is clear I can
assure you CAEF will mobilise resources and not rest until the labour and
trade union movement is brought back to its roots in this struggle against
EMU. For us it is a struggle for all forms of democracy.
CAEF launches its campaign here and now from this platform. CAEF throws out
a challenge to the TUC leaders to actively implement the resolution they
themselves supported at the TUC 1998 Congress in September calling for open
debate on EMU and the single currency in the trade union movement. CAEF
will give every assistance to facilitate such a debate if requested. If the
TUC leaders are democrats they will take up this challenge and make steps
to ensure as many of their members are involved as possible, if not, they
will stand exposed - the choice is theirs.
In my closing comments I say it is we here who stand for democracy; and it
is we who stand for the right to self determination over economic and
monetary affairs of our country.
Let us all put every effort towards achieving a victory against EMU and the
single currency - there could be no better start to the new millennium.