Also in this issue, a lot of exciting news from the Netherlands, where finally a public debate on the EMU is heating up. The discussion is fueled by an EMU-critical appeal signed by almost 100 economists! Initiatives for referenda on the EMU and/or Maastricht-II are underway. This months' opinion article is on the expansion of NATO and the military cooperation in the EU. Furthermore short news from all over Europe on activities setting the tone for the June events, such as the gathering of more than 600 people in Brussels, to prepare the European Marches against Unemployment.
With the next issue of The Other Voices, you will recieve a full programme of the Alternative Summit for a Different Europe! If your organisation has proposals for workshops, actions or other activities during the alternative summit in June, please get in touch!
---> NEWS FROM THE DUTCH COALITION FOR A DIFFERENT EUROPE <---
Dutch Economists Spark EMU Debate
In February, the debate about the EMU finally hit the Nether- lands! The discussion was sparked by an appeal against the EMU signed by almost 100 Dutch economists. The economists warn against the destructive social effects of the EMU-project. The EMU, so the economists state, will result in "a further dis- mantling of national social-fiscal policy and the European public sector". The economists warn that "the space for bud- getary policies, particularly for social and ecological goals, becomes smaller than ever" and conclude that the current EMU-plans will worsen the existing problems of unemployment, social exclusion and environmental degradation in Europe. The appeal was critizised heavily by government politicians, who, not used to critical discussion on the EMU, claimed that not the EMU but the economists themselves were dangerous for the Dutch economy! An English translation of the appeal will soon be available at the WWW-page of the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe.
Opinion polls show increasing EU-critique
An opinion poll published in February confirmed that euroscep- ticism in the Netherlands is much stronger than generally thought. A massive majority of the voters oppose the construc- tion of a federalist European state. The opinion poll moreover showed that 62% of the voters want a referendum on the EMU. 66% want a referendum on the next EU-treaty (Maastricht-II).
Calls for referendum
The Socialist Party, a left-wing party represented in the Dutch Parliament, has recently started a campaign for a refe- rendum on the EMU. The campaign includes distributing 1 milli- on campaign newspapers. A problem is that the Duth constituti- on at the moment does not allow binding referenda. Also the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe is preparing a campaign for a referendum on the EMU and/or the next EU treaty, possibly to kick off shortly after June.
Binoculars and microphones focus in on Europol
Early in February, the meeting of the EU ministers of justice and internal affairs in Noordwijk had drawn the attention of more than 50 look-a-likes of Mata Hari, Sherlock Holmes and other famous spies and detectives, fully equiped with binoculars, hearing aids and long distance microphones. The action group Counter-control, a working group of the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe, had invited for an action to highlight the disturbing developments in EU policies on asylum, immigration and police cooperation. The activists surrounded the ministers conference in order to reveal the secrets being cooked up in for instance the K-4 committee and other hidden EU working groups such as Cibbga and Cibbgi. EU policies aim to sharpen the control on the citizens and exclude non-Europeans. The measures currently prepared include setting up a Europol without democratic controle and harmonisation of asylum policies aimed at limiting access as much as possible.
---> OPINIONS <---
NATO AND EUROPEAN NUKES
The debate raging in the media and among politicians about NATO expansion has tended to focus on security and stability in Central Europe. It's almost as if European nu- clear issues are of secondary importance. All the more reason for the lobbying and public education organisations to push ahead with activities to gain public attention for those issues. In April a review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty will take place at the United Nations in New York. Many non-governmental organisations are preparing to raise the issue of the abolition of nuclear weapons at that conference. At the same time, the question of the continued involvement of a number of European nations with those nuclear weapons will be raised in Europe. In this debate the question of the legality of nuclear arms will be raised. There are two sides to this: on the one hand the decision by the International Court of Justice that nuclear arms are illegal. On the other the Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by all the nuclear weapons states, which states in article I that "..each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons...".
In practice this article is being flaunted, in the spirit if not the letter, by the USA in providing nuclear arms to a number of European NATO member states (Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Italy) which are also contravening article II of the Treaty by accepting them. On top of that NATO is now suggesting that new members from Central Europe should be admitted, meaning that they too will fall under the nuclear 'umbrella' defined by the NATO's strategic doctrine.
The suggestion in some European circles (most notably by Mr. Tindemans in the European Parliament) that a European nuclear deterrent should accompany the establishment of a European Common Foreign and Security Policy is another possi- ble contravention of the Treaty. British and French nuclear arms would after all, be transferred to a new European 'enti- ty'.
Both processes will be fought by the coalition of organisations working on nuclear arms issues in the internati- onal coalition for a different Europe. Numerous public debates and lobbying activities will take place in the coming months. After the NPT Prepcom the Intergovernmental Conference of the EU will be the next big opportunity for bringing our arguments to the fore. On Sunday 15 June a number of public debates, panels and seminars will be held in Amsterdam to draw public attention to the nuclear issue. To prepare the ground the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Dutch Women for Peace have started a campaign calling on Dutch citizens to send a postcard to the Dutch prime minister asking him to actively support article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. That which calls on the treaty signatories to initiate negotiations on a total ban of nuclear weapons. For more information on this and other activities contact: Karel Koster, Working Group Eurobomb Esdoornstraat 14 3551 AJ Utrecht, Holland tel: 31-30-2442122/31-30-2722594, fax: 31-30-2441783 E-mail: K.Koster@inter.nl.net
---> INTERNATIONAL UPDATES <---
European Marches Kick Off April 14th!
Six hundred people from 17 countries, including all EU member states, took part in the gathering on the European Marches against Unemployment, Precariousness and Social Exclusion, at the Universite Libre in Brussels (22-23rd of February). The walks are to begin on 14 April 1997 from several cities (Tan- ger, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Athens, Sarajevo, Lorient, Berlin, Belfast, etc.) and converge on Amsterdam where they will arrive on 14 June for a demonstration of hopefully several tens of thousands of people. This will give a strong signal to the European Council that will take place on 16 and 17 June and which will possibly conclude the IGC.
The gathering in Brussels was organised to prepare the marches and and to discuss the situation of employment and living conditions of unemployed and excluded people. The draft Manifesto which the walkers will carry with them all along the way was discussed at the conference. For more information, contact the international secretariat: Marche europeenne, c/o AC!, 42 rue d'Avron, 75020 Paris, France.
NEWS FROM GREECE
We have arranged a meeting in Athens, on Wednesday 26th of February, where we'll talk about "an alternative approach for Europe". We'll make an attempt to organise a committee respon- sible for the matters around the Intergovermental Conference. In this committee will participate NGO's, trade unions, citi- zens etc. We - Green movement - have published a monthly newsletter about political, ecological, social, cultural, national events trying to spread out informations about social movements in Europe as well as in other countries. We include infos about the marches to Amsterdam. For more information, contact: ENU GREECE, LEFKON OREON 3, 173 42 ST. DIMITRIOS, ATHENS- GREECE. TEL-FAX: 0030-1-9930081 - E-MAIL: greenmv@techlink.gr
---> SHORT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS <---
S P E A K O U T A G A I N S T R A C I S M ! JUNE 12-13 1997 AMSTERDAM
By assembling 300 delegates this UNITED Conference will be a highlight in the European Year Against Racism. Important speakers from the anti-racist movement and politics will address the largest meeting of NGOs during this year. A wide range of crucial topics will be covered, notably Fortress Europe, the realities of daily racism and institutional ra- cism. Together with policy makers and experts from the an- ti-racist movement we will not only discuss the problems, but also strategies for successful anti-racist struggle. UNITED for Intercultural Action is with 443 organisations from 43 European countries the biggest European network against natio- nalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refu- gees. For more information contact: UNITED, PB 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam. phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582 email united@antenna.nl, http://www.xs4all.nl/~united
MAY 9TH: EU ACTION DAY!
Calling all those working on environmental, peace, development, solidarity,immigration, women's, unemployment, social exclusion, human rights...... issues
May 9th is the official European Union Day. On May 9th 1950 the French Minister Schuman proposed an agreement between France and Germany for a union of cooperation for the production and consumption of coal and iron. This is an historic day for the European Commission as Schumann's proposal is seen as the commission's foundation.
Use May 9th Action Day to help develop the EU debate, create either a general awareness of EU issues or an awareness of how the EU is producing specific problems in your field! Contact: Dianne at A SEED Europe, PO Box 92066, 1090 AB Amsterdam, Netherlands. Tel: 00 +31 20 668 2236 Fax: 00 +31 20 665 0166 e-mail: Dianne@ASEED.ANTENNA.NL More information on the web site: http://www.antenna.nl/aseed
EUROPE-WIDE TRANSPORT ACTION WEEKEND
A SEED Europe is planning a EUROPE-WIDE TRANSPORT ACTION WEEKEND on April 4/5/6 1997! And we want YOU and the people around you to take part in this! How? Fax or email us that you are taking part in the A SEED TRANSPORT ACTION WEEKEND!! We'll send you an action pack with background material, tips for action and tips on how to work on press, publicity, funding and outreach. We'll also have an email/fax newsletter update to inform you about other groups joining in the ACTION WEEK- END.
Last year, we had the TENs Action Day (against the EU's Trans- -European Networks), which was a big success: more than fifty groups from all over Europe did actions on one day (March 30)! For this year's ACTION WEEKEND we have already got positive reactions from groups in Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. For more information, contact Frank van Schaik, A SEED Europe, PO Box 92066 - 1090 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-6682236, fax: +31-20-6650166, email: frank@aseed.antenna.nl, http://www.antenna.nl/aseed
TEAMING UP
Just after the deadline of this newsletter, The European Anti- Maastricht Movement (TEAM) was launched in Copenhagen. At a conference 1-3rd of March, more than 70 representatives of Maastricht-critical movements from all over Europe joined to formally establish TEAM. More information in the next issue of The Other Voices or by contacting: Kristen Nygaard, TEAM coordinator, Niels Juel gt. 6A, N-0272 Oslo, Norway. Email: kristen@ifi.uio.no.
RED-GREEN NETWORK NEWSLETTER
A new issue of the newsletter Red-Green Network has come out in February, including news on leftwing EU-critical campaigns and events in Denmark, the Netherlands, Scotland and Italy and on the neutrality movement in Austria. Contact: Red-Green Alliance, Studiestreede 24, st., 1455 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Tel: +45 33375062, fax +45 33375070.
PROGRESSIVE EU OPPONENTS
This new newsletter is published by members of Socialdemocra- tic EU-critics and the Left Party of Sweden. "It is distribu- ted to a network of leftwing sympathisers around Europe who were sceptical to the Maastricht Treaty and who also are sceptical to the idea of building a federal state of Europe". The second issue came out in February, with articles on the EMU, on the European Parliament elections in Austria and Finland and much more. Contact: Ulf Ekberg, Socialdemocratic EU-critics, tel +46 8 194378, fax +46 8 4648723.
ACTION AGAINST HST IN BASQUE COUNTRY
More than 3000 people took part in a demonstration against the planned highspeed train from Madrid to Dax, crossing the Basque Country. The project is part of the European Unions Trans-European Networks (TENs). The demonstration on January 18th in San Sebastian/Donostia demanded the highspeed train link to be cancelled due to its desctruvtive environmental impacts. Asamblea Contra el TAV organised the demonstration with support from more than 200 other organisations. The Asamblea will participate in the alternative summit in June, among other things to protest against the EUs support for the highspeed train networks. For more information contact: Asam- blea Contra el TAV, AA.VV. de Gros, c/ Padre Larroca 8-bajo, 20001-Donostia, Basque Country, Spain.
A SEED CAMPAIGN ON EU AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
The present focus of the campaign is on the EU patenting directive which will, once again after its initial rejection in 1995, cause a large amount of already existing US patents becoming applicable within the EU. Among these there will be a great number of patents on human genetic material which is not yet explicitely excluded from being patentable through the directive. A SEED is ultimately lobbying for a rejection of the directive, because it is does not reflect our concerns about the possible effects for non-EU states nor does it protect the human common property as an unpatentable good.
A SEED Europe has set up campaigning tools which can be provi- ded to interested groups that want to become active in the biotechnology issue. Background information on the patenting directive and its consequences, is available in a well understandable form. Linkage to further ongoing campaigns and information resources can also be provided. Get in contact with the A SEED Europe office: P.O. Box 92066, 1090 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 6682236, fax +31 20 6650166, e-mail:aseedeur@antenna.nl
---> CONTACT ADDRESS <---
If you have proposals for activities during the alternative summit or questions, get in touch with us at the follwoing address: Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe, Olivier Hoedeman/Ernst van Lohuizen P.O. Box 54, 1000 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 4222712 Fax: +31 20 4223171 Email: ander.europa@xs4all.nl WWW: http://www.snore.org/different-europe
Visitors address (please phone first): Damrak 83,1., Amsterdam (150 metres from Central Station)
---> AGENDA OF UPCOMING EVENTS <---
--->THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE OTHER VOICES<--- CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE MARCH 28th!
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FROM YOU:
ALSO FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DUTCH COALITION FOR A DIF- FERENT EUROPE ARE EXTREMELY WELCOME: Postbank NL 7609478, att. Platform Naar een Ander Europa, Amsterdam
---> IGC BACKGROUND <---
WHAT THEY DON'T WANT US TO KNOW
A critical summary of confidential IGC-documents
by Barbara Hoheneder
Officially they don't exist: the drafts prepared by the Dutch presidency therefore are called Non-Papers. Still Members of the European Parliament have their ways of laying hands on them. Nel van Dijk, Member of the European Parliament for the Dutch Green Party (GroenLinks) published them on her internet homepage (adress http://www.xs4all.nl/~nelvdijk).
Non-Paper "Schengen an the European Union"
13 out of 15 EU-Member States are parties to the Schengen Convention, which governs measures states consider necessary to abolish controls of internal borders. Now Schengen-states want the Convention integrated into the EU-Treaty "in order to provide the citizens with enhanced security and safety they desire". Up till now integration into the EU-acquis was not feasable, because the United Kingdom vetoed European Court of Justice competence. With "flexibility"-arrangements underway, Schengen could finally become part of the treaty under the so- called Third Pillar, which regulates cooperation on justice and home affairs between EU-member states. Up till now Schengen provisions did not undergo parliamentary control, neither on European nor on national level. In the draft protocol proposed by the Dutch presidency provisions on parliamentary control of European policing policy are missing.
Non Paper: An area of freedom, security and justice
The title alone should make us suspicious. Article 7a of the Treaty grants the famous four freedoms of the single market, for persons, goods, capital and services. Except for persons these three freedoms do exist since 1992. Organised crime, our governments tell us, is the reason why people are not equal to capital when it comes to free movement. Out of sudden the implementation of free movement is linked to security provisions. A new Title called "Free Movement of persons, asylum and immigration" should be written into the new Treaty in order to ensure "an area of freedom, security and justice". To this end appropriate measures must be adopted in the areas of:
According to the presidency the Commission should have the right of initiative, but only after a formal request by a member state. No clear proposals are made when it comes to the parliaments and to the Court of Justice. "The large numbers of cases which come before national courts in the areas of asylum and immigration.... This would lead to a considerable increase in the workload of the Court and delay national proceedings. In this respect, specific modalities should be contemplated regarding the role of the Court of Justice".
No asylum for a Spaniard in Belgium
Since negotiations on Third Pillar arrangements are going on well since the Irish presidency, which tabled a draft for a new Treaty shortly before the Dublin Summit, a few concrete provisions on asylum and immigration have become known. The Non Papers we gathered include a letter of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees and a proposition paper of the UNHCR. The UNHCR letter proves right our suspicion, that agreement on abolishing the right of asylum between Member States has been reached. In its letter UNHCR reminds head of government that provisions under way are violating Article 1 of the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol which requires the individual determination of the refugee status. UNHCR reminds governments that all EU Member States are parties to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and have thus adopted a refugee definition "without any limitations as to country of origin". Proposals to abolish asylum between Member States were first made by the Spanish government. Two years ago Spain accused Belgium of protecting alleged Bask terrorists, since the Belgium Raad van State ruled out the extradition of Bask refugees.
No equal rights for Third Country Nationals
The text of the Non Paper does not propose anything concrete. But given the fact that it calls for "measures setting out conditions for the free movement" of nationals from Third Countries, we must be aware that citizens legally residing in a EU-Member States won't have equal rights. New obstacles will be created to their right of establishment in other EU countries.
Flexibility - Deathblow to European Solidarity
The most important subject of intergovernmental negociations is the so called concept of "flexibility" or "enhanced cooperation" applicable to the three pillars. "Flexibility" should enable a group of member states to go ahead with integration, rendering thus national vetoes powerless. According to the draft of the Dutch presidency closer cooperation should
The End of the European Parliament
The Non Paper is very clear what this concept of a multispeed Europe means for European Parliament: "only those Members of the European Parliament who were elected in the Member States participating in the cooperation measure may take part in the vote on such acts and decisions." One can easily imagine what this will do to the only democratically elected European institution. When new regulations are to be considered by the Strasbourg assembly its President will have to make sure that Members not concerned have to leave plenary. Measures taken accompanying EMU by Germany, France, the Benelux, Austria, Finland and Sweden will have direct effect on economies of countries outside the EMU-core. But their MEPs will be sent out of Chamber. Their electorate will lose any say on the matter.
Multispeed Europe - A Threat to Democracy
Not only the European Parliament will suffer a serious loss of influence. Even more threatening seems to be the fact, that Member States joining the flexibility arrangements later will lose every right to change the content of enhanced cooperation. In the real world the most pro-intergration governements like France, Germany and the Benelux will therefore not only define the speed of integration but also its future contents. The question whether or not a club of Member States are allowed to embark on enhanced cooperation will be answered by the Commission and by the Council. European Parliament will not be able to block it. It will only be consulted.