Dutch MEP to speak at TRALEE Vote No meeting

kerry | eu | event notice Monday March 31, 2008 00:20 by sean moraghan - people before profit alliance earthsoulrocknroll at gmail dot com

Dutch socialist MP Harry Van Bommel led the successful No vote campaign in Holland in 2005. His argument was primarily on the undemocratic nature of the EU. Of his own country he said he found it “remarkable that 62 per cent of voters reject something that is supported by 85 per cent of parliament.”.

That was then.

Now, Harry’s back.

He wants to continue the “debate on what Europe should be and should do”.

Mr Van Bommel is taking part in a speaking tour of Ireland, and will be speaking in Tralee on Sunday April 6th at 8PM at the Grand Hotel.

Harry Van Bommel

The meeting, “Why we should Vote No to the Lisbon Treaty” is hosted by the organisation People Before Profit Alliance, and also features leading light Richard Boyd Barrett, who has previously spoken in Tralee. Richard narrowly missed being elected in the last general election and aroused considerable public and press interest then.

PbP says:

“The Irish people are the only citizens who will be allowed to vote on the Lisbon Treaty, so we will be voting on behalf of the other 450 million people in Europe who are denied a vote. We are all pro-European, but we believe strongly in the need for a positive version of Europe.

There are compelling reasons for Voting NO in the Treaty referendum. The Lisbon Treaty includes the EU Constitution which was REJECTED by the people of France and Holland. The totally undemocratic way in which a new constitution for Europe is being rammed through is good enough reason to vote No!

The EU is developing as a military power, involving Ireland, for example, in French-dominated colonial adventure in Chad. The Lisbon Treaty copper-fastens such developments. The Treaty gives a legal base to EU ‘battle groups’ which can be deployed within days to fight ‘resource wars’ in Africa or the Middle East.

It also gives constitutional support to NATO, and further requires countries to INCREASE their military spending – thus diverting money from pubic services.

The claim that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is a compensation for these defects is RIDICULOUS! The Charter gives us no extra legal rights than are presently contained in many national constitutions!

Lets say NO to the Lisbon Treaty and discuss a more positive alternative for Europe!”