GREEN PARTY POLICY STATEMENT ON THE
PROPOSED EU CONSTITUTIONAL TREATY
1. This Statement sets in context The Green Party's agreed policy for Europe in MfSS to the "treaty establishing a constitution for Europe" [the European Union] proposed by the EU summit at the end of June 2004.
2. The Green Party is in favour of fundamental reform of the EU, including a constitutional treaty. It compares the current proposal with the party's policy on what should be in such a constitutional treaty, and the proposal's content with the party's policy on the same points. It assesses whether, as a whole, the current proposal offers progress towards our Green vision of Europe, or would be a greater obstacle to that than present arrangements.
3. The Green Party recognises "the value of the original goal of the founders of the European Communities, who sought to remove the threat of another war between European states." "This has been distorted by vested political & economic interests into a European Union dominated by economic interests, which lacks democratic control, and promotes the goals of multinational corporations, not of people." [MfSS EU101]
4. The Green Party is committed to fundamental reform of the EU on Green lines. We share the objectives, stated by the EU summit at Laeken which launched the constitutional treaty project, that it should improve the quality of life of all in Europe and bring the EU closer to citizens.
5. The Green Party supports the idea of "an international European treaty to set out the competencies, powers and structures" of the EU - a constitutional treaty. To adopt such a fundamental treaty should require the agreement of the people in each member country, expressed by a majority of those voting in a referendum. [MfSS EU351-3]
6. We believe such a constitutional treaty should be a relatively short, straightforward document, as envisaged by the EU summit in Laeken. The present EU proposal goes into far too much detail, including policies which have no place in a constitution. The huge Section III of the constitution set out in the proposed treaty would set in stone policies which are now or may become unsuited to the circumstances and development of the EU. It would prove a major obstacle to necessary reform.
7. The Green Party welcomes the inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU constitution proposed in this treaty, which should improve the application of such in EU institutions. We regret that provisions in the proposal restrict the application of rights in member countries, and that the Charter will not have effect there except where introduced by specific legislation.
8. The Green Party is concerned that key provisions in the EU constitution proposed in this treaty and assumptions underlying its content are contrary to the Green vision and policies for Europe. They contradict and would preclude the introduction of Green policies. To open the way would require laborious amendment of the constitution on each occasion. We are particularly concerned about economics and peace, among other issues.
9. Some neo-liberal economics and globalisation are not reconcilable with Green principles, nor with our vision of a Green Europe committed to social justice and an ecologically sustainable future.
10. The constitution proposed in this treaty prioritises and sets in stone a commitment to economic policies based on neo-liberal economics and globalisation. These policies include the single market, trade liberalisation and a commitment to monetary economics and the euro. Such policies can work against local and regional economies, damage public services through imposed spending cuts and privatisation, and undermine local standards to protect the environment, natural resources, and people's living and working conditions. As an example, the proposed commitment to price stability would be a barrier to the introduction of measures intended to reflect the true ecological costs of activities such as air transport.
11. The constitution proposed in this treaty envisages a European army, with its own Rapid Reaction Force, command, intelligence etc. That would lead to increased military expenditure to provide for NATO forces in Europe. It would promote an expanded EU arms industry & cohesive military force. . The Green Party rejects the creation of nuclear or military super-powers
12. The Green Party calls not for collective security arrangements which can spread and promote war, but for common security leading to peace for all. Our policies oppose militarisation of the EU, and oppose its Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policies which the constitution proposed in this treaty would set in stone as the basis of that. We prefer the alternative potential to develop peacekeeping and civil assistance.
13. The constitution proposed in this treaty does not take the overdue opportunity to end the EU's Euratom Treaty commitment to the development of nuclear power. That treaty is not to be included in the proposed constitution, but is still there as a protocol.
14. We welcome the extension of the EU Parliament's role through co-decision on issues decided by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers, however, the provisions for protecting the rights of member countries are inadequate. As one example, it is unjust and simply wrong that the EU Commission should be judge and jury in its own cause in questions of subsidiarity, a Green principle.
15. For these and other reasons The Green Party, while supporting the idea of a written constitution for Europe, believes that the current draft has a long way to go before it is acceptable. As it stands, it would not be a step forward to a Green Europe, but an increased obstacle to that.
Agreed by Green Party Regional Council, July 2004
Contact:
International Co-ordinator John Norris, 13a Hampden Street, York YO1 6EA, +44/0 1904 640344, john@jnorris.org.uk and johnnorreys2@yahoo.co.uk