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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT MATTERS

European Constitution Treaty Referenda

Report by Sylvia Moore

 Issue  no 5  4 June 2005 

Referenda in France and The Netherlands

The resounding negative vote on the treaty in The Netherlands on 1 June - 63 percent against, and 37 percent for - was greeted with exuberance, cheering and dancing in city streets. For the most part, citizens voting against the treaty said they were protesting at the undemocratic decision making processes in the EU, and a potential takeover of Anglo-Saxon style liberal economics which would obliterate social welfare systems, social rights and life style diversity.

The following mail I received from the English House expressed similar views on the French vote.

Date: Mon, 30 May 2005 11:50:07 +0200

Dear European friends,

Following the massive mobilization by the people of France, the No vote
convincingly won the day.
After weeks of campaigning, intense involvement and debating, the French
people have succeeded in cutting through the media smokescreen to get to
the heart of the questions at hand and the stakes involved.
What we saw on the streets was a far cry from the representation on the
TV/radio and newspapers. The French "No" was massively a No for the
European left, not only fighting to keep their social model but to assure
that our hard won "social rights" become one of the fundamental rights of
the European project.
We fought for the No vote not only for our belief that a true Constitution
should not contain an economic framework as inscribed in the 3rd part of
this treaty but also and regardless of ones political believes the treaty
should be readable and easily understandable by the majority of the
citizens who consult it, which it obviously is not. A treaty should be
written by an elected constituent body chosen by the people and not the
political technocratic elite in Brussels.
Once again regardless of political allegiance, the democratic deficit
between the people who make European laws and their democratic
accountability is widened to unacceptable levels.
Don't be fooled by what you see and hear about it, the French No vote is
not the end of Europe, we hope that it is the beginning of a Europe where
human beings and not profits for shareholders will be at the centre of the
European aspiration.

If you would like any further information on the Constitution, its contents
or its overriding principles please don't hesitate to contact us.

Please pass this message on to any others european friends who may be
interested.

Kind regards.

 Judith, Delphine, Kevin.

European Constitution Treaty meeting

The issues at hand were explored at our European Constitution Treaty meeting at Geneva, 13 May 2005, organised by the pan European socialist group at Geneva, the objective being to explore a diversity of views.

French Senator, Richard Yung, gave a lucid presentation of the topic in extenso. He was followed by short interventions - an insightful overview on the referendum in The Netherlands  by Wouter van Ginneken of the Dutch socialist party group at Geneva (PvDA), while Cerdic Warrillow of Labour International at Geneva & France Voisine Cerdic gave a lively commentary, and critique of some British attitudes and policies on the Constitution. Also present were representatives of the Italian, Portuguese and Spanish socialist parties at Geneva.

Significantly, Richard Yung was voted by a General Assembly of 150 people representing the 2 million French expats, to the post of taking care of expat interests. In his presentation, Richard Yung expressed concern that British expats were not only losing their voting rights, but the right to pass on nationality by descent, as such erosion of civil rights is contrary to the European constitution and human rights conventions.   

As for the proposed treaty consolidating the previous treaties, he pointed out that enlargement had been faster than efforts to solidify the treaties. While social values were guaranteed, people feared the advance of the free market in section 3 of the Treaty and potential loss of sovereignty and hard won social rights. However, he stressed that whatever the outcome of the proposed treaty, no nation today could stand alone and would be affected by common European policies and practice, even if not a member of the EU.

NOTES on European Constitution presentation

LI Geneva Branch Vice Chair of LI Geneva, Rosemary Bell, kindly provided the following notes on the debate.

The « Constitution » is really an assembly of all the agreements made since the earliest step towards unifying Europe – the European Coal and Steel Community – with some additions.

Article I-3 Objectives

NEW : paragraph 3 – working for the development of Europe based on balanced economic growth, price stability, a social highly-competitive market economy leading to full employment and social progress and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. Promotion of scientific and technical progress.

Article II Rights

Conditions – justice – interpretation of the social charter  - dignity, equality, solidarity.

It will be possible to bring cases to the International Court of Justice based on these provisions.

Proposals backed by 1million citizens can be brought before the Commission on a particular subject.

The Parliament is directly elected for five years and is responsible for legislation and the budget.It adopts framework laws and directives.

The Council rotates every six months (not good).

The President is elected for 2 ½ or five years.

There is a Council of Ministers for each subject. Decision can now be made on a majority basis (65% of the population or 55% of Member States)

NEW : Minister of Foreign Affairs

Articlet III Policies and Functions

Is the Union too close to the market economy ? It is at present based on six earlier treaties.

Paragraph 117 Social – employment and social protection, health and education.

Paragraph 122 Companies of general economic interest (e.g. Air France, Renault).

Create economic services for euro zone – causing complaints of loss of national autonomy. (France cannot remain independent for some decisions and it is preferable to contribute.)

Agriculture – system of common structural funding needed.

There is a danger of dividing workers and the salaried in several countries

The left sees the plans as « ultra-libéral » - which is a successful argument. The initial basis for the Union was peace, which risks being forgotten. There is a definite leaning to the centre right. In fact, the Constitution opens the way for a « social Europe ». It foresees the best system in the world (paid holidays, fixed working week, etc.)

Europe would be stronger in facing the big economies (USA, China, India)

Present situation on decisions :

The Netherlands – referendum on 1 June (someone who has been abroad for 30 years will be able to vote !)

Italy – Has ratified – no discussion , reflecting widespread ignorance.

Germany – Decision without referendum (referenda were so abused by the III Reich that they are virtually excluded by the present constitution)

Associate member

Switzerland - profits from the economic provisions, rejecting the social – which works for them.

New members

The countries newly joining the Union had been under Communist regimes for 45 years. The slow processes of the Union had led them to wait a further 15 years for their admission to be accepted – matters  just could not be further delayed.

Future

October 2006 is the official date for the Constitution to come into force but implementation will be gradual. A rejection of the Constitution would increase the « liberal » influence and weaken the social provisions.

Rosemary Bell 20 May 2005

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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT MATTERS

from Sylvia Moore

 Issue  no 4  6 May 2005

 NATIONAL ELECTION ON  MAY 5

Those who watched all night will have seen the results bleary eyed. This morning's count is Labour 353 seats, Conservatives 195, Lib Dems 59, Others 12. The Labour majority is down from the overwhelming 160 to 64, and the Labour/Conservative gap from 9 percent to 3.

Labour's strong social justice policies and economic success maintained the majority, but the Iraq war policy made its dent, as the LI Geneva branch  predicted in its  Britain in the World 2002 policy paper submission. As Gordon Brown summed it up, New Labour's policies are 'best when grounded in Labour values. They are best when we are Labour'.

The LICC agreed to support the LI  MP Roger Casale with a two hundred pound donation, while LICC Treasurer Catherine Feore, would spend some time  on the ground at Wimbledon to support his campaign. Unfortunately, Roger lost his seat.

KEY SEAT

This seat is Conservative target number 61

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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT MATTERS - TALKING POINTS

CIVIL RIGHTS EROSION

by Sylvia Moore

 Issue  no 3  28 March 2005

 'VOTES AT RISK'

11 March was the deadline for vote registration in British national elections and for the referendum next year. However only 14,500 of the some 2 million Brits abroad are registered. While there are 26,600 British pensioners in France, only 3,970 receive Winter Fuel Payment.

With the headline 'VOTES AT RISK',  on the front page of French News (no. 190 March), the editor brought to the forefront this sorry state of affairs urging British citizens abroad to use it or lose it after 15 years' residence abroad. He stressed that:  'In the modern world it is commonplace  to live abroad and should not entail loss of rights dearly bought with a lifetime of work', and  pointed out the inconsistency that civil servants working abroad do not lose these rights.

Following his article was a letter from Tom Kennedy, HM Consul General at Bordeaux explaining who can vote and how to register from overseas, referring readers to the Electoral Commission's leaflet launched on 6 February 2005 (link www.electoralcommission .org.uk)

The editor brought up Sir Dick Pantlin's fear that if 'overseas     voters do not register in sufficient numbers they risk losing their rights'. He noted that legal consultations are underway to see if an application to the European Court could be successful in compelling the British government to abolish the restriction.

In that regard,  subsequent to Sir Dick Pantlin's February article in the Telegraph, Steven Oates, Geneva group member, corresponded with Sir Dick on the merits of a court ruling as follows:.

Steven Oates
Date d'envoi : mercredi 9 février 2005 14:19
A : Dick.Pantlin

Objet : Right to vote

Dear Sir Dick,
Many of us will have read your article today with a personal interest. But I'm afraid it merits only one cheer out of three. Certainly, you are right to encourage maximum registration for overseas votes. Here I will cheer you on. You may know that expatriates ran a fairly well organised cross-party campaign prior to enactment of the
2001 legislation, which succeeded, alas, only in limiting the reduction of the cut-off period, which you correctly say is 15 years. You are also correct - but do not emphasise it enough - in saying that British overseas residents are disenfranchised in an extraordinary way in comparison to other EU (or indeed American, Japanese or,  Iraqi) citizens. What you should emphasise is that the right to vote is a basic human political right which in the case of UK citizens is not respected. However, your mention of possible loss of the right to a passport or transmissibility of citizenship is rather eccentric. Do you not know that since the early 1980s the right of British citizens born abroad to transmit nationality to their children has already been removed (unless a three year residence qualification is fulfilled)? I agree that it is surprising that these deprivations of rights have not been contested in the courts. But this may come. Yours sincerely,

Steven Oates

 

dick.pantlin  9/2/05 23:06:40 to Steven Oates

Thank you for your helpful comments. The problem of Human Rights is worth further study and you will find that the Convention is very unhelpful. It is against slavery, religious intolerance, torture etc but what to you and me is a basic human right (to choose our own government) is left without international agreement and each state can do as it pleases.
My comment about nationality was more to frighten and draw attention to my article than to be precise and 100% correct. As I see it, the question of transfer of nationality involving a foreign parent is open to discussion in many different countries. But my aim was to warn that IF expatriates do not register in HUGE numlbers - and quickly - the tendency to reduce 15 to 5 is worrying.
What can you do to recruit 100 expatriat registrations in the interests of all ?
Regards Dick Pantlin. PS I claim a part of the decision to reduce not having gone below 15.........

 

Steven Oates 10/2/05 10:33:45

Dear Sir Dick,

It is very kind of you to reply to me. Since there is a worthwhile argument here, I cannot resist writing a brief rejoinder.  The most helpful thing about the European Human Rights Convention is that it was enacted into law in the UK, and the Human Rights Act gives a recourse for action in the High Court, namely to seek a declaration that deprivation of the right to vote is inconsistent with the basic human rights protected (or, no doubt, application for a writ of mandamus ordering a registration officer to place an aggrieved citizen on the electoral register). Even if the High Court were to rule that there is nothing in that Convention about the right to vote, I for one am confident that many judges today would refer also to other international precedents which might be cited. In addition to the widespread - almost universal - rule among other European and industrialised countries, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (to which the UK is party) specifically protects the right to vote of every citizen (article 25). A High Court action would in addition have the advantage of attracting publicity and the political attention necessary to get the 2001 Act amended.

Yours truly, Steven Oates

 

VOTING RIGHTS CAMPAIGN RELAUNCH

Campaign Background

Prior to the enactment of the 2001 overseas voting legislation, a vigorous campaign was spearheaded by the LICC, the Brussels and Geneva LI groups to abolish restrictions and restore full voting rights, or at least to maintain the 20 year limit as opposed to the 5 year limit proposed by  MP Michael Linton. The campaign targeted members of the Houses of Lords and Parliament and government leaders who would be voting on the proposed legislation. The strategy included meetings with MPs and the Lords in London,  LI members writing to their  MPs in their former constituencies, and sending letters, articles and press releases to the press. Denis McShane, now Minister for Europe spoke strongly on our behalf on the floor of the House, as did Michael Linton who was convinced by our arguments. The Brussels group pressed for a 'use or lose it' clause.

As  Hon. President of the Geneva group, Denis McShane gave us invaluable advice. In addition our Geneva group set up and ran a cross party campaign and drafted the joint letter sent to government and party leaders. To mobilise awareness and support, we organised town meetings for the British community resident in Switzerland and neighbouring France,  as well as municipality meetings with other socialist groups, reached out to gained the support of socialist MEPs at Brussels, and had the issue covered by national  press and World Radio Geneva.

Campaign Relaunch

The LICC will be discussing the relaunch of the campaign at its mid-April meeting. In a letter to the Electoral Commission of 14 January 2005, LICC Chair Tim Clapham  already brought up the LICC's concerns and  requested the Electoral Commission to do more to facilitate overseas voting registration.  In its reply of 16 February to the LICC's queries, the Electoral Commission noted:

-          Electoral registration is the sole responsibility of local councils, full details of which are available on

www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

-          The commission is currently developing a postcode search which will allow people to enter a postcode and be provided with their local council electoral registration office contact.

-          There are currently plans to review out of country voting.

Measures to be considered for the campaign relaunch include taking the issue to the courts, conferring with the Labour Party's National Executive and other committees, relobbying members of both houses, running a public awareness programme through British consulates, British community associations abroad, the media, making a petition to Downing street signed by Brits abroad. The petition could be hand delivered by a celebrity living abroad,  already well known as ambassador for related human rights matters, such as Roger Moore. 

Please send your campaign ideas to the LICC.

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 POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT MATTERS - TALKING POINTS

from Sylvia Moore

Issue  no 2  21 February 2005

Peter Mandelson, European Trade Commissioner, aired his views on the eve of George Bush's Brussels visit on 22 February, in a discussion with Adam Boulton, Sky Channel Political Editor.

Instead of talking past each other, Mandelson called for EU and US leaders to forge a common approach and a strategic union. The European Union should not attempt to be the neutral partner balancing world power among geo-political giants. He felt that a European military entity should interface seamlessly with NATO.

As for the proposed European constitution, he thought it would provide an opening for a greater role for national parliaments in European decision making and balanced opportunities for the 25 members states.

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To stimulate LI dialogue and feedback, you are invited to respond to the above important current international developments, and the first number of Political Development Matters, The Labour Party Campaign Launch 'BRITAIN FORWARD NOT BACKWARD'.   Please forward your views via our members letters page, feedback page, or our e-mail dialogue development circulation.

Dr Sylvia Moore is responsible for political development for the Labour International Co-ordinating Committee

She is its Deputy Chair and President of the Labour International Geneva/France Voisine group.

Her e-mail address is Ssindamanoy@aol.com

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LP Political Development Matters 1

'BRITAIN FORWARD NOT BACKWARD '

by Sylvia Moore

Hand in hand with children and their parents, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown launched trade mark pledges for the national election campaign at Battersea at 8 a.m today, 11 February. The Prime Minister signed the first pledge:
Your family better off On his way by helicopter to open the landmark Labour Party Conference at The Sage, Gateshead/Newcastle-on-Tyne this evening, Tony Blair will visit 10 constituencies and sign the other pledges at ceremonies throughout the day, covering education, childcare, health, asylum and crime. Just coming in now are the pledges:  

Your family treated better and faster
Your child achieving more
Your country's borders protected
Your community safer
Your children with the best start

The Labour Party underscored that: 'Labour promises to keep inflation low, to keep mortgages as low as possible; to bring more people off benefit and into work; a rising minimum wage and more help for first time home buyers. Labour keeps its pledges. Britain now has the lowest inflation, mortgage rates and unemployment for a generation. Two million more people are in work. The New Deal has helped virtually eliminate long-term youth unemployment. Mortgage payments are, on average, £300 a month cheaper than under the Tories. And Britain is enjoying the longest period of sustained economic growth in 200 years.'
 

This weekend's spring conference at Labour's Geordie heartland, is a crucial stepping stone towards ensuring Labour's third term, as the election issues will be presented there. It also includes the Local Government, Women’s and Youth conferences. Labour Party General Secretary, Matt Carter, stressed that this innovative conference 'will be a showcase for Labour’s forward policy agenda as well an occasion to enthuse and motivate our Party to meet the challenges we face in the coming year.  
 

At every level, we need to get out the message that because of the hard work of the British people and the tough decisions we as a country have made together, Britain is working. The number of people in work is at a record level, up by over 1.9 million since 1997;every national waiting time and waiting list indicator - inpatient and outpatient - has improved since 1997; standards are up across the board including the best primary school results. And there are more nurses, doctors, and police thanks to Labour’s record investment in our public services.'
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Dr Sylvia Moore is responsible for political development for the Labour International Co-ordinating Committee She is its Deputy Chair and President of the Labour International Geneva/France Voisine group.
Her e-mail address is Ssindamanoy@aol.com