THE PEOPLE Before Profit Alliance launched its campaign for a No vote yesterday calling on voters to reject “the failed economic policies enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty.” Speakers at the launch stressed that voters were being asked to vote on the same Lisbon Treaty they had rejected before.
The alliance brings together a number of groups and individuals who campaign on workers’ rights and environmental and community issues, and had 14 councillors elected in the recent local elections.
Ailbhe Smyth of the group’s steering committee said: “Nothing in the treaty has changed. We have politicians telling us that this treaty will make Europe more democratic, yet they refuse to accept the clear view of the public as expressed in a referendum.
“During the last referendum we said this treaty was undemocratic, posed a serious threat to public services, offered no significant new rights, failed to address the appalling problem of climate change, and would lead to increased militarisation. We see no reason to change our view”.
Urging support for a new kind of Europe that prioritises the needs of people over the market, Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett said: “This treaty promotes undistorted competition, greater deregulation and subjects public services to the full force of the market. It restricts the ability of governments to stimulate growth and create jobs.”