Will the Lisbon Treaty change Irish participation in European Union and related structures for the better or for the worse ?
The treaty has loads of fine words.
Article 10a(2) explicitly lists amongst the objectives of the Union’s external actions “sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries, with the primary aim of eradicating poverty”. Article 208 states that “Union development cooperation policy shall have as its primary objective the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty”
If you think about it, there were some lovely words in Fianna Fáil’s 2007 general election manifesto about a “world class health system” – but that’s a sick joke for people on today’s lengthening hospital waiting lists.
We should not be hoodwinked by fancy talk – we should ask ourselves : does the EU practice what it preaches when it comes to its external actions and development policy ?
What are the EU’s goals, especially in relation to developing countries ?
A significant signal in the Lisbon Treaty concerning the EU’s relations with developing countries is contained in Article 56, which states that “within the framework of the provisions set out in this chapter, all restrictions on the movement of capital between Member States and between Member States and third countries shall be prohibited.”
In other words, the central thrust of EU policy towards the global South is to ensure completely unfettered capital mobility regardless of the impact on poor countries (or on the people of Europe itself). If the Treaty is ratified, free movement of capital could not be challenged no matter what the end results are for development.
The overarching commitment to liberalization is made very clear by Article 188b, which commits the EU “to the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade and on foreign direct investment, and the lowering of customs and other barriers”. The point is further emphasized by Article 188d : the EU’s negotiating stance will be based on “the achievement of uniformity in measures of liberalisation.” Constitutionally ensuring that the EU’s negotiating stance in international trade negotiations must be exercised in the pursuit of liberalization (of capital and of trade in goods and services), will not advance the interests of poor countries.
The overall thrust of EU external policy is based on a narrow concept of economic self-interest and a commitment to neoliberal (often anti-developmental) principles.
VOTE NO to the Lisbon Treaty
Campaign Against EU Constitution (Vote No to the Lisbon Treaty) :
Find out more about the Lisbon Treaty. Visit our website, or come to our meetings, get involved in the campaign. Help us by contributing to our poster fund.
Next meeting : Wednesday May 7, 20.00 in the Teachers’ Club, 36 Parnell Square.