Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Democracy and Public Services in Europe Group: Press Conference

dublin | eu | event notice

Sunday November 30, 2003 15:50

by ec

New EU Constitution undermines democratic control of education, cultural and health services

The press conference and follow-up seminar on Saturday 6th in the Teachers' Club will provide a critical contrast to the Fianna Fáil/ Progressive Democrat Government's unquestioning embrace of the neo-liberal economic agenda in the Draft EU Constitution. Their stance will be celebrated at the IEA/TEPSA Conference on ‘The Irish Presidency of the EU’ in Dublin Castle on the same day.

DATE: FRIDAY DECEMBER 5TH AT 11.30 AM

VENUE: EARL OF KILDARE, KILDARE STREET, DUBLIN 2.

SPEAKERS: DR. FRANZ-JOSEF STUMMANN OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN REGIONS, JOE HIGGINS TD (SOCIALIST PARTY), PATRICIA MCKENNA MEP (GREEN PARTY) AND MARY LOU MCDONALD (SINN FÉIN).

This Press Conference is organised by the DAPSE* Group. It will address concerns regarding certain effects of the Draft EU Constitution: EU Member States will be unable to maintain democratic control of Health, Education, and Cultural Services.

This Constitution would put neo-liberal economic policy into basic EU law. Democratically elected governments would be powerless to change these decisions in the future.

The press conference and follow-up seminar on Saturday 6th in the Teachers' Club will provide a critical contrast to the Fianna Fáil/ Progressive Democrat Government's unquestioning embrace of the neo-liberal economic agenda in the Draft EU Constitution. Their stance will be celebrated at the IEA/TEPSA Conference on ‘The Irish Presidency of the EU’ in Dublin Castle on the same day.

Dr. Schumann of the Assembly of the European Regions is a vocal critic of the proposed new EU Constitution. Under the new Constitution, the EU Commission will make proposals to the Council of Ministers, which could decide by Qualified Majority Voting to liberalise trade in Education and Health Services as part of the GATS negotiations with the WTO.

This could include almost anything – from catering to full operational management, as in Britain. The only area Member States would determine is the general policy on these services, not how or by whom they should be delivered.

The new constitution will remove the existing power of veto of Member States over decisions to privatise education and health services. No record of voting would be published. Irish Citizens would not even know how Irish representatives voted on such issues in the Council of Ministers.

Joe Higgins and Patricia McKenna have made similar criticisms of previous EU Treaties in the context of referendum debates in Ireland, notably in the debate leading up to the referendum on the Treaty of Nice.

DR. STUMMANN IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS IN DUBLIN ON FRIDAY 5TH AND SATURDAY 6TH.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Brendan Young 085 7131903
Conor Ó Bríain 01 6351711 / 087 9189729
Eamonn Crudden 01 6016691 / 086 1941702

*DAPSE was formed after a workshop on the GATS at the Irish Social Forum in October this year. It is a non-aligned campaign group.

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Comments (5 of 5)

Lobbyists

by Fergus

Sun Nov 30, 2003 18:33

http://www.ibec.ie/Sectors/IBB/IBBDoclib3.nsf/vLookupHTML/EU_Presidency?OpenDocument

Joint Presidency Programme
In 2004, Ireland and the Netherlands will sucessively take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union...

The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) and the Federation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) have presented a joint position paper to their respective governments. (The Paper was launched on the 17th Sept 03).

Calling on the Irish and Dutch governments to devote top priority during their Presidencies [to the ideologies of] ....competitiveness and peformance.

Rollback

"A reassesment of inflexible and outdated social security legislation (regulations governing recruitment and notice/dismissal, social security, temporary agency, staff consultation and working conditions is now necessary)."

Regarding Trade Policy

"the ongoing WTO negotiations must make progress in all areas during 2004... companies attach great importance to the satisfactory conclusion of talks in the following areas : improved market access, investments, trade facillatation and anti-dumping"

At the upcoming EU Summit on 26th March, business is calling for [legislation] to intensify the pace of reform across Europe.

Mimic the Tactics

How about Irish opposition link up with Dutch opposition to the proposed EU Constitution ?

To start forging links, sending out invitations...

Thanks F. for the IBEC Link:

Sun Nov 30, 2003 18:55

Please elaborate on the 'mimic the tactics' bit.

Twinning

Wed Dec 03, 2003 19:01

Well the Irish and Dutch capitalsts have linked up for the 2004 joint -presidency.
I was thinking Irish opposition should also concentrate on linking up with similar Dutch opposition for the entire European Presidency of 2004.
E.g Irish indymedia coordinating with Dutch indymedia, Irish RTS or whatever your area of interest meeting up with Dutch counterparts.
The Dutch come over to Ireland for events during the first half of the presidency and vice versa for the second half of 2004.

Or these tactics !

Fri Dec 05, 2003 18:12

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/0,,2091-868260,00.html

Audi lines up

Fri Dec 05, 2003 18:32

Hmm, the link seems to have disappeared.
I think it was an article from the Sunday Times, it was titled, 'Firms Line Up to Sponsor Irish EU Presidency'.
[which] the govt. canvassed support through IBEC.
The govt. also asked hotels for assistance to keep costs down.
It has asked the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland to encourage its local branches to hold meet and greet events for delegates.
Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Clare, Galway, Donegal, Offaly, and [finance ministers] Kildare will host full meetings as the workload spreads beyond Dublin

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Democracy and Public Services in Europe Group: Press Conference

Comments (5 of 5)