10 Reasons to Say No to the European Constitution

10 Reasons to say No to the European Constitution

It is needless to say that the EU has represented a space of peace, freedom and growth. All of it has successfully helped to overcome the historical conflicts projecting a common mission for Europe to the world. With this regard, ERC as a Catalan oriented party, with long standing pro-European credentials, understands that the making of a European Constitution was a necessary step to build a more strengthened Europe within and outside their own borders.

In the making of this Constitution none of the 80 proposals made by the so-called Catalan Convention for the debate on the future of Europe were considered. To us there is a clear deficit of social and democratic aspects and we are aware that the acknowledgement of the cultural and national plurality of our continent is plainly insufficient. All of this compels the Catalan National Left to cast a "No" vote on the occasion of the ratification referendum.

1- Not spreading the welfare state system may imply to miss an opportunity to underpin the European social model in the EU.

If we wish that Europe will be more than a mere business market, all European citizens must benefit from the same social rights. Any improvement or attempt to harmonisation cannot lie upon the unanimity principle.

2- It is a treaty that does not effectively reflect the national diversity of the Union.

- The Constitutional treaty speaks about a Union of states and citizens, but does not recognise the very existence of the stateless nations nor their role in the building of Europe.

3- No recognition of the fundamental people's self-determination right.

This is a right which must be granted to any national community that, following strictly democratic and peaceful actions, decides to be in charge of their own destiny. The Union must pledge itself to respect the people's will and facilitate the entry of new member states.

4- A lack of participating instruments for the Stateless nations in the European decision making process is found and hinders the defence of our interests as a country.

In this treaty the so-called regions with legislative powers have not given a guarantee that will be able to get involved with those issues that affect them directly. It would be also good that they could be present at the Court of Justice when their powers are overrun by the state.

5- Catalan has to be a Constitutional language with full official status.

Despite the fact that Catalan language has more speakers than other already official languages, it risks to enjoy an unsatisfactory recognition at EU level. 6- The militarization of the EU cannot be an objective of the Union.

The member states should not be obliged to improve their military capabilities. The launching of the European Armaments Agency has as its main goal the endorsement of the European military industry and control the execution of all the agreements taken by the member states. Had not been included in the Constitutional text the setting up of this agency, it would mean that member states could decide whether to participate or opt out from the obligations linked to this policy.

7- In foreign affairs, the EU will keep having difficulties to operate with a single voice.

The unanimity clause will be maintained in the Council. This fact will thwart the positive development of a truly and coherent external relations policy. The external relations of the EU cannot be subordinated to their commitments to NATO.

8- Certain policy areas such as tax, social policy or some environmental issues can be just blocked with the opposition of only one state. This can forestall any movement towards further integration.

Member states still maintain big power quotas and influence over the evolution of the EU. This clearly frustrates the development of an independent European political power.

9- The European parliament, the only EU institution chosen directly by the European citizenship, has yet to be granted the powers of a standard legislative chamber.

With this treaty, the European parliament will not be an ordinary Parliament with full legislative, budget and control powers. Some key areas will remain out of their sphere of action. In this sense the treaty fails to confer to the Parliament the right to initiate legislation and choose among their members the President of the European Commission.

10- The reform procedure of this treaty is very rigid and makes it very difficult in the short term the inclusion of the above mentioned changes.

This treaty once it will be approved it will be very complicate of being modified or amended. It will be up to the states to reform it. Many of the fundamental subjects will require unanimity in the Council. If significant changes are desired to be made only a No vote in the ratification referenda will make it possible.