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The French “Non” for the
proposed EU constitution is not a rejection of their EU membership but a
reflection of their serious reservations about recent changes in the EU and
potential future developments.
Enlargement of the EU 15 to 25
on 1st May 2004 was a major change in the demography and
socio-economic fabric of the EU. There was no significant public debate and
no public consent based on referenda in each Member State. They failed to
learn from European history of unemployment and migration when they forced
such a large enlargement of the EU – 10 countries with significantly weaker
economies, including some with large populations. EU accession of Romania
and Bulgaria in 2007, planned accession of the Balkan states and
negotiations with Turkey for its future accession have created much concern
amongst EU15 citizens. Future accession of any state must be based on
consent of EU citizens.
Enlargement allows low wage
earners from Eastern Europe to seize opportunities and jobs in high wage
countries e.g. France and Holland. This flow of skilled and unskilled
workers – willing to work long anti-social hours at lower wages – has
impacted directly and adversely on the working people of France, Holland and
Germany. The “new” EU citizens take jobs, seek local council housing and
vote in local elections. They receive free medical care, education for their
children and social services. Their increasing presence is visible at work,
in residential areas, schools, hospitals and in offices of social security
where they wait for social benefits. The invasion of new EU citizens in a
country like France with high unemployment will generate hostility.
Insecurity of employment precipitates inherent prejudice, social friction
and communal instability.
France, Holland and Germany
are struggling to help immigrant and non-Christian citizens to integrate
into the mainstream of their societies. Competitive pressures of the global
economy impacting on EU jobs, increasing numbers of asylum seekers and
immigrants from unstable countries in Africa and the Middle East and
domestic socio-economic changes to accommodate enlargement need to be
managed sensitively to ensure peace and prosperity. European citizens need
time to digest these changes that impact on their livelihood. European
politicians and EU Commissioners need to step out of their ivory towers and
experience the sweat and toil of average EU citizens as they struggle to
find jobs, accommodation, school for their children, medical care and
security at work and at home.
The EU of six nations wished
to establish a common market for goods and services, a framework for
promoting peace and security and an economic policy to secure prosperity for
all its citizens. The EU15 has achieved a lot by establishing a solid base
for co-operation, diplomacy and economic development, including a common
currency (Euro) for those Member Countries wishing to adopt it.
In order to achieve its
original goals, the EU25 does not need a single European Constitution, a
single EU “government” and a single EU nationality to replace national
constitutions, governments and nationality. The EU can and must be an open
free single market for goods and services allowing each Member State, if
they require, to issue work permits to other EU citizens. This works with
EFTA, and NAFTA. In this way, each Member State can regulate its level of
employment by enforcing work permits in co-operation with employers. Whilst
EU citizens would not require visas to travel in the EU, they would require
a work permit granted by the EU Member Country allowing them access to
public services and employment protection.
The EU25 is a collection of
distinct countries which are determined to co-operate and work together for
common peace and prosperity. Each sovereign EU25 Member Country must retain
its authority to grant anyone the right to work, to access its public
services, to vote in its national elections and to acquire its nationality.
This authority underpins accountability to its citizens, imposes economic
discipline and helps meet obligations to the EU25. The EU can work very well
if it has a new Treaty that guarantees EU citizens what they
instinctively understand, accept and desire! |
