Press Release oct 07
Contact:
For more information please contact Thomas Rupp, ERC Coordinator
Tel: +32 (0)2 503 05 14
Mobile: +32 476733557
Email: rupp (at) democracy-international.org
Download:
Download this press release as a doc file
Go Back
PRESS RELEASE - 19 October 2007
After the Lisbon summit
From an institutional crises
to a democratic crises
Newly launched European Referendum Campaign wants
EU citizens to have a say on the EU Reform Treaty
The European Referendum Campaign (ERC) launched during the Lisbon summit. It is supported by parliamentarians, university professors and political activists from all across the EU and with different political background. In a letter to the editor to several international newspapers the campaign made the case for referendums on the EU reform treaty in each single EU member state. At the same time it must be secured that the referendums are preceded by an open and honest debate.
“As usual the Heads of States and governments congratulated themselves after they agreed on the re-labelled EU Constitution”, says Thomas Rupp, coordinator of the European Referendum Campaign. “They boast that they have managed to get over an institutional crisis, but in fact they just increased the EU's democratic crisis.” The European Referendum Campaign has only one single purpose: to make sure that there will be fair referendums in as many EU member states as possible. “You cannot build Europe without the people”, claims Rupp, “75% of Europeans want to vote on this treaty, but this is persistently and openly denied to them by their representatives. This patronizing behaviour of leading EU politicians is a disgrace for democracy and shows their contempt towards citizens.”
As an umbrella organisation the European Referendum Campaign fights for greater democracy through referendums, it also supports national campaigns for referendum and makes sure that the whole issue has a trans-national dimension. “There are people in every member state who see the importance of referendums on this treaty” says Rupp, “they could be the first step to change the 'EU of elites' into a 'Europe of the citizens', however as the phrase implies this is not possible without the people.”
The European Referendum Campaign will continue to gather international proponents for referendums and will give some service and information on this topic to the media and its partner campaigns in the member states. This is more important than ever, because after the December summit the ratification process will begin in all EU member states. “One thing must be clear” Rupp concludes, “the adoption of this far reaching document without referendums would further decrease the legitimacy of the EU and seriously damage democracy in Europe.”
Please learn more about the campaign at: www.european-referendum.org
List of current supporters:
Austria: Prof. Karl Socher, Professor for Political Economy, University of Innsbruck +++ Bulgaria: Prof. Nikolaj Bliznakov, Professor Plovdiv University +++ Denmark: Jens-Peter Bonde MEP, June Movement - Lave Broch, Spokesman, EU Critical Network of the Social Liberal Party - Hanne Dahl, President, June Movement - Bjørn Elmqvist, Former MP, Social Liberals - Anette Nilsson, Candidate to the Parliament, Christian Democratic Party - Jørgen Raffnsøe, Spokesperson, EU Critical Network of the Social Liberal Party - Hedvig Vestergaard, Member, EU Critical Network of the Social Liberal Party +++ Estonia: Prof. Ivar Raig, Head of Research, University Academy Nord +++ Finland: Esko Seppänen MEP, Vasemmistoliitto - Prof. Thomas Wallgren, University of Helsinki +++ France: Etienne Chouard, Political Activist - Nicolas Dupont-Aignan MP, Debout la Républic - Susan George, Political Scientist, Transnational Institute +++ Germany: Prof. Klaus Buchner, Chairman, Environmental Democratic Party (ÖDP) - Gerald Häfner, Spokesperson of the board, Mehr Demokratie - Tobias Pflüger MEP, GUE/NGL - Prof. Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider, Professor of Public Law - Dr. Christoph Strawe, CEO, Institute for Social Present Day Questions - Prof. Roland Vaubel, Professor of Econimics, University Mannheim - Prof. Hans Herbert von Arnim, Professor of Public Law and Author +++ Hungary: Sándor Lezsák MP, Fidesz/ Magyar Demokrata Fórum (MDF) +++ Ireland: Roger Cole, Chairperson, PANA - The Peace and Neutrality Alliance - Anthony Coughlan, Senior Lecturer Emeritus, Trinity College Dublin - Kathy Sinnott MEP, Independent +++ Italy: Alessio Nicoletti, President, Movimento Libero (Free Movement) +++ Malta: Sharon Ellul Bonici, Vice president, EUDemocrats +++ Netherlands: Fiona Dove, Executive Director, Transnational Institute - Harry van Bommel MP, Socialist Party - Erik Wesselius, Ander Europa Coalition +++ Slovakia: Prof. Peter Kopecky, Komensky University, former Ambassador, Bratislava - Dalibor Rohac, Economist, Institute for a Free Society +++ Slovenia: Dr. Janez Sustersic, Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, Ljubljana +++ Sweden: Max Andersson MP, Green Party - Prof. Drude Dahlerup, Professor of Political Science, Stockholm University - Nils Lundgren MEP, Junilistan - Prof. Jonas Ljungberg, Dept. of Economic History, University of Lund +++ United Kingdom: Prof. Philip Booth, Editorial Director, Institute of Economic Affairs, London – Dr. David Green, Director CIVITAS, London - David Heathcoat-Amory MP, Conservative Party - Caroline Lucas MEP, Green Party - Prof. Patrick Minford Professor of Applied Economics, Cardiff Business School - Derek Scott, Former Economic Advisor to Tony Blair 1997-2003, Labour Party
© Democracy International www.democracy-international.org