Lisbon-Both Sides of the Debate

VOTE YES-SENATOR IVANA BACIK
Voting yes to the Lisbon Treaty on June 12 is not seen as sexy. It’s hard to sell the arguments in favour – they do not have the simplistic appeal of the ‘No’ side. Time and again we hear the catchy refrain from those opposing it – ‘if you don’t know, vote no’. From a certain particularly fervent section of the ‘No’ camp, we even hear outright lies: ‘it will bring in abortion and euthanasia...’ and so on.
In fact, the more I hear from the ‘No’ campaigners, the more convinced I become about voting yes. I think that their arguments lack rational basis, and I certainly don’t believe that the Treaty has anything like the substantive significance that they suggest. The truth is that it is mainly a procedural document, designed to make the EU work more efficiently with 27 states or more. The current structures were developed for a smaller number of countries. It makes sense to adjust them to ensure adequate representation for any new states that have joined or may join in future. That’s the mundane reality – it’s all about making procedural changes necessary to facilitate EU enlargement. But as somebody who believes passionately in the idea of more inclusive Union, that in itself is enough to vote yes.
There is however another aspect of the Treaty that should also inspire passionate support – the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This Charter encapsulates a broader definition of rights than our own Constitution, including socio-economic guarantees like the right to healthcare. Many of those opposing the Treaty argue that the EU favours the free market too strongly. Yet in each member state, including Ireland, the excesses of the free market have been significantly curbed by EU regulations; on the environment, on gender equality, on health and safety, and on workers’ rights, for example. Adoption of the Charter would enable development of greater social protections for citizens – and would move us towards the left-wing vision of a ‘social Europe’.
So the Lisbon Treaty represents a valuable opportunity to take the EU further in this direction, as well as making key structural changes so that more states may join in future. Personally, I would love to see the Union expand to include the Balkan states, and former Soviet republics like Georgia and Ukraine. This would present extraordinary opportunities for greater peace, progress and prosperity for many deeply disadvantaged peoples. That may not be sexy or easy to sell, but that’s why I’m voting yes on June 12.

VOTE NO-SINN FÉIN DUBLIN MEP MARY LOU MCDONALD
Ireland’s place is in Europe. Membership of the EU has brought many benefits. We will face many challenges together in the future. The question facing us on June 12 is whether the Lisbon Treaty is good for Ireland, the EU and the wider world.
I believe that Lisbon is a bad deal and that we should vote no. It is bad for democracy, for public services, for worker’s rights and for the developing world. The treaty also undermines our neutrality, promotes EU militarisation and nuclear power.
Most people rightly believe that the EU is opaque and distant. The Lisbon Treaty will make this worse. Ireland will lose its representative on the European Commission – the body that writes the laws –for five out of every 15 years. We will also have our voting strength on the European Council – the body that decides on the laws – reduced by 50%. We also loose our right to veto key decisions affecting areas such as public services and international trade.
Most worryingly Article 48 of the Treaty undermines our automatic right to a referendum when significant changes are being made to the legal foundations of the EU.
For some years the EU has been trying to open up Europe’s public services to private companies. Sinn Féin is opposed to vital public services being traded like commodities on the market. Lisbon gives the EU new powers to subject such services to liberalisation. This will deepen the existing levels of unequal access to services such as health, and pave the way for greater privatisation.
It is also clear that the EU is keen to develop its own military capability. Ireland already contributes to the European Defence Agency and participates in EU battlegroups. The Lisbon Treaty continues this trend, stating for the first time the EU will have common foreign and defence policies. It also compels member states to increase military expenditure and broadens the list of permissible military tasks beyond peace keeping.
The Treaty is also bad for the developing world, aggressively promoting free trade over fair trade irrespective of the consequences for the world’s poorest countries.
Once again nuclear power is an issue as the Treaty contains a protocol promoting the European Atomic Energy Treaty. €8 million of our taxes are spent each year as part of this and the treaty continues this appalling practice.
I believe that the Lisbon Treaty is a bad deal. I also believe that a better deal is possible. If we vote no on June 12 it will give the government a strong mandate to negotiate a better deal for us, our EU partners and the wider world. Let’s not accept second best.