A demand for fair referendum
A plea for fair referendums on the EU Constitution was sent to 25 European newspapers this week-end. The ‘letter to the editor’ was signed by 43 individual supporters of the European No Campaign from 14 countries; among them 23 deputies (MEPs, MPs) and 20 leading NGO-actvists.
The signatories that come from a broad political scale demand fair referendums with a balanced debate on the EU Constitution in all 25 EU countries; following the overwhelming majority of the electorates that want to have a say in this question. Furthermore the supporters of the letter - that do not oppose the EU as such but this proposed Constitution - demand that the governments must respect whatever the outcome will be. According to the existing treaties the EU Constitution is rejected if only one single country says ‘no’.
“This would be a chance for a real debate about serious reforms within the EU“, says Thomas Rupp, director of the European No Campaign. “We definitely cannot go on like before. Europe can only grow in the hearts of its citizens if they get fully and honestly involved in the process.“
In 2005 and 2006 at least 11 referendums will be held on the EU Constitution. “The debate preceding Spain’s referendum, which will be held in February and will be the first in the EU, is likely to be dominated by the government’s pro-ratification campaign“, says Rupp, “and consequently Spain might well exemplify the unfair manner in which referendum campaigns across Europe may be conducted.“
At the 12th of January the European Parliament will vote on the EU Constitution. To celebrate the expected ‘yes’-vote, around 350.000* Euro of tax payer’s money will be spent in only two days in Strasbourg. “This is yet another example of biased propagande favouring the ‘yes’ campaigns“, says Rupp.
The signatories of the ‘letter to the editor’ believe that a balanced debate on the EU Constitution with the same access to the media and a fair public funding for the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ side is a crucial requirement. „It would be a big mistake of the European elites to push on with the integration process without a comprehensive mandate of the European citizens“, states the letter.
* according to a relevant document which we are in possession of.
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