The Swedish social model and the EU Constitution
Quotes from Peter's speech:
”Here today are people campaigning for a no vote from many of the member states. After having listened to all these people with so different backgrounds who oppose the current development of the EU, I don’t understand how anyone can call us ‘isolationists’. It is the Brussels Bubble that is isolated!”
“Most Swedes want to stay in the EU but oppose to many of the policies and the development of the EU because of its consequences for the Nordic Social Model.”
“The trade union movement is increasingly aware of the threat from companies that are using the EU as a tool to open up for social dumping. We have seen it in a bitter industrial conflict between the construction workers union and a Latvian company trying to pay Latvian salaries in Sweden, and we have seen it in the proposed Bolkestein Directive on Services.”
“The Bolkestein Directive creates the basis for social dumping by its ‘country of origin’ principle. Companies from other countries can ignore laws and social standards in the country they work in. This is making the way for a tearing down of working conditions and labour rights all over Europe. It was temporarily drawn back a couple of weeks ago to take away a strong argument for the French no campaign, but I have no illusions that they won’t try to implement it as soon as they can. Only a strong opposition to the current direction of the EU can stop it!”
“Recently, the deputy chair of the Swedish trade union congress, LO, even said that if the European Court of Justice decides to interfere in the rules for industrial action LO has to reconsider its position on the EU by saying that ‘We can’t be in the EU if the Swedish model falls apart’”
“Sweden and Denmark are the only countries who have been given the chance to have their say on the euro, and both have voted no. The Swedes voted no despite a very hard pressure from the political elites to vote yes, and women and young voters were the strongest ‘no’ group.”
“Instead of a Europe taking the fight for social justice, EU has moved more and more in the wrong direction. Therefore, many Social Democrats all over Europe are campaigning against the Constitution to achieve a better deal for working people. What we need is an EU that is a co-operation between countries that can decide for themselves according to political majorities in democratic institutions with public support.”
“We Swedes are at least for now denied to have our say on the Constitution. I hope that the countries that have the chance say no to this Constitution and yes to a reformed European Union. Say no for us as well!”
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