35.410 signatures handed over to the European Affairs Committee.

The signatures are not just about a referendum, but they also reflect the need for a broad discussion on the matter, said MEP Søren Søndergaard from the Danish People´s Movement against the EU, when the signatures were handed over to the Danish Parliament’s European Affairs Committee yesterday by a delegation of organizations, which have supported the petition actively.

In a short period a total of 35.410 signatures were collected online, in workplaces, on the streets and others places from Danes, who wants to vote on the new Euro Treaty, the so called Fiscal Treaty.

“We see it as symbolic that the Fiscal Treaty is being debated on the same day as the Irish referendum takes place. I have recently been in Ireland twice and I have been very impressed by the great debate they have had. We too have previously experienced a massive public debate during referenda,” said Søndergaard as he handing over the signatures.

“The purpose of the signatures was, of course, to underline what the opinion polls have shown: a desire for a referendum, but it has also been a desire to have a debate instead of a simple parliamentary resolution. Whether you are an EU supporter, sceptic or EU opponent, it is dangerous if people are being excluded from crucial decisions!”

On Thursday May 31th, at the same time as our Parliament is debating the Fiscal Treaty the Danish People’s Movement will have an event for a referendum between 11.00 and 12.00 in front of the Christiansborg Palace (The Danish Parliament).

For further information or comments, please contact: Søren Søndergaard, MEP on mobile +45 40 45 38 39 or Ib Roslund CIO on mobile + 45 20 16 65 67 or Lave K. Broch, campaign coordinator on mobile +45 28 92 21 27

or

The Danish People’s Movement against the EU secretariat at telephone + 45 35 36 37 40 or e-mail: fb@folkebevaegelsen.dk

Croatia will vote in a referendum on EU membership the 22nd of January

TEAM – The European alliance of EU critical movements believes that Croatia’s Accession Agreement with the EU is extremely problematic for the Croatian economy and for the welfare of the Croatian people.

The main reason for TEAM’s concern is that, this accession agreement contains a binding commitment by the Croatian government to join the euro and the EMU. To make such a promise - when the euro is in its worst crisis ever - is an incomprehensible step that defies logic.

The Croatian government ought to demand an EU treaty guaranteed opt-out from the euro – just like Denmark and UK have. Without such an opt-out TEAM advices the Croatian people to vote “NO” to EU membership in the forthcoming referendum.

For further information please contact:

Patricia McKenna, coordinator of TEAM (Ireland), phone number 00 353 87 242 70 49 or e-mail: pmmckenna@eircom.net

Lave K. Broch, board member of TEAM (Denmark), phone number 00 45 – 28 92 21 27 or e-mail: lave@folkebevaegelsen.dk

Croatia will have a referendum concerning EU membership the 22nd of January.   The Danish People’s Movement against the EU’s believes that it is the worst time ever for Croatia to join the European Union.   First of all the EU is becoming a more and more centralized union and Croatia’s influence will be marginal.   Secondly the EU is in its worst crisis ever and Croatia does not have an opt out from the euro as e.g. Denmark. This means that Croatia will be bound to a currency union in great trouble. The welfare risks for the Croatian citizen are great.   The Danish People’s Movement suggests that Croatia should join the EFTA, the European Free Trade Association, instead of the European Union. Membership of EFTA will give the Croatian citizens possibilities to work, study, live and travel, trade in all EFTA and EU countries just like the citizens of the EU. However Croatians citizens will be able to have more democratic influence. And the Croatian economy does not have to be connected to the failing EU Monetary Union and the euro.
 
For further information please contact:

Jesper Morville, chairman of the international committee of the Danish People’s Movement against the EU phone: 0045-23633537 and e-mail: jespermorville@mail.dk

or Lave K. Broch, campaign coordinator of the Danish People’s Movement against the EU phone: 0045-28922127/0045-35363740 and e-mail: lave@folkebevaegelsen.dk
 
Relevant websites:
 
The Peoples’s Movement against the EU: www.folkebevaegelsen.dk

EFTA: www.efta.int
 
The Danish People’s Movement against the EU is a cross political movement working on a democratic and non-racist platform for democracy, the Nordic welfare system, sustainable environment and international solidarity. The main goal for the movement is Danish withdrawal from the EU. The People’s Movement has been represented in the EU parliament since the first direct election in 1979 and our current MEP is Søren Søndergaard. The People’s Movement has around 100 local branches across Denmark and around 3000 individual members.

A new poll published today (Nov. 17, 2011) in Iceland by the Icelandic polling company MMR for the local think tank Andriki.

• 50.5 percent of Icelanders want to withdraw the application, 35.3 percent want to carry on with it and 14.2 percent have not made up their minds.

• Of those who favour withdrawal of the application 38.8 percent strongly favour withdrawal while 23.8 percent strongly oppose it.

• The poll was produced November 10-14, 879 people were asked.

Sources: http://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2011/11/16/fleiri_vilja_haetta_vid_umsokn/ http://andriki.is/post/12898554715

Hjörtur Jónas Guðmundsson”, hjorturg@hi.is

A fresh poll reveals a clear majority for keeping the EU Opt-Outs. ”This shows how wrong it is to hand over power to the EU without asking the people,” according to Søren Søndergaard, MEP for the Danish People’s Movement Against the EU, calling for a referendum on the surrender of sovereignty in the area of finance.

Today (Nov. 15, 2011) Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, a Danish daily, is publishing a poll made by the Rambøll institute. This poll shows a clear majority for keeping not only the Euro Opt-Out, but also the Opt-Outs on Justice and Home Affairs and on Defence, which the Government are planning to abolish after referenda.

63.2 per cent of the respondents want to keep the Euro Opt-Out, while only 25.8 per cent want to abolish it. 47.5 per cent want to keep the Opt-Out on Defence, while 31.1 per cent want to abolish it. 45.1 per cent want to keep the Opt-Out on Justice and Home Affairs, while 33.7 want to abolish it.

”These figures mirror a deep and widespread anxiety about the entire EU project. They show how wrong it is to hand over power to the EU without asking the people. At the background of this poll it would in a democratic sense be irresponsible to hand over more power over financial policies,” according to Søren Søndergaard, MEP for the Danish People’s Movement Against the EU, calling for a referendum on the surrender of sovereignty in the area of finance (including the Euro Plus Pact and the six Directives on Financial Governance).

Further information from, and comments to: Søren Søndergaard, MEP, +45 40 45 38 49, e-mail: soren@folkebevaegelsen.dk or Ib Roslund, Information Officer, +45 33 36 37 40, e-mail: ib@folkebevaegelsen.dk

On his blog, TEAM board member Alain Bournazel, points out that the very measure of the EU member countries ”helping” each other out of the crisis with gap-stopping loans actually sharpens the crisis.

He also points out the that crisis has hit only members of the Eurozone, whereas Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, countries that have kept their national currency, have not been hit.

The article follows here in the original French.

La crise - La tentation du pire

Alain Bournazel

Ce qu’on appelle communément la crise est en fait la conjonction de plusieurs crises qui éclatent simultanément en plusieurs points du globe. Avec des économies largement mondialisées, les crises s’entretiennent mutuellement, ce qui rend leur règlement plus difficile. Mais il faut savoir sérier les problèmes. Les Etats-Unis sont confrontés à un réel problème d’équilibre de leurs finances publiques (ce qui n’est pas nouveau). Mais l’économie américaine a suffisamment de ressources et le dollar reste malgré tout suffisamment fort pour que les Etats-Unis s’en sortent sans trop de difficultés.

Le problème de la zone euro est beaucoup plus préoccupant. Les pays de la zone – l’Allemagne mise à part – sont asphyxiés par des déficits publics de plus en plus difficiles à combler du fait que leur économie est complètement anémiée par l’euro. On constatera d’ailleurs que la crise financière en Europe frappe presque exclusivement les pays de la zone euro. Personne ne parle de crise pour la Suisse, le Danemark, la Suède, la Norvège qui ont conservé leur monnaie nationale. Cette réalité met à nu le bobard de l’euro qui devait nous apporter la stabilité et la croissance.

Si la Grèce, l’Espagne, l’Italie et le Portugal n’étaient pas dans la zone euro, ils pourraient s’en sortir par une dévaluation qui leur permettrait de remettre leur économie à un niveau compétitif. Enfermés dans la zone euro, ils n’ont d’autres solutions que d’attendre une aide massive venant des autres pays de la zone. Mais cette aide fragilise les pays donateurs qui sont eux-mêmes fortement endettés ce qui est le cas de la France. La mutualisation des dettes au niveau européen que d’aucuns présentent comme le remède est en réalité la pire car elle ébranle l’ensemble. La faiblesse des uns devient la faiblesse de tous.

Pour empêcher cette fragilisation, les tenants de la cause européenne préconisent une politique de rigueur. Certes, il est souhaitable que les finances publiques soient en équilibre. Ce serait possible pour la France si elle mettait un terme au gaspillage insensé des deniers publics dilapidés par des opérations douteuses et des causes stupides. Mais la rigueur en soi n’est pas une solution car elle accroît des problèmes qui n’ont nullement besoin de l’être, en particulier celui du chômage.

Bref au lieu des interminables palabres, nous avons besoin aujourd’hui d’une politique de redressement national conduite avec vigueur. Le nouveau gouvernement qui a pris la direction des affaires au mois de juin en Finlande à la suite des dernières élections législatives a pris des mesures pour remettre en ordre les comptes publics. Le traitement des ministres a été réduit de 5%. Exemple à méditer.

On August 11, a new opinion poll was published in Iceland, produced by Capacent Gallup for Heimssýn, the Icelandic No movement. According to it 64,5 percent oppose joining the European Union while 35,5 per cent favour it, measuring only those who either said yes or no.

In a similar poll, produced by Capacent Gallup for Heimssýn in June 57,3 percent rejected EU membership while 42,7 percent favoured it. According to that opposition to joining the EU has increased this summer while support for membership has declined.

For more than two years every single opinion poll in Iceland has shown a vast majority of Icelanders opposed to EU membership.

Source:
Vaxandi andstaða við aðild að ESB (Mbl.is August 11, 2011)

64 percent of Norway’s voters would vote No to Norwegian EU membership, according to the latest Sentio poll from July. It is a slight decrease from the June record of 66,4 per cent.

Source: Nationen

Despite the fact that Iceland’s government has applied officially for EU membership, 57,3 per cent of the voters would vote NO in a referendum. 51 per cent would have the government retract the application for EU membership.

Source: Heimssyn

Tuesday 19 July 2011

“Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, did you enjoy the play? “

“The member states whose currency is the euro may establish a stability mechanism to be activated if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the euro area as a whole. The granting of any required financial assistance under the mechanism will be made subject to strict conditionality.”

• Amendment to Article 136 of the EU Treaties(TFEU) which was decided on by the 27 EU Member States at the March European Council summit and which licensed the 17 Eurozone States to sign the European Stability Mechanism Treaty on yesterday week, 11 July. This ESM Treaty would establish a permanent EU bailout fund from 2013. The ESM Treaty and the Art.136 EU Treaty amendment which authorises it now go around for ratification by the Member States. The Government has decided not to put it to referendum here even though it means more power to the EU.

The National Platform EU Research and Information Centre
24 Crawford Avenue
Dublin 9
Tel.: 01-8305792

50 per cent of the Danes would vote No to replacing the Danish Krone with the Euro, according to a poll published on February 11th, 2011. Only 41 per cent would vote Yes.

This result is particularly remarkable because it comes after Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s announcement that it is time to reconsider the Danish opt-out on the Euro.

The Prime Minister’s declaration was prompted by the Sarkozy-Merkel proposal for an Euro-compact for control over the member countries’ finances.

”The Danish people have realized that the Euro is a failure. The whole Euro system is a failed construction in which the German economy is almost all-dominating. Consequently it is an illusion that Denmark would gain any influence by entering the Euro Zone,” says Søren Søndergaard, MEP for the Danish People’s Movement Against the EU.

The Danes have already voted no to the Euro in three referendums, in 1992 on the Maastricht Treaty, in 1993 when the Danish opt-outs were annexed to the Edinburgh Decision, and in the 2000 referendum on the Euro opt-out.

Luise Hemmer Pihl

Source

Support is below 50 %. What will happen with the EU referendum?

Despite of an increase of optimistic announcements about Croatia entering the European Union, more and more Croatians oppose the idea of Croatia joining the Union, according to an opinion poll made by CRO Demoskop.

The results of the monthly opinion poll on the political preferences of Croatian citizens regarding Croatia joining the EU show that even 40,3 % of the citizens oppose this idea.

All together 49,4 % give support to the EU membership which is an increase by 0,3 % compared to January 2011 (when there was a 49,1 % support). Nevertheless, comparing the actual results with those in February 2010, there is a decrease of the support to join the EU from 49,7 % to 49,4 %, while there is an increase by 1,45 % of those against an EU membership.

The figures of those who hadn’t made a decision yet concerning this topic, increased up to 10,2 %, compared to 10 % last month. What is surprising about the poll done this month is a change of opinions on both sides. Due to the strong media campaign some changed their mind in favour of EU membership, while others became sceptical as a result of several events during the negotiation process and therefore declared themselves as undecided, awaiting the results of the development in the next months (or years).

Romano Sole, “Volim Hrvatsku – Ne u EU”, Croatia

Par ALAIN BOURNAZEL

Le septième sommet européen qui s’est tenu à Bruxelles, les 16 et 17 décembre, fut, comme les précédents, consacré à la crise financière. Cette constance du problème suffit à montrer que le mal est à la fois profond et durable. Il paraît bien lointain le temps du rêve idyllique où M. Trichet déclamait ingénument que le Fonds Monétaire International (FMI) n’aurait pas à intervenir en Europe car les pays de l’Union européenne étaient à l’abri d’une crise du fait de l’euro. Aujourd’hui, la crise c’est l’euro et le FMI est appelé à la rescousse.

L’Allemagne dicte sa loi

Avant le sommet européen, Mme Merkel, comme à l’accoutumé, a exposé sa stratégie au Bundestag. Elle a souligné que la monnaie unique profitait tout particulièrement à l’Allemagne. Donc il fallait défendre l’euro. Notre Président de la République n’ayant, semble-t-il, sur ces questions que les idées vagues qu’il faut bien appeler  l’ignorance, a immédiatement accepté la thèse de la chancelière allemande. Dans le couple franco-allemand, c’est la femme qui commande.

Et le Conseil européen de poursuivre dans la stratégie qui consiste à essayer de remplir un tonneau sans fond. Le capital de la Banque Centrale Européenne (BCE) est pratiquement doublé ; de 5,76 milliards d’euros, il doit progressivement être porté à 10,76 milliards. Par ailleurs un fonds permanent de secours pour résister aux crises financières doit être mis en place, ce qui nécessite au passage une modification du traité de Lisbonne. Ce fonds que Mme Lagarde qui a décidemment le sens de l’humour qualifie « d’ajustement majeur » a pour objet de rassurer les marchés sur la capacité de résistance de la zone euro ;

Le culte de l’idole

L’Antiquité avait connu le culte des idoles. Cet acharnement à vouloir à tout prix défendre l’euro a quelque chose de pathétique ; les générations futures auront sans doute du mal à comprendre cette vénération enfantine et idolâtre pour un système non seulement inefficace mais malfaisant. Où est-elle la prospérité qui nous était naguère promise par la zone euro? L’austérité imposée par la crise accule la Grèce aux lisières de la guérilla urbaine. Malgré trois plans de rigueur depuis 2008, et des secours financiers importants du FMI et de l’Union européenne, l’Irlande est enlisée dans un déficit abyssal qui atteint 32% de son PIB. Et l’agence Moody’ vient de baisser de cinq crans sa note. Le Portugal est en crise. L’Espagne vends une partie de ses aéroports et supprime l’allocation de fin de droit que touchaient 700 000 personnes ; le chômage frappe 20% de la population active. L’agence Moody’s vient de placer le pays sous surveillance négative. L’Italie conjugue une croissance faible (1%) et une dette considérable 1900 milliards d’euros.

La France n’est pas épargnée

Depuis le passage à l’euro, la France accuse une perte de compétitivité. L’investissement est poussif. La croissance se situera aux alentours de 1,6%. Mme Lagarde annonce une croissance de 2% pour 2011 ; non seulement elle a le sens de l’humour mais elle rêve. L’Europe de Bruxelles enfonce chaque jour davantage les pays de l’Union dans uns catastrophe qui leur coûte cher aujourd’hui, et qui, dans peu de temps, leur coûtera très cher. Bref, les pays européens sont placés à un carrefour décisif. Où bien en finir avec l’Europe de Bruxelles. Où bien affronter des révolutions.

The Sick Europe of the Euro

In this article, Alain Bournazel, president of Rassemblement pour l Indépendance de la France (RIF) and member of the TEAM Board, comments on the situation of the Euro after the December 2010 EU Summit. Alain Bournazel stresses the fact that Germany is the country which profits most from the Euro, but that the common currency is harmfuld to most other EU countries, and that France is among those. The article compares the faith in the Euro with the cult of idols in the Antiquity and continues:

”There is something pathetic about this stubborn insistence on defending the Euro at all costs: probably future generations will find it difficult to understand this childish idolatry and veneration for a system which is not only inefficient but even harmful.”

The article also sums up a number of the well known arguments against the Euro and sums up the situation in these words:

”In short, the European countries are at a decisive crossroads. They must either put an end to the Europe of Brussels or face revolutions.”

“The two pillars of the Nation State are the sword and the currency, and we have changed that.”
- EU Commission President Romano Prodi, 1999

---

A public inquiry is needed into how the Irish people have been turned into indentured debtors of the EU, the European Central Bank and the IMF, as a result of joining the Eurozone

Irish people need to know this if they are ever to recover their economic prosperity,not to mind their democracy and politic independence.

They  need to know who was ultimately responsible for the disastrous situation they now find ourselves in, trapped inside the Eurozone when they did not need to join it in the first place.

EU Member States outside the Eurozone like Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic are not caught up in the current torments of the Euro. They can weather the economic recession better because they have kept their national currencies and with it control of their rate of interest or exchange rate.

Most Irish economists, this organisation and several non-governmental groups warned at the time of Ireland´s 1992 Maastricht Treaty referendum that abolishing the Irish pound would be the biggest mistake the Irish State ever made.  The second biggest mistake ? largely a consequence of the first -  was the 2008 blanket Government guarantee of all the debts of Ireland´s private banks

The period 1993 to 2000 was the only period in the history of the Irish State when it followed an independent exchange rate policy and effectively floated the Irish currency. That gave it a highly competitive exchange rate and with it  the ?Celtic Tiger? growth rates of over 7% a year.

It is impossible to have a lasting monetary union that is not also a fiscal union, part of one State, with common taxes and a common budget.  However Ireland?s Euro-fanatics pushed the country into the Eurozone against all the economic arguments.

They were impelled by their zeal to help build an EU superstate led by Germany and France, without any national democratic control.  Such a construct would inevitably lack the mutual identification and solidarity between its members which would sustain transfers from the rich countries to the poorer ones sufficient to compensate the latter for loss of their capacity to run independent budgetary policies or restore their economic competitiveness through currency devaluation.

It was profoundly irresponsible to abolish the Irish pound in order to join a monetary union with States with which Ireland did only one-third of its foreign trade, while simultaneously halving interest rates at the height of an economic boom. That made things ?boomier?, as Ireland´s then Prime Minister,  Bertie Ahern put it. It set the country on the borrowing binge that followed, and the catastrophic course Ireland?s Government has since taken with its Banks.

It is the grand panjandrums of Irish Euro-fanaticism: Peter Sutherland of Goldman Sachs, Garret FitzGerald, Alan Dukes, Pat Cox, Brigid Laffan, Brendan Halligan, Ruairi Quinn and David Begg, who ultimately impelled the Republic of Ireland to surrender its political independence and democracy in the Eurozone.

As influential, although their names are unknown to the public, are the “career federalists” of Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Department in Iveagh House, Dublin, who form the policy and write the speeches of successive Foreign Ministers. They are keeping their heads down these days and are happy to let the country´s  Department of Finance take the rap for its current economic debacle.  However it is they more than any other element in Ireland’s civil service who have steered its ship of state on to the rocks.  Cheering them on throughout have been uncritical elements in our media, above all in the editorial office of the Irish Times.

There is deep irony in the fact that their zeal for ever more EU integration has turned Ireland into a bomb inside the “infernal machine” of the Euro-currency, hastening its inevitable demise, and in the process possibly plunging much of the world into the second phase of a W-shaped recession.

Henceforth Irish voters will be more critical of what these people say when they enthuse for ever “more Europe”.

Anthony Coughlan
Director

The National Platform EU Research and Information Centre
24 Crawford Avenue
Dublin 9
Ireland

Tel.: 00-353-1-8305792

Binding the euro to the krone would make more sense that the other way round, says an American economist Peter Schiff:

”As Denmark is pursuing a financial and monetary policy that is better than that of other European countries, it does not make sense to bind the krone to the euro. In actual fact it would make more sense to bind the euro to the Danish krone. If you want to cheat in an examination you do after all glance towards the cleverest guy in the class – not towards the most stupid one.”

This is the unambiguous message to the politicians and people of Denmark in an exclusive interview at epn.dk with the American economist and president of the investment company Pacific Capital, Peter Schiff, who has become well known for predicting the global financial crisis.

The interview can be found (alas, in Danish) here.

On 1 January 2011, the Republic of Estonia will adopt the euro by abandoning its national currency, which has functioned successfully for 18 years. As the culmination of their “Save the Estonian Kroon” campaign, Estonia’s euro opponents will light candles across the country on december 31st in order to protest the liquidation of the Estonian kroon. The euro critics are also distributing their successful posters entitled, “Estonia! Welcome to the Titanic” and “Stop the Euro-rouble”. One poster depicts a sinking Titanic, with stacks emitting clouds of smoke that signify Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Lawyer and historian Anti Poolamets, who is the leader of “Save the Estonian Kroon” campaign and designer of the poster, explains, “Estonia is like a passenger that got the last ticket for the Titanic. The party is continuing on the upper decks of the ship that was thought to be unsinkable, but the iceberg has already appeared on the horizon. Since the ship does not have sufficient watertight partitions and lifeboats, all the passengers will not be able to escape in case of a collision. I hope that Estonia will be among those that find a lifeboat.”

“Estonia has managed very well for 18 years with its national currency. The euro will not bring stability like the politicians have suggested. For years, Estonia has conducted a principled fiscal policy – do not live beyond your means. As a result our country has the lowest government debt in Europe – 7% of GDP. Bailout projects in the eurozone make Estonia’s no-debt policy absurd – Estonians will have to pay the bills of banking machinations in other countries” says Poolamets.

“I think that national currencies work better for the welfare of European countries because they better reflect the economic realities and differences therein. The “one-size-fits-all” ideology of the eurozone is more of a reflection of the dreams of the European bureaucracy for a federal Europe than based on economic reasons. When 23 non-elected officials at the European Central Bank Governing Council make uncontrollable decisions about the common interest rates of the eurozone countries with 330 million people, which can lead to the economic downfall of the member states – this is like the fulfillment of the dreams of the former Soviet hyper-centralist bureaucracy,” Poolamets believes.

Poolamets asks, “How can one trust a system where almost nobody follows their own rules that were set up by the Maastricht criteria and the Stability and Growth Pact?”

In October 2010, 1,524 people were surveyed by Estonia’s leading social and market research provider Saar Poll. In answer to the question, “Do you support the transition from the Estonian kroon to euro?” 53% of the respondents said no to euro, only 34% said yes, and 13% didn’t have an opinion. Little has changed in the last months, as only 25 percent of Estonians support their country’s adoption of the euro, a fresh survey (29.12.2010) by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research finds. The Estonian Institute of Economic Research is owned by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country’s largest business association.

Press release sent by: Peeter Proos
Press officer of the “Save the Estonian kroon” campaign
Contact: info@meeitahaeurot.com

Further information: Anti Poolamets
E-post: anti.poolamets@eesti.ee
Phone: +372-56 91 43 74

About public opinion polls:
Saar Poll OÜ
Phone: +372-6311302

The Estonian Institute of Economic Research
Phone: +372-6681242

TEAM, the umbrella organization for 32 EU critical organizations from different parts of Europe can not understand the logic behind the Estonian Government´s decision to replace the Estonian Kroon with the Euro.

Estonia will switch to the Euro during the worst crisis in the history of the Euro - and by joining the euro without a referendum, the Estonian government is not only gambling with the Baltic nation´s economy and welfare but also with its democracy and right to self-determination.

Opinion polls have consistently shown that a majority of Estonians are not only against the Euro but also want a referendum on the issue. However, Estonia´s government has chosen not to follow the democratic example of its Nordic neighbour countries - Denmark and Sweden - who allowed their citizens to have a free and open vote and the final say on whether or not to join the euro.

Instead, the Estonian Government is following the example of those less democratic states in Europe that neglect the political will of the people and refuse to let them have a say on their own future destiny. The tragedy is that the Estonian Government is allowing itself to be used as a propaganda stunt to give credit to the Euro´s future.

The TEAM board believes that the 1st of January 2011 is a sad day not only for Estonia but for all of Europe. The voice of the people is a fundamental element of true democracy, and any power that suppressed the voice of its people does a disservice to all nations that have fought hard to promote and protect democracy.

For more information contact:

TEAM coordinator Patricia McKenna (Ireland) phone: 00353 87 2427049 and e-mail: pmmckenna@eircom.net

Board member Lave K. Broch (Dennmark) phone 0045 2892 2127 and e-mail: lave@broch.dk

We urge the Danish parliament to ask the people of Denmark before continuing to transfer sovereignty to the EU in the economic area, says The People’s Movement against the EU in Denmark

The AGM of The Peoples Movement against EU was held in Aarhus the 30th-31st October and gathered up to 200 participants from Denmark and abroad. The AGM was especially marked by dissatisfaction with the fact that a majority of the Danish parliament apparently will say yes to the Lisbon Treaty changes. This allows the EU to establish a fund for countries in financial difficulties. It comes just 11 months after the Treaty entered into force. This is one more step in the transfer of sovereignty in the economic area from the national parliament to the EU. The money for the fund can only come from the member countries with a further increase in Denmark’s net contribution. A contribution that is already more than 10 billion Danish Kroner (about 1,3 billion Euro) a year. We therefore call on the parliament to ask the Danish population, before continued transfer of sovereignty to the EU in the economic area, says the national board of The Peoples Movement at the AGM.

Reunion of the Danish opposition to the EU

The AGM was marked by the new situation for the cross-political opposition to the EU in Denmark after the former MEP Jens-Peter Bonde’s June Movement was closed last year after the defeat in the elections to the EU parliament. After the June Movement is closed forces must unite in the People’s Movement, says co-founder of the June Movement and former long-standing board member of the June Movement Niels I. Meyer. He was candidate in the elections to the national board of The People’s Movement and was elected. Several key members of the June Movement have also joined the People’s Movement lately.

Statements, prizes and greetings

The AGM demanded respect for the Danish euro opt out and urged the parliament to denounce the possibility for the French president to appoint members of the EU parliament. The AGM also adopted a statement saying that Denmark should give the UN peace work in Western Sahara higher priority than the EU’s interests by rejecting a fishery agreement with Morocco if it covers Western Sahara.

Max Andersson, spokesperson for the EU-committee in the Swedish Green Party, was handed over the international Clog Award (award for standing firm on the EU-issue) for his efforts against the EU and the euro. The Danish Clog Award went to two local trade unions for a many months long dispute in Brønderslev against underpayment of Polish workers.

The AGM received greetings from TEAM, EU Democrats, People’s Movement in Ireland, Heimssyn in Iceland, No to the EU, Norway, Folkrörelsen No to the EU in Sweden and Alternative to the EU in Finland.

Read more about The Peoples Movement against the EU in Denmark.

Polls in UK, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia show a clear No to the Euro

21st of July 2010

In at least five EU countries there is a majority against the Euro. In referendums you can’t vote “unsure” – only Yes or No count. Therefore below “unsure” has been taken out of results.

In June 2010 polls have been carried out in Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Estonia all showing a clear No.

In Denmark, Danmarks Statistik made the poll for Danske Bank, showing that 56 per cent would vote No if there where a referendum today.
In Sweden, Statistiska centralbyrån SCB made it, showing that 68 per cent would vote No.
In Germany it was Ipsos who made it, showing that 63 per cent would vote No.
In Estonia, TNS Emor made it, showing that 56 per cent would vote No.
In the United Kingdom, the latest poll is from April 2010, made by YouGov, showed that 76 would vote No.

Out of these five EU countries only Germany has the Euro today. The German government has no intention of calling a referendum on the Euro. The EU has said finally Yes to admitting Estonia to the eurozone from January 2011, and the Estonian government has no intention of having any referendum. In Denmark, it is still the official goal of the government to call a referendum with the view of securing a Yes. The governments of the United Kingdom and Sweden have chosen the opposite position, shelving all plans of a referendum on this issue.

French think euro exacerbates crisis

So far we do not have any polls on Yes or No to the Euro from other EU countries. If anyone knows about recent polls, please send us a link about it to ib (at) folkebevaegelsen.dk. However we have found an interesting poll from France made in June 2010 by TNS Sofres for Europa 1, itélé and Le Monde. It shows that 68 per cent of the French think that euro will exacerbate the consequences of the crisis (read more in Le Figaro)

Source: Folkebevaegelsen mod EU, Denmark

TEAM - an answer to a growing need to cooperate

The 1992 Maastricht Treaty was the first clear evidence of the euro-federalist project for a centralised EU Superstate. TEAM was formed loosely at an EU counter-summit in Edinburgh in 1992, as an answer to the growing need for increased cooperation amongst organisations in different countries that were opposed to the Maastricht Treaty and the single euro-currency.

This is shown in the name TEAM, which originally stands for “The European Anti-Maastricht Alliance”. But since the Maastricht Treaty is no longer so prominent, the name “The European Alliance of EU-critical Movements” is now mostly used.

In 1997 TEAM adopted a more formal structure. At a meeting in Copenhagen in March that year the organisations in the network adopted the TEAM Constitution and elected the first TEAM Board.

TEAM is a network of cooperating organisations in different European countries that are critical of EU developments. They help one another by keeping in contact and exchanging information on EU-related matters.

TEAM is opposed to the further centralisation of power and erosion of democracy which every new EU Treaty since 1992 has resulted in - Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. A new grand constitutional Treaty has been proposed for the EU in 2004, which promised further centralisation, and has been kindly declined by voters of France and Netherlands.

Mutual support between TEAM-members played an important role in the successful referendum campaigns against the Nice Treaty in Ireland and the euro-referendums in Denmark and Sweden.

We expect TEAM will offer similar service also in the year 2008.

TEAM gives organisations useful contacts and information.

The TEAM members and observers seek to expose problems with the EU Treaties and the operation of the EU institutions. We do this by promoting cooperation and exchange of information between Europe’s EU-critical movements.

TEAM raises awareness of the existence of a Europe-wide opposition to an undemocratic European future. Some of TEAM’s member organisations have seats in the European Parliament and provide information and support for TEAM from there.

The TEAM network does not intervene in the domestic politics of individual countries or in the internal affairs of its affiliated organisations. Neither does it seek to impose a common policy on its affiliates as regards EU-issues. It provides information and contacts at the request of its member and observer organisations in particular countries.

Under its Constitution TEAM organises two main meetings each year. The principal one is the Annual General Meeting in March, where TEAM policy is decided, new member and observer organisations are enrolled and the new TEAM Board is elected. Then a Council meeting is held to enable TEAM’s affiliates to come together between Annual Meetings to discuss EU developments.

The Board of TEAM organises the Annual Meeting and Council Meeting, in cooperation with local organisations in whatever countries they are held in. From time to time the TEAM Board and Secretary General issue briefing papers and critical information and documentation on EU affairs. These represent the views of their individual authors and do not commit TEAM’s affiliated organisations to any particular view or policy position.

The members and observers of TEAM ranges from parties with several thousands of members to organisations with a couple of hundred members or supporters. Both left, right and centre of the political spectrum are represented in the TEAM-network.

Some of the members and observers are concerned mainly with economic aspects of the EU. Some with the environment. Some with neutrality and EU militarization. Some with the effects of the EU in eroding community and family values. But all share a critique of the federal development of the Union and a common commitment to defend the principles of democracy.

In the list you will find addresses, e-mails and websites to the 32 members and 17 observers of TEAM in different parts of Europe.

This list is being constantly updated - Please report any changes.

AUSTRIA

members

Bündnis Neutrales Freies Österreich - NFÖ
(Union for Neutral Free Austria)
Postfach 110
6010 Innsbruck
e-mail: buendnis@nfoe.at

observers

Friedens Büro Wien
(Peace Bureau Vienna)
Kölblgasse 18/1
A-1030 Wien
tel/fax: +43 1 7965 021
e-mail: pax.vienna@chello.at

Kommunistische Partei
(Communist Party)
Weyringergasse 33/5
A-1040 Wien
tel: +43 1 5036 580 830
fax: +43 1 5036 580 499/411
e-mail: international@kpoe.at

Liste der EU-Opposition
(List of EU Opposition)
c/o Gabriele Wladyka
Kunigundbergstrasse 11
A-2380 Perchtoldsdorf
tel: +43 1 865 62 33
e-mail: gabriele.wladyka@aon.at

CZECH REPUBLIC

observer

Independent Group Faithful we Remain
Att. Dr. Dalibor Plichta
Ki Klimentce 12
150 00 Prague 5
tel: +420 2 205 11 301, 57 21 39 35
fax: +420 2 242 22 190
e-mail: neudorflova@msu.cas.cz

DENMARK

members

Folkebevægelsen mod EU
(People’s Movement against the EU)
Tordenskjoldsgade 21, st.th
DK-1055 Kobenhavn K
tel: +45 35 36 37 40
fax: +45 35 821 806
e-mail: fb@folkebevaegelsen.dk

Ungdom mod EU
(Youth against EU)
Tordenskjoldsgade 21, st.th
DK-1055 Kobenhavn K
tel: +45 35 36 37 40 / +45 288 91 81 6
e-mail: ungdom@folkebevaegelsen.dk

Demokratisk Fornyelse
(Renewal of Democracy)
Toftegårdsvej 3
DK-7000 Fredericia
tel: +45 75 94 16 16
e-mail: nr3@bfregnbuen.dk

observers

Enhedslisten
(The Red-Green Alliance)
Studiestræde 24
DK-1455 Kobenhavn K
tel: +45 3393 3324
fax: +45 3332 0372
e-mail: landskontoret@enhedslisten.dk

ESTONIA

member

Liikumine Ei Euroopa Liidule
(Movement No to EU)
Ravila Kose vald
Harjumaa 75 101
tel: +372 5 06 55 33
e-mail: uno.silberg.001@mail.ee

FINLAND

members

Vaihtoehto EU:lle
(Alternative to EU)
Mäkelänkatu 62C
SF-00530 Helsinki
tel: +358 9 682 3422
fax: +358 9 682 3544
e-mail: veu@co.inet.fi

Naisten Vaihtoehto EU:lle
Women’s Alternative to EU
c/o Hanna Tiippana
Kylätorintie 10 C 22
SF-02770 Espoo
e-mail: hanna.tiippana@jippii.fi

Itsenäisyyspuolue
(Independence Party)
Nikinsaarentie 31
SF-62 900 Alajärvi
e-mail: info@itsenaisyyspuolue.fi

FRANCE

member

Rassemblement pour l’Indépendance et la Souveraineté de la France
7 rue de Florence
F-75008 Paris
tel/fax: +33 5 5846 5728
e-mail: jean-paul.bled@wanadoo.fr

observer

Les Alternatifs
40 rue de Malte
F-75011 Paris
tel: +33 1 4357 4480
fax: +33 1 4357 6450
e-mail: contact@alternatifs.org

GREECE

member

The EAN Movement
86 Akademias str.
106 78 Athens
tel/fax: +30 1 381 873
e-mail: mrellos@rellos.com

observer

Association of Social and Ecological Intervention
ENU Greece
3 Lefkon Oreon St.
173 42 St. Dimitrios Athens
tel/fax: +30 1 993 0081
e-mail: greenmv@techlink.gr

ICELAND

member

Heimssýn
Hafnarstraeti 18
101 Reykjavík
tel: +354 551 9800
e-mail: heimssyn@heimssyn.is

IRELAND

members

The National Platform
24 Crawford Avenue
Dublin 9
tel: +353-1-830 5792
fax: +353-1-822 7448
e-mail: info@nationalplatform.org

Peace and Neutrality Alliance
Dalkey Business Centre
17 Castle Street
Dalkey
Co. Dublin
tel: +353-1-235 15 12
e-mail: pana@eircom.net

People’s Movement
25 Shanowen Crescent, Santry
Dublin 9
tel: +353-87-230 8330
e-mail: post@people.ie

LATVIA

member

Kustiba par Neatkaribu
(Movement for Independence)
Antonijas 8 - 6a
LV 1010 Riga
tel and fax: +371 721 29 36
e-mail: neatkariba@inbox.lv

MALTA

member

The Campaign for National Independence
dr. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici B.A. LL.D., Chairman
81, Triq Ġuże Pace
Ħamrun
e-mail: cnimalta@yahoo.co.uk

NETHERLANDS

observer

Free Europe
e-mail: info@free-europe.org

NORWAY

members

Nei til EU
No to EU
Storgata 32
N-0184 Oslo
tel: +47 22 17 90 20
fax: +47 22 17 90 21
e-mail: neitileu@neitileu.no

Ungdom mot EU
Youth against the EU
Storgata 32
N-0184 Oslo
tel: +47 22 17 33 43
e-mail: umeu@umeu.no

Senterungdommen
(Centre Party Youth)
Postboks 6734 St. Olavs plass
N-0130 Oslo
tel: +47 22 98 96 00
fax: +47 22 98 96 10
e-mail: senterungdommen@senterpartiet.no

observers

Senterpartiet
Centre Party
Secretary General Dagfinn Sundsbø
P.B. 6734 St. Olavs Plass
N-0130 Oslo
tel: +47 2298 9600
fax: +47 2220 6915
e-mail: dagfinn.sundsbo@senterpartiet.no

Rød Valgallianse
Red Electoral Alliance
Osterhausgt. 27
N-0183 Oslo
tel: +47 2298 9050
fax: +47 2298 9055
e-mail: rv@rv.no

SLOVENIA

observer

Skupina Neutro (Group Neutro)
Blaž Babič
+386 41 828 366
e-mail: blaz.babic@amis.net

SPAIN

observer

Una Altra Democrácia És Possible
Another Democracy is Possible
e-mail: lsalgui@demopunk.net

SWEDEN

members

Miljöpartiet de Gröna
(The Green Party)
Riksdagen
S-10012 Stockholm
tel: +46 8 786 5744
fax +46 8 786 5375
e-mail: ulf.holm@mp.se

EU-kritiska Centernätverket
(EU-critical network of the Centre Party)
c/o Hans Lindqvist
Backvägen 8
13930 Värmdö
tel/fax: +46 8 570 21858 mobile: +46 70 54 85 819
e-mail: hans.lindqvist@centerpartiet.se

Folkrörelsen Nej till EU
(The People’s Movement No to EU)
Pölgatan 5
S-414 60 Göteborg
tel: +46 31 701 0177
e-mail: kansli@nejtilleu.se

SWITZERLAND

members

Forum für direkte Demokratie
(Forum for direct democracy)
Postfach
8048 Zürich
tel/fax: +41 31 731 2914
fax: +41 31 731 2913
e-mail: forum@europa-magazin.ch

Young 4 FUN
Postfach 569
9501 Wil
e-mail: info@young4fun.ch

UNITED KINGDOM

members

Campaign for an Independent Britain
Morton House
3 Stamford Drive
Groby
Leicestershire LE6 0YD
Great Britain
tel & fax: +44 (0) 70 92 857684
e-mail: office@eurosceptic.org.uk

Campaign Against Euro-Federalism
PO BOX 46295
London W5 2UG
tel/fax: +44 845 345 8902
e-mail: caef@caef.org.uk

Clannasaor
4 Main Street
Cairnbulg, Aberdeenshire
Scotland AB43 8YJ
tel: +44 (0) 1346-582659
e-mail: info@clannasaor.com

Free Scotland Party
Schoolhouse
Hamnavoe, Burra
Shetland
ZE2 9LA Scotland
tel: +44 01 595 859 475
mobile: +44 (0)77 71 724 362
e-mail: freescotlandparty@hotmail.com

The Bruges Group
Suite 216 The Linen Hall
162-168 Regent Street
London W1B 5TB
tel: +44 20 7287 4414
fax: +44 20 7287 5522
e-mail: robert@brugesgroup.com

UKIP - United Kingdom Independence Party
PO Box 408, Newton Abbot
Devon, TQ12 9BG
tel: +44 1626 831 290
fax: +44 1626 831 348
e-mail: mail@ukip.org

observers

Labour Euro-Safeguards Campaign
72 Albert Street
London NW1 7NR
tel: +44 20 7691 3800
fax: +44 20 7691 3834
e-mail: lesc@johnmillsltd.co.uk

Green Party of England and Wales
1a Waterlow Road
London N19 5NJ
tel: +44.20 7272 4474
fax: +44 20 7272 6653
e-mail: johndevaney@ukonline.co.uk

Democracy Movement
72 Hammersmith Road
London W14 8TH
tel: +44 20 7603 7796
fax: +44 20 7602 9699
e-mail: mail@democracymovement.org.uk

European Foundation
62 Brompton Road
London SW3 1BL
tel: +44 20 7590 9901
fax: +44 7590 9975
e-mail: euro.foundation@e-f.org.uk

A network defending democracy

TEAM is an information network linking 49 organisations, political parties and non-parties, from 18 countries across Europe. It includes democratic and non-racist organisations from the centre, left and right of the political spectrum.

What unites us is a common belief in the principles of democracy - as requiring representative government, citizen participation, transparency, accountability and free and fair public debate. We regard the current development of the EU as a manifest threat to these principles:

1. The building of a centralised federal-style EU Superstate, with common supranational policies and harmonisation in more and more political areas, reduces the power of democratic nation states and the right to self-determination of their citizens.

2. The centralisation of more and more power to Brussels and Frankfurt removes decision-making and control from national governments and parliaments - which are democratically accountable to their voters and citizens - to bureaucrats and politicians at EU-level, who decide policy package deals among themselves behind closed doors.

3. The project of an EU Superstate is being pressed by the euro-federalists without the support of their citizens in the EU Member countries. The lack of respect for the the Irish No to the Nice Treaty in 2001 and the Danish No to the euro in 2000, shows how the EU ignores the wishes of ordinary people.

History
Organisation
Working Programme 2005-2006
Team Affiliates
Board Members 2009-2010
Board Members 2010-2011
Constitution:
….TEAM Constitution 2003, original, Tallin
….TEAM Constitution 2007, amended, Wil
Meetings
Joining TEAM & Membership fees

TEAM presentation folder to download (pdf)