NO TO THE PRESIDENCY OF CAPITALISM, WAR AND GENOCIDE!

The European Union (EU) is an imperialist alliance which the 26-county Irish state has enjoyed participation in since the Maastricht treaty in 1992. We cannot forget the timeless words of V.I. Lenin on such a formation, when he said “the United States of Europe, under capitalism, is either impossible or reactionary”. These words could not be more true today, with the EU displaying its reactionary attacks against the working class through consistent anti-worker measures, its support of the genocide in Palestine, and most recently through its support of the attacks on Cuba.

Until recently, the entire island was encompassed by membership of the EU. With the membership of the British state, the 6 counties also fell within the imperialist alliance. However, after a calculated move from the British bourgeoisie, the British state, 6 counties included, withdrew from the EU. The relative strength of the 26-county state was demonstrated through its ability to negotiate the position of the 6 counties within the single market and protect its profits through the implementation of a common market area across the island of Ireland. Such strength is also being leveraged by the Irish and European bourgeoisie in the effort to create a “new” Ireland, which extends the border to include the occupied 6 counties, but accelerates the entire country’s engagement with imperialist alliances such as NATO.

The EU was formed as an imperialist alliance between different states following the already existing partnership of the European Economic Community (EEC), which Ireland joined in 1973 following a referendum the previous year. The purpose of such alliances is clear: they are used by the bourgeoisie in each country to sharpen their tools of exploitation, to share resources and markets as a vehicle to enhance competition with other imperialist alliances, and to maximise the profits of the monopolies.

We contend that the EU can never have a pro-worker orientation. Over the years the EU has granted “progressive” concessions to workers and the youth. However, these concessions seek to obfuscate the reality that the EU is fundamentally based on enhancing the collective profits of the monopolies of its member states, while intensifying repression and exploitation of working people. There are many mechanisms which enforce economic hardship on the working class of various countries in the name of so-called “common prosperity”.

First, the Stability and Growth Pact is a measure which allows the European Commission to carry out the fiscal monitoring of member states and to make yearly “Country-Specific Recommendations” on the fiscal policy which is being pursued.

Furthermore, the so-called European Semesters are an annual gathering of all member states to coordinate fiscal and social policy. This guarantees that the essential experience of the bourgeoisie in each country is being shared, and that all member states can implement the necessary anti-worker policy that is needed to benefit the alliance.

Another mechanism is the strict budgetary control which is a core feature of the EU. Each member state is required to submit their draft budget plan for the next year to the European Council for review.

The EU regularly provides “benefits” to countries under the auspices of austerity measures which must be implemented. The benefit does not go one way though — the introduction of such measures creates enormous benefit for Irish capitalists, as well as their European counterparts, while the working class is plunged into deepening poverty.

Many will claim that the EU is an alliance which can provide benefit to the Irish working class. Even in the cases of most Irish parliamentary parties on the “left”, they believe the EU can pursue a pro-people policy if there is a significant change in leadership. Such parties which make these claims discount the period of 2008–09.

When plunged deep in crisis, the EU offered low-interest loans to the 26-county state on the condition that it rapidly implemented austerity measures. Such measures include the introduction of university fees, reduced access to public healthcare, and the infamous attempt to privatise water.

We are struggling against the policies of the EU which leave the working people of its member states in disarray, such as the policies which restrict investment in education and healthcare in favour of favourable loans and investments for the bourgeoisie. Much of these initiatives will be up for discussion during the EU Presidency in Ireland, providing an important avenue for our organisation to intervene and expose the policy of the EU.

Additionally, we must also focus on the crimes committed by EU member states in different countries. The pro-war policies which are being implemented as a strategic shift to the war economy include:

• Strengthening of the so-called “common” defence policy of member states.

  Through the enhancement of groups like PESCO, EU battlegroups, Partnership for Peace and the promotion of a “European Army”.

• Increase in military investment, shift in production towards military equipment.

  Increase of NATO spending requirement to 5% of GDP. Increased pressure on Ireland to participate in these initiatives regardless of its non-membership of NATO.

• Support of imperialist wars and interventions around the globe

  through participation in NATO and otherwise. Complete support for the reactionary forces in Ukraine, providing military support and sanctioning Russia economically. Support for the US imperialist interventions around the globe such as Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela. Support for the genocidal Israeli state in its genocide against the people of Palestine.

All of these aforementioned initiatives are occurring in the context of sharp competition between the Euro-Atlantic alliance and the China-Russia alliance. Many of the topics around the EU Presidency in Ireland, in the words of the 26-county officials, surround “strengthening European competitiveness”, and some of the meetings will occur on the topic of defence.

Many may determine that the outcome of our agitation on the question of the EU means that we are calling for a direct withdrawal. This is in some part true, but missing essential context. We are calling for a principled exit from the EU which occurs on the basis of the Irish working class achieving power. We are not struggling for the “sovereignty” of our bourgeoisie to make decisions without being bound by the EU imperialist alliance — we are struggling for working class sovereignty!

We are struggling for the overthrow of the capitalist system and the withdrawal of the Irish people from all imperialist alliances, for an Ireland whose international actions reflect the calls of its people. The message of the youth is clear. Behind the slogan “No to the Presidency of Capitalism, War and Genocide!” we are calling for an end to the participation of our government in the wars and interventions of the EU, a complete halt to attacks on the neutrality legislation such as the ‘Triple Lock’, and for the government to abandon all plans to join the NATO imperialist alliance. We refuse to be a part of the barbaric plans of the EU which destroy the lives of millions around the world and of the working class in its own countries.