More EU is the Biggest Threat to the EU -Tóibín
Responding to the Conference on the Future of Europe and the Taoiseach Mícheal Martin’s blank cheque on the recommendations, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD stated:
“The Conference on the Future of Europe was billed as an experiment of ‘Transnational Citizen Participation’. However outside of the political and media establishment I don’t know any citizen who has heard of it or understands what its doing”.
The EU should be a partnership of nation states working together to ease trade, grow prosperity and create sustainable economic development. There are also certain areas such as environmental and climate change that are transnational in impact and solutions. Cooperation is logical and beneficial in these areas.
However, there is a significant federalist agenda evident among many of the current EU elites and in this conference. The conference has proposed extreme and radical measures that will completely change the purpose and role of the European union. From an end to unanimity, the launch of a joint armed forces of the union and an abolition of national vetoes the proposals are an existential threat to Irish democracy and sovereignty.”
“Democracy is stronger when citizens can influence decision makers and hold them to account. There is no way that Irish citizens can influence decision makers in Brussels or hold politicians in Berlin to account”.
Deputy Tóibín continued “The proposals of this conference are in complete opposition to Ireland’s interests. Tax harmonisation proposals undermine Ireland’s economic competitiveness. Removing the unanimity feature, will allow larger EU members to overwhelm smaller states like Ireland in EU decisions.”
“Furthermore, Aontú have serious concerns over how democratic the conference was. We have concerns over selection bias, the conference could hardly be considered representative of EU citizens as a whole”.
Deputy Tóibín concluded “Aontú wants friendship, trade and cooperation with our European partners but we condemn the Taoiseach for issuing a blank cheque today in saying that he will seek to implement the Conference recommendations. This will require Treaty Changes and a referendum. Aontú will oppose any reduction in Irish democracy and loss in sovereignty. The continuous push for EU federalism is biggest threat to the EU”.
CRÍOCH
