The Green's opposition to the Nice Treaty is entirely consistent with the principles on which the party was founded here, insists Trevor Sargent
I was surprised at The Irish Times facilitating an individual to write an opinion piece giving the impression he is in the Green Party when he is not. I wonder if The Irish Times is now embarking on another series of articles about PD, Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporters who will vote No to Nice on October 19th. When I read the views of John Bergin last Friday, who has never been a Green Party member, I wondered why someone who claims to support the party had never contacted "the leadership" as he terms it, to appraise us of his views about the Nice Treaty.
If Mr Bergin did call to see me, the chances are that our conversation would be punctuated by phone calls from many members of other parties, encouraging us in our quest for a No vote.
We have received such supportive calls from a constituency treasurer in the PD party, long-time members of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, not to mention a Labour Party public representative - all supporting a No vote. I would appreciate a chance to impress on Mr Bergin how the Greens are passionately pro-enlargement and we see a fairer way of proceeding.
The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas position on the Nice Treaty is entirely consistent with the principles of democracy, equality, non-violence and sustainability on which the party was formed. The holding of a second referendum on exactly the same treaty as the one defeated last year makes a total mockery of democracy. A real test of democracy is the ability to accept the outcome, whatever that may be, from a referendum. The Government and its supporters have failed this test.
The Nice Treaty is also a sell-out for equality. If it is ratified, the principle of a partnership of equally respected member-states gives way to the might is right principle. The veto in 30 major policy areas disappears, each country's guarantee of a commissioner is sacrificed and the voting strength of the larger countries trebles compared to a mere doubling of Ireland's voting strength.
Equality also suffers a blow because an inner circle of eight members can band together and exclude Ireland, Slovenia, or any other future member which cannot, for example, accept tax harmonisation. Before Nice, this could not happen without unanimous support of all EU member-states. If Nice is ratified, unanimity will no longer be required.
Organisations such as Greenpeace have shown the immense potential of non-violence. The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas is not pacifist, but we oppose the rush to further militarise the EU. Our policy has always been to support the UN as the primary guarantor of peace. The military dimension, such as Article 17 of the Nice Treaty, seeks to incorporate the military provisions of the WEU into the EU.
Not only did Fianna Fáil deny the people a referendum on joining the Partnership for Peace which it promised in 1997, but it is now asking you in Article 25 to support the formation of an EU pentagon to command a 60,000-strong army which is empowered to wage war up to 2,500 miles beyond EU borders and without any mandate from the UN.
Sustainability is a fundamental principle underpinning Green Party policies.
The Nice Treaty in Article 133 strengthens the biggest companies in the world and the unelected EU Trade Commissioner, at the expense of member-states who would lose their veto. Notwithstanding the merits of catalytic converters and other EU environmental measures, the Nice Treaty is part of a push to increase energy consumption and intensive agriculture. This results in goods having to travel greater distances, creating greater consumption of finite resources and worsening the crisis of climate change. Remember the floods in Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic in recent months.
Those who say the Nice Treaty is all about enlargement are either unable or unwilling to say what the treaty is really about. It is a treaty to create a hierarchy of members. The countries which want to form an inner core of states can do so after Nice without hindrance. The other existing member-states can occupy a second tier of EU membership. Then the post-Nice members must settle for less EU payments and limitations on freedom of movement for workers.
The reality is that the Amsterdam Treaty is a much fairer way to enlarge the EU.
The Nice Treaty enlargement rules are akin to the Big House in 18th-century Ireland being a solution to unemployment. The Amsterdam Treaty on the other hand allows all applicant countries to join on the basis of equality as long as discussions to review EU structures have taken place, and they have.
Why then do some Green parties support Nice?
Good question - but Nice increases the influence of the larger countries, so that may explain why the German Greens are happy to accept the institutional changes proposed.
On the other hand, the Green parties in Sweden, France, Denmark and the UK have written to support the position of An Comhaontas Glas - the Green Party in Ireland. Indeed, I have been heartened by views of citizens in the applicant countries who also oppose the Nice Treaty rule-book proposals. A Polish citizen wrote to me: "Your earlier rejection of the treaty was already much appreciated by many Polish people ... we look forward to your strong voting against the Nice Treaty".
I also look forward to meeting the busload of visitors from applicant countries due to arrive in the coming days to a Yes to Enlargement - No to Nice tour.
I also look forward to having a chat with Mr John Bergin and hopefully he has had a chance to read the e-mail I sent him.
Trevor Sargent is the leader of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas