EU is now a profoundly anti-democratic institution

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/17/eu-is-now-a-profoundly-anti-democratic-institution

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The miserable farce of David Cameron’s “renegotiation” of Britain’s membership of the EU has only served to underline the regressive and undemocratic nature of that institution (Report, 16 February). We know from extreme austerity enforced on the people of Greece that the union is not only undemocratic in itself but also anti-democratic in the profound sense that its institutions will not allow the democratically expressed view of the majority of people to stand if it runs counter to the free market project.

The EU is irreversibly committed to privatisation, welfare cuts, low wages and the erosion of trade union rights. This is why the dominant forces of British capitalism and the majority of the political elite are in favour of staying in the EU. The EU is irrevocably committed to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and other new trade deals, which represent the greatest transfer of power to capital that we have seen in a generation.

Claims that the free movement of labour within the EU is a barrier to xenophobia are false. But without labour rights and an alternative to austerity, migrants will be prey to hostile xenophobic forces with or without the Schengen agreement. And, even more seriously, “Fortress Europe” ensures that those outside the EU cartel of nations are subject to vicious discrimination if they are lucky, and drowning in the Mediterranean if they are not.

We stand for a positive vision of a future Europe based on democracy, social justice and ecological sustainability, not the profit-making interests of a tiny elite. For these reasons we are committed to pressing for a vote to leave the EU in the forthcoming referendum on UK membership.Mick CashGeneral secretary, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport WorkersIan HodgsonPresident, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ UnionTariq AliWriter and broadcasterJohn HilaryExecutive director, War on WantProf Mary DavisTUC women’s gold badge winnerAaron BastaniCo-founder, Novara MediaRobert GriffithsGeneral secretary, Communist partyLindsey GermanWriter and anti-war campaignerJoginder BainsNational general secretary, Indian Workers Association – GBAlex GordonFormer president, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport WorkersLiz PayneChair, Communist partyJohn ReesCounterfireJohn FosterInternational secretary, Communist partyDave RandallMusician and writerGraham StevensonFormer president, European Transport Workers FederationBill GreenshieldsPast president, National Union of TeachersDoug NichollsChair, Trades Unionists Against the EUFawzi IbrahimFormer treasurer and national executive member, University & College Lecturers’ UnionRobert WilkinsonFormer national executive, National Union of TeachersHank RobertsPast national president, Association of Teachers and LecturersJohn StevensonGMB (personal capacity)Reuban Bard RosenbergMusicianManuel Bueno Del CarpioUnison, Sandwell general branchDyal BagriNational president, Indian Workers Association – GBHarsev BainsSecretary, Association of Indian Communists – GBBen ChackoEditor, Morning StarJim McDaidSocialist Labour party Scotland and Chair, Irvine & North Ayrshire TUCVince MillsLabour Leave

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