Amsterdam, June 15, 1997

Growing resistance against Treaty of Amsterdam
Opposition unites during the Alternative Summit and European Demonstration


Starting last thursday more than fithy thousand people have participated in a range of actions to protest against the coming Treaty of Amsterdam. During the first two days of the Alternative Summit, organised by the Coalition Towards a Different Europe, several hundreds of international guests discussed the other Europe. Saturday at least fithy thousand people demonstrated against the anti-social policy of the European governements.

Heavy criticism on single minded EU
The criticism of the Coalition Towards an Different Europe mainly aims at the single minded fixation of the European Union on economical and monetary policy. The salvation of the EMU appears to be the only concern. Too little attention is being payed on a solid social chapter or a decent employment policy. Enviromental issues are hardly taken into account in the current Treaty text, although these issues are best dealed with on a European level, an argument used in the past by governments not to enforce laws on a national level.
Apart from these points the undemocratic decision taking process in this Europe is strongly denounced by the Coalition. The European and national parliaments hardly have an influence on the fithteen governement leaders, who will decide on the future of Europe in the Dutch National Bank.
The Coalition Towards a Different Europe, which is made up of dozens of organisations from several social en political movements, want to stimulate the debate about the future of Europe. Only if the citizens get an influence on the political agenda of Europe and a move is made towards a social, sustainable and democratic Europe popular support for European integration can be found. If the European Union continues on its current path, the anti-European attitudes of its citizens will grow furthermore, making this project more and more likely to fail.

The Alternative Summit
Untill coming Tuesday the Alternative Summit will be held at several locations like the "Vrouwenhuis" (Nieuwe Herengracht 95) and the "Oude Kerk" (Oudekerksplein 23). Monday its focus will be on strategies towards a social Europe and the position of women, while Tuesday the conference will deal with strategies aimed to bring about the other Europe.

Final statement
A pressconference will take place on Tuesday to present the final statement concerning the critism of the Summit on the Treaty of Amsterdam. The pressmeeting will take place at 9.30 am in the "Vrouwenhuis" (Nieuwe Herengracht 95).

During the summit pressmeetings will be held every day at 9.30 am at the "Vrouwenhuis". For more information please contact international pressofficer Olivier Hoedeman, telephone 06- 53867632.