The Amsterdam Summit turns the democratisation promises given at the start of the IGC into lies, says the Alternative Summit currently taking place in Amsterdam. The heads of state and government fail to bring substantial improvements in ecological and social dimension of the EU. "Let us reclaim Europe", is the Alternative Summits message to the European citizens.
Experts and representatives of civil society gathered at the Alternative Summit in Amsterdam complain about the undemocratic structures of the EU and demand a right to influence the shaping of a future Europe. The European heads of state meeting in Amsterdam hide behind countless police and thousands of metres of barbed wire. "This scenario perfectly symbolizes how far European decision making is distanced from the European peoples.", comments Olivier Hoedeman, press speaker of the Alternative Summit parallelly staged in Amsterdam by hundreds of European NGOs. "The bizarre security measures give evidence that heads of states themselves expect their decisions to be very unpopular.", he adds.
During the first two days of the Alternative Summit, organised by the Coalition Towards a Different Europe, several hundreds of international guests discussed the future of European integration. 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. Saturday at least fithy thousand people demonstrated against the anti-social policy of the European governements.
Dutch Coalition demands release hundreds of arrested people
The Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe, host of the Alternative Summit, is
extremely worried about yesterday nights "preventive arrest" of more than 200 people near Dam
Square. This arrest of a random group of people is a violation of the right to demonstrate and
contrary to the rule of law. Despite the fact that no criminal activity was taking place, the police
based its action on article 140 (participation in a criminal organisation). Also during Saturday's
demonstration against unemployment, the freedom to demonstrate was violated by holding back
several hundred Italian demonstrators in a train on Central Station and by excessive police
violence at several occassions during the demonstration. The Dutch Coalition strongly objects
against this behavior by the police and will demand a reaction from the responsible
politicians.
Final statement Alternative Summit on Tuesday 17/6
Tuesday, the Alternative Summit will present its final declaration, stating its reaction to the IGC and the plans made by NGOs for all over Europe for how to campaign together in the common months. A press conference will take place on Tuesday at 9.30 to present this final statement. The press meeting will take place at the central venue of the Alternative Summit, the "Vrouwenhuis" (Nieuwe Herengracht 95).
The Alternative Summit
Untill 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.
For more information please contact international press officer Olivier Hoedeman, telephone 06- 53867632.