THE OTHER VOICES,

MONTHLY EMAIL-NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR A DIFFERENT EUROPE, ISSUE 2, MARCH 1997
In this second issue of the international newsletter of the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe, the hottest news is on the socalled non-papers from the IGC negotiations. These papers, dealing with crucial issues such as Schengen, justice cooperation, immigrants and asylum and the decision making structure of the EU, are kept secret, also to the European Parliament. The Green group in the European Parliament has managed to get hold of some of these papers and put them on the internet. An analysis by Barbara Hoheneder.

Also in this issue, a lot of exciting news from the Netherlands, where finally a public debate on the EMU is heating up. The discussion is fueled by an EMU-critical appeal signed by almost 100 economists! Initiatives for referenda on the EMU and/or Maastricht-II are underway. This months' opinion article is on the expansion of NATO and the military cooperation in the EU. Furthermore short news from all over Europe on activities setting the tone for the June events, such as the gathering of more than 600 people in Brussels, to prepare the European Marches against Unemployment.

With the next issue of The Other Voices, you will recieve a full programme of the Alternative Summit for a Different Europe! If your organisation has proposals for workshops, actions or other activities during the alternative summit in June, please get in touch!

---> NEWS FROM THE DUTCH COALITION FOR A DIFFERENT EUROPE <---

Dutch Economists Spark EMU Debate

In February, the debate about the EMU finally hit the Nether- lands! The discussion was sparked by an appeal against the EMU signed by almost 100 Dutch economists. The economists warn against the destructive social effects of the EMU-project. The EMU, so the economists state, will result in "a further dis- mantling of national social-fiscal policy and the European public sector". The economists warn that "the space for bud- getary policies, particularly for social and ecological goals, becomes smaller than ever" and conclude that the current EMU-plans will worsen the existing problems of unemployment, social exclusion and environmental degradation in Europe. The appeal was critizised heavily by government politicians, who, not used to critical discussion on the EMU, claimed that not the EMU but the economists themselves were dangerous for the Dutch economy! An English translation of the appeal will soon be available at the WWW-page of the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe.

Opinion polls show increasing EU-critique

An opinion poll published in February confirmed that euroscep- ticism in the Netherlands is much stronger than generally thought. A massive majority of the voters oppose the construc- tion of a federalist European state. The opinion poll moreover showed that 62% of the voters want a referendum on the EMU. 66% want a referendum on the next EU-treaty (Maastricht-II).

Calls for referendum

The Socialist Party, a left-wing party represented in the Dutch Parliament, has recently started a campaign for a refe- rendum on the EMU. The campaign includes distributing 1 milli- on campaign newspapers. A problem is that the Duth constituti- on at the moment does not allow binding referenda. Also the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe is preparing a campaign for a referendum on the EMU and/or the next EU treaty, possibly to kick off shortly after June.

Binoculars and microphones focus in on Europol

Early in February, the meeting of the EU ministers of justice and internal affairs in Noordwijk had drawn the attention of more than 50 look-a-likes of Mata Hari, Sherlock Holmes and other famous spies and detectives, fully equiped with binoculars, hearing aids and long distance microphones. The action group Counter-control, a working group of the Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe, had invited for an action to highlight the disturbing developments in EU policies on asylum, immigration and police cooperation. The activists surrounded the ministers conference in order to reveal the secrets being cooked up in for instance the K-4 committee and other hidden EU working groups such as Cibbga and Cibbgi. EU policies aim to sharpen the control on the citizens and exclude non-Europeans. The measures currently prepared include setting up a Europol without democratic controle and harmonisation of asylum policies aimed at limiting access as much as possible.

---> OPINIONS <---

NATO AND EUROPEAN NUKES

The debate raging in the media and among politicians about NATO expansion has tended to focus on security and stability in Central Europe. It's almost as if European nu- clear issues are of secondary importance. All the more reason for the lobbying and public education organisations to push ahead with activities to gain public attention for those issues. In April a review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty will take place at the United Nations in New York. Many non-governmental organisations are preparing to raise the issue of the abolition of nuclear weapons at that conference. At the same time, the question of the continued involvement of a number of European nations with those nuclear weapons will be raised in Europe. In this debate the question of the legality of nuclear arms will be raised. There are two sides to this: on the one hand the decision by the International Court of Justice that nuclear arms are illegal. On the other the Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by all the nuclear weapons states, which states in article I that "..each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons...".

In practice this article is being flaunted, in the spirit if not the letter, by the USA in providing nuclear arms to a number of European NATO member states (Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Italy) which are also contravening article II of the Treaty by accepting them. On top of that NATO is now suggesting that new members from Central Europe should be admitted, meaning that they too will fall under the nuclear 'umbrella' defined by the NATO's strategic doctrine.

The suggestion in some European circles (most notably by Mr. Tindemans in the European Parliament) that a European nuclear deterrent should accompany the establishment of a European Common Foreign and Security Policy is another possi- ble contravention of the Treaty. British and French nuclear arms would after all, be transferred to a new European 'enti- ty'.

Both processes will be fought by the coalition of organisations working on nuclear arms issues in the internati- onal coalition for a different Europe. Numerous public debates and lobbying activities will take place in the coming months. After the NPT Prepcom the Intergovernmental Conference of the EU will be the next big opportunity for bringing our arguments to the fore. On Sunday 15 June a number of public debates, panels and seminars will be held in Amsterdam to draw public attention to the nuclear issue. To prepare the ground the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Dutch Women for Peace have started a campaign calling on Dutch citizens to send a postcard to the Dutch prime minister asking him to actively support article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. That which calls on the treaty signatories to initiate negotiations on a total ban of nuclear weapons. For more information on this and other activities contact: Karel Koster, Working Group Eurobomb Esdoornstraat 14 3551 AJ Utrecht, Holland tel: 31-30-2442122/31-30-2722594, fax: 31-30-2441783 E-mail: K.Koster@inter.nl.net

---> INTERNATIONAL UPDATES <---

European Marches Kick Off April 14th!

Six hundred people from 17 countries, including all EU member states, took part in the gathering on the European Marches against Unemployment, Precariousness and Social Exclusion, at the Universite Libre in Brussels (22-23rd of February). The walks are to begin on 14 April 1997 from several cities (Tan- ger, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Athens, Sarajevo, Lorient, Berlin, Belfast, etc.) and converge on Amsterdam where they will arrive on 14 June for a demonstration of hopefully several tens of thousands of people. This will give a strong signal to the European Council that will take place on 16 and 17 June and which will possibly conclude the IGC.

The gathering in Brussels was organised to prepare the marches and and to discuss the situation of employment and living conditions of unemployed and excluded people. The draft Manifesto which the walkers will carry with them all along the way was discussed at the conference. For more information, contact the international secretariat: Marche europeenne, c/o AC!, 42 rue d'Avron, 75020 Paris, France.

NEWS FROM GREECE

We have arranged a meeting in Athens, on Wednesday 26th of February, where we'll talk about "an alternative approach for Europe". We'll make an attempt to organise a committee respon- sible for the matters around the Intergovermental Conference. In this committee will participate NGO's, trade unions, citi- zens etc. We - Green movement - have published a monthly newsletter about political, ecological, social, cultural, national events trying to spread out informations about social movements in Europe as well as in other countries. We include infos about the marches to Amsterdam. For more information, contact: ENU GREECE, LEFKON OREON 3, 173 42 ST. DIMITRIOS, ATHENS- GREECE. TEL-FAX: 0030-1-9930081 - E-MAIL: greenmv@techlink.gr

---> SHORT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS <---

S P E A K O U T A G A I N S T R A C I S M ! JUNE 12-13 1997 AMSTERDAM

By assembling 300 delegates this UNITED Conference will be a highlight in the European Year Against Racism. Important speakers from the anti-racist movement and politics will address the largest meeting of NGOs during this year. A wide range of crucial topics will be covered, notably Fortress Europe, the realities of daily racism and institutional ra- cism. Together with policy makers and experts from the an- ti-racist movement we will not only discuss the problems, but also strategies for successful anti-racist struggle. UNITED for Intercultural Action is with 443 organisations from 43 European countries the biggest European network against natio- nalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refu- gees. For more information contact: UNITED, PB 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam. phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582 email united@antenna.nl, http://www.xs4all.nl/~united

MAY 9TH: EU ACTION DAY!

Calling all those working on environmental, peace, development, solidarity,immigration, women's, unemployment, social exclusion, human rights...... issues

May 9th is the official European Union Day. On May 9th 1950 the French Minister Schuman proposed an agreement between France and Germany for a union of cooperation for the production and consumption of coal and iron. This is an historic day for the European Commission as Schumann's proposal is seen as the commission's foundation.

Use May 9th Action Day to help develop the EU debate, create either a general awareness of EU issues or an awareness of how the EU is producing specific problems in your field! Contact: Dianne at A SEED Europe, PO Box 92066, 1090 AB Amsterdam, Netherlands. Tel: 00 +31 20 668 2236 Fax: 00 +31 20 665 0166 e-mail: Dianne@ASEED.ANTENNA.NL More information on the web site: http://www.antenna.nl/aseed

EUROPE-WIDE TRANSPORT ACTION WEEKEND

A SEED Europe is planning a EUROPE-WIDE TRANSPORT ACTION WEEKEND on April 4/5/6 1997! And we want YOU and the people around you to take part in this! How? Fax or email us that you are taking part in the A SEED TRANSPORT ACTION WEEKEND!! We'll send you an action pack with background material, tips for action and tips on how to work on press, publicity, funding and outreach. We'll also have an email/fax newsletter update to inform you about other groups joining in the ACTION WEEK- END.

Last year, we had the TENs Action Day (against the EU's Trans- -European Networks), which was a big success: more than fifty groups from all over Europe did actions on one day (March 30)! For this year's ACTION WEEKEND we have already got positive reactions from groups in Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. For more information, contact Frank van Schaik, A SEED Europe, PO Box 92066 - 1090 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-6682236, fax: +31-20-6650166, email: frank@aseed.antenna.nl, http://www.antenna.nl/aseed

TEAMING UP

Just after the deadline of this newsletter, The European Anti- Maastricht Movement (TEAM) was launched in Copenhagen. At a conference 1-3rd of March, more than 70 representatives of Maastricht-critical movements from all over Europe joined to formally establish TEAM. More information in the next issue of The Other Voices or by contacting: Kristen Nygaard, TEAM coordinator, Niels Juel gt. 6A, N-0272 Oslo, Norway. Email: kristen@ifi.uio.no.

RED-GREEN NETWORK NEWSLETTER

A new issue of the newsletter Red-Green Network has come out in February, including news on leftwing EU-critical campaigns and events in Denmark, the Netherlands, Scotland and Italy and on the neutrality movement in Austria. Contact: Red-Green Alliance, Studiestreede 24, st., 1455 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Tel: +45 33375062, fax +45 33375070.

PROGRESSIVE EU OPPONENTS

This new newsletter is published by members of Socialdemocra- tic EU-critics and the Left Party of Sweden. "It is distribu- ted to a network of leftwing sympathisers around Europe who were sceptical to the Maastricht Treaty and who also are sceptical to the idea of building a federal state of Europe". The second issue came out in February, with articles on the EMU, on the European Parliament elections in Austria and Finland and much more. Contact: Ulf Ekberg, Socialdemocratic EU-critics, tel +46 8 194378, fax +46 8 4648723.

ACTION AGAINST HST IN BASQUE COUNTRY

More than 3000 people took part in a demonstration against the planned highspeed train from Madrid to Dax, crossing the Basque Country. The project is part of the European Unions Trans-European Networks (TENs). The demonstration on January 18th in San Sebastian/Donostia demanded the highspeed train link to be cancelled due to its desctruvtive environmental impacts. Asamblea Contra el TAV organised the demonstration with support from more than 200 other organisations. The Asamblea will participate in the alternative summit in June, among other things to protest against the EUs support for the highspeed train networks. For more information contact: Asam- blea Contra el TAV, AA.VV. de Gros, c/ Padre Larroca 8-bajo, 20001-Donostia, Basque Country, Spain.

A SEED CAMPAIGN ON EU AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

The present focus of the campaign is on the EU patenting directive which will, once again after its initial rejection in 1995, cause a large amount of already existing US patents becoming applicable within the EU. Among these there will be a great number of patents on human genetic material which is not yet explicitely excluded from being patentable through the directive. A SEED is ultimately lobbying for a rejection of the directive, because it is does not reflect our concerns about the possible effects for non-EU states nor does it protect the human common property as an unpatentable good.

A SEED Europe has set up campaigning tools which can be provi- ded to interested groups that want to become active in the biotechnology issue. Background information on the patenting directive and its consequences, is available in a well understandable form. Linkage to further ongoing campaigns and information resources can also be provided. Get in contact with the A SEED Europe office: P.O. Box 92066, 1090 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 6682236, fax +31 20 6650166, e-mail:aseedeur@antenna.nl

---> CONTACT ADDRESS <---

If you have proposals for activities during the alternative summit or questions, get in touch with us at the follwoing address: Dutch Coalition for a Different Europe, Olivier Hoedeman/Ernst van Lohuizen P.O. Box 54, 1000 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 4222712 Fax: +31 20 4223171 Email: ander.europa@xs4all.nl WWW: http://www.snore.org/different-europe

Visitors address (please phone first): Damrak 83,1., Amsterdam (150 metres from Central Station)

---> AGENDA OF UPCOMING EVENTS <---