20.10.2004

For a social Europe

The CPGB took part in a meeting to launch a European-wide 'campaign for a social and democratic Europe', writes Anne McShane

The CPGB was invited to take part in a workshop to discuss the setting up of a campaign ‘for a social and democratic Europe’. It was a follow-on discussion from the ‘Assembly on the constituent process’, which took place on May 22-23 in Rome (see Weekly Worker May 27). The meeting allowed for a very useful exchange of views and clarified some points of difference that will be further explored at a meeting in Paris on December 18. It was also agreed to set up an email discussion list prior to that event so that an agreed way forward could be mapped out.

One of the main movers behind the campaign, Franco Russo of Rifondazione Comunista, led off the discussion. He argued for “multi-level democracy within Europe and for a new federalism”. He said that “we should forget the old debate between Proudhon and Marx” and move on. He believed that power should be disseminated downwards and we should fight for “cosmopolitan democracy based on citizenship by residence”. Nation-states were a thing of the past. He also argued that the proposed constitution was in fact a constitutional treaty and should not be legitimised in any way. The European parliament must be democratised and become truly representative - a social Europe.

Tina Becker responded to these points. She agreed that it was vital to build an all-European campaign and for the closest possible union from below. However, it was wrong to ignore the continued importance of the nation-state within Europe. We must organise both against our own nation-state as well as across Europe. Unlike the majority of the left in Britain, we do not support “the disastrous tactic of pulling out of Europe”, she said. We want bottom-up democracy - and need to fight for its fullest development as part of the struggle for communism. She raised problems with the idea of building a pacifist Europe and noted that federalism seems to have been interpreted by some in the meeting as a way to break up our own forces. In order to win peace for humanity we must be prepared to arm ourselves - and be united in as centralised a way as possible.

Simo Endre of the Hungarian Social Forum argued that important lessons needed to be learned from the experience of the Soviet Union and eastern Europe. Specifically the lack of democracy within these states showed that they could not be progressive. “We need to debate the lessons for the European left of the 20th century so that we do not repeat these mistakes,” he said.

After a debate from the floor, the meeting resolved to continue to work to launch a campaign for a social and democratic Europe. It was agreed that the term ‘federalism’ should not be used in the title of the campaign, as there was room for confusion and disagreement. For example, the World Federal Movement, which had organised the workshop, argued in a discussion paper for a second chamber of the EU parliament - one in which national governments would be represented. CPGB comrades argued against any second chambers, as they are typically used as a method to curb pressure exercised from below.

Another weakness is that some groups involved - namely the WFM - are actually in favour of voting ‘yes’ in referendums on the constitutional treaty. So we might well see another sub-campaign emerging that will unite those in favour of a social Europe, but who will be calling for a ‘no’ vote.

There is a need for much more and deeper debate. For example, how do we relate to the UN Charter of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court? Both were quoted by some participants as “protecting fundamental rights”.

The process is at a very early stage. It also reflects the problems and illusions that continue to haunt the European left. Nevertheless it is an important recognition of the need for profound and democratic Europe-wide unity and as such is part of the solution. We will certainly be working to make it so.