The Alternatives of Attac

Attac is an international organisation advocating alternatives for neoliberalism with chapters in some fifty countries, both in Europe and in Latin America, as well as in Asia and Africa. Both in France and in the Netherlands, in 2005 national Attac chapters played an important role in the campaigns against the European Constitution. In both countries the European Constitution was rejected by an ample majority.

Attac’s objections to the Constitution are five-fold and comprise:

1. Its neoliberal character. The proposed treaty intended to set down neoliberalism and ‘free and unhindered competition’ as a ‘principle’ of the EU. This would have constitutionally bound the EU member states to a specific economic policy.
2. Its undemocratic character. The treaty would have constitutionalised the EU’s undemocratic character and the mingling of its legislative, executive and judicial powers, while political participation of the people would continue to lack far behind, leaving Europe essentially a technocracy.
3. The treaty’s militarist nature. The Constitution set out to oblige the EU member states to reinforce their military capacities and forged an explicit link between the EU and NATO.
4. In addition to its more or less constitutional aspects (the polity of the EU, the jurisdiction of its various institutions, etc.), the Constitution also extended to political content. It would have incorporated the content of all existing treaties. It was not limited to setting down the rules of the game, it would also have ‘constitutionalised’ specific policy directions.
5. The EU Constitution would override national constitutions and national legislation, and could only be changed by unanimous consent of all member states. That implies that in extremis a country like Malta might have blocked amendment of the Constitution.

These objections clearly show that Attac is not opposed to Europe, a European Union or a Constitutional Treaty as such. Attac is pre-eminently an internationalist movement, which is convinced of the importance of international political institutions to solve the major problems that confront mankind. But precisely because such institutions are so important, it is imperative that they be democratic and transparent, while the people must be able to identify with their policies.

If the outcome of the referenda in France and the Netherlands have made one thing clear, it is the yawning gap between European politics and the people. An analysis of the results and the available opinion polls clearly outlines the nature of the no-vote. It constituted not a vote against Europe or against a constitution, but rather a vote against Europe’s current undemocratic and antisocial character. A mood which certainly wasn’t exclusive to France or the Netherlands. (Which explains why all scheduled referenda on the Constitution were cancelled for fear of yet another rejection).

The central problem in and with Europe is its lack of democratic legitimacy. Following the referenda, the European Attac chapters engaged in a series of intensive debates. This has resulted in seventeen Attac chapters in Europe – from Finland to Spain and from Hungary to Jersey – issuing a joint declaration on the criteria that should ideally underpin the European Union. This declaration has since been translated into virtually every European language and has been discussed in scores of local, national and international meetings.

The declaration takes as its starting point the necessity to, through a democratic process, arrive at an effective democratisation of the Union. A Union which safeguards the fundamental rights of all its inhabitants and which guards and develops its democratic achievements. A Union which does not set its economic system in stone, but which allows room for alternatives. A Europe which does not centre solely on profits and power, but which revolves instead around its people and the environment.

This declaration and the discussion and awareness-building trajectory which underlies it, demonstrate that it is possible to arrive at joint initiatives and positions in Europe (both the old and the new Europe). The most salient feature is that this entire process is taking place in complete disconnection from the projects aimed at raising the involvement of Europe’s citizens in the European project that are being funded with millions of euros by EU institutions and the governments of its member states.

Attac sees itself as part of a much broader movement for an alternative globalisation, as outlined in social forums on local, national, continental and international levels. A movement which demonstrates that a grassroots organisation is capable of inspiring large and highly diverse groups of people to contribute to building a different world, inspired by the motto: 'Another Europe is Possible'.

Willem Bos, Attac the Netherlands

This article was published in Politeia Newsletter 46 - October 2007