Tobias Pflüger (Mitglied des EU-Parlaments) : Rubrik:English Press releases

Lisbon Treaty Further Militarises EU

Tobias Pflüger — 2008-06-10T13:55:00Z

Pressemitteilung der irischen Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA), Dublin, 30. Mai 2008

At a news conference today (Friday, May 30th), the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) outlined its reasons for advocating a No vote to the Lisbon Treaty. PANA was joined by German MEP, Tobias Pflüger, from the United European Left/Nordic Green Left group in the EU parliament.

Roger Cole, Chairperson of PANA, highlighted opinion poll findings that show that issues of EU militarisation and Irish neutrality are the chief reason - after confusion over the Treaty - that Irish people are thinking of voting No. "It's clear that people are very concerned that the EU is being militarised. We don't want to be supporting and funding the armaments industry. We don't want Irish troops to be part of EU military forces that are linked with NATO and are 'interoperable' with NATO forces that use cluster bombs. The EU also sees its military forces as not requiring UN mandates. As the EU Commission President, José Barroso stated, the Lisbon Treaty lays the foundations for a 'genuine EU common defence'. This is something we should strongly oppose.

Tobias Pflüger, MEP, stated that: "all progressive forces interested in a democratic and peaceful EU are looking forward to the Irish referendum and hoping that the Irish people will forcefully reject this militaristic treaty. Lisbon provides for: 1) world wide EU combat missions; 2) a Solidarity Clause which indicates how the EU is transforming into a military alliance; 3) collaboration with NATO, including the development of an EU security and defence policy which must be compatible with NATO; and 4) more of our money going into the armament's industry. There are many, many people in Europe who also wanted to vote on this Treaty. However the EU leaders have ensured we will not have this democratic right. We hope that the Irish people reject Lisbon and that we can create a more democratic EU without a military dimension".

Carol Fox, PANA researcher, said the Irish Governement could not be relied upon to protect Ireland's neutrality or to halt EU military developments. "Look what has already happened in the EU, despite the existence of an Irish veto. The Lisbon Treaty includes a number of new military provisions, including mutual defence and solidarity clauses, an elite military force ('Structured Cooperation'), and an armaments agency. Our Governement has supported all of this as well as joining an EU Battlegroup and the Rapid Reaction Force. We've even weakened our Triple Lock (Governement/Dail approval/UN mandate before sending troops abroad) to facilitate this. We already know from the example of US troops through Shannon that the Irish Governement has a very peculiar definition of neutrality. The Lisbon Treaty further confirms this".

Lisbon Treaty Further Militarises EU

Tobias Pflüger — 2008-06-10T13:55:00Z

Press releases

Tobias Pflüger — 2005-05-30T14:17:00Z

North Korea's reckless behaviour exposes western hypocrisy
Press release Tobias Pflüger (MEP) Brussels, 11th October 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/2792349/

A majority in the foreign affairs committee of the European Union voted for substantial militarization
Press release 2006/49 Tobias Pflüger (MEP) Strasbourg, 5th October 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/2763844/

Upholding political justice through the European Parliament majority: Coalition from the Right through to the Greens waive Tobias Pflügers immunity
Press Statement 2006/34 Tobias Pflüger (MEP) Strasbourg, 16th May 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/2026464/

An immediate phase-out of nuclear power is ultimately mandatory
Press declaration 2006/30 Tobias Pflüger (MEP) Brussels, April 26, 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1877557/

Reject the EU-military intervention in Congo
Pressrelease by Tobias Pflüger, MEP GUE/NGL, Brussels, 23 March 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1735589/

Court affirms Civil courage in the face of right-wing extremism and simultaneously maintains the occupational ban of radicals
Press Release 2006/020 Tobias Pflüger (MdEP) Strasbourg, 13.3.2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1704912/

Turk conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan liberated from custody - This is also a success of the initiative of European deputies
Press release, March 10th, 2006 - By Tobias Pflüger (MEP)
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1690593/

US ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST CINDY SHEEHAN, MAJOR FLORIAN PFAFF AND EUROPEAN WAR RESISTERS TO GIVE EVIDENCE AT STRASBOURG HEARING
NEWS RELEASE From the office of MEP Tobias Pflüger (GUE/NGL), March 8th, 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1669234/

Help for the prisoners in the West Sahara - deputy travels to Tindouf
Pressrelease 2006/018 - Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Brüssel, 24.2.2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1625783/

Judgement by the Federal Constitutional Court welcomed - recourse to EU law not possible anyway
Press release 2006/015 - Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Strasbourg, February 15, 2006,
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1579387/

EU interior commissioner Frattini wants to block information on CIA flights
Press release 2006/014 - Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Strasbourg, 14th of February 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1571765/

Existence of the CIA torture system in Europe confirmed - close military bases!
Press release - Brussels/Caracas, January 24, 2006 - Tobias Pflüger (MEP)
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1492657/

Chiracs threats with atomic war are scandalous
Press release 2006/007 Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Strasbourg, 19.01.2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1441155/

No further invocation of the ghost of the EU constitution
Press declaration 2006/006 - Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Strasbourg, January 18, 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1492701/

Congo mission: a further gate for establishing the EU as an independent military power
Press release 004/2006 - Tobias Pflueger (MEP) - Strasbourg, 16.01.2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1424431/

Military bases in Europe: close the infrastructure for CIA investigation centres and torture flights!
Press release 2006/002 Tobias Pflüger, MEP, Brussels, January 11, 2006
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1418931/

No Future for the Dinosaur Nuclear Power! - Not nuclear power secures energy supply, but extending the use of renewable energies
Press release 2006/1 -Tobias Pflüger (MEP)
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1382856/

What if we did not have Uzbekistan?
Press release Tobias Pflüger, MEP, December 22, 2005
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1316793/

Merkel's cheat package on the EU Constitutional Treaty
Press release - Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Brussels Tübingen, December 20, 2005
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1309366/

EU supports war in violation of international law in Afghanistan
Press release, TOBIAS PFLÜGER, MEP, NOVEMBER 17, 2005
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/1190784/

Demands of European Parliamentarians fulfilled: Mexican environmentalist released!
Press Release - Brussels September 16th - Tobias Pflüger, MEP
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/981880/

War of aggression against Iraq legitimised by the Committee on Foreign
Press release of Vittorio Agnoletto (MEP), Jaromir Kohlicek (MEP), Tobias Pflüger (MEP), Brussels June 15th
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/766542/

Let's now utilise the chance for a social Europe !
Press release - 05/29/05 - Tobias Pflueger
http://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/728128/