Cyprus and the European Union
Ten years have passed since the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union. It is increasingly becoming understood that the decisions taken in Brussels, as well as the existing situation in the EU, affects the lives of Cypriots. The imposition of the anti-peoples Memorandum with the approval of the government of the Republic of Cyprus has made this painful reality even more clear in the Cypriot people’s minds.
The European Union, as our Party correctly assessed in its Congress decisions, is confirming its character as an advanced organisation of capitalist integration. On this basis developments are evolving which are deepening the integration of the EU. This is the same trend that is intensifying with the outbreak of the global capitalist crisis, using the latter as a pretext.
The imposition of the Lisbon Treaty, the institutionalisation of the Single Economic Governance, the Banking Union, the rule for surplus budgets of states and the adoption of a series of packages in the direction of a single policy of the member-states under the control of the EU and the so-called Brussels Directorate take even more sovereignty away from the political power and the parliaments of member-states. They are institutionalising neo-liberalism, undermining the social role of the state, strengthening the ground for attacks on labour rights and public wealth, boosting the profitability and enhancing the role of the multinational companies and powerful states. Furthermore, the institutionalised cooperation of the EU with the IMF is sharpening the anti-peoples character of the EU’s policies and is increasingly subordinating a number of member states, primarily in the periphery.
At the same time, in the name of “combating” terrorism the right to the protection of personal data is taken away, whilst for the protection of “Fortress Europe” hundreds of people victims of wars and hunger are drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.
As far as foreign policy is concerned, the militarisation of international relations, which is based on its inclusion into law of the so-called dogma of pre-emptive war, the growing EU-NATO coupling and interaction, joint goals and alternating means of imposing the new world order in third countries is obvious. Millions of Euros from the EU and member-states budgets are allocated to arms programmes and military missions, at the same time when other expenditures are being curbed.
In these conditions, AKEL is continuing and intensifying its efforts together with the other Communist, Left and Progressive Parties for a different Europe, the Europe of the peoples. AKEL is struggling to put a stop to the neo-liberal onslaught that is abolishing working people’s gains and leading to the exacerbation of the monopoly situation under the guise of unbridled competition, the closing down of small and middle businesses, curbing the policy in support of the vulnerable groups of the population, escalating unemployment and reproducing poverty. The government must resist the attacks against our country’s sovereign rights in all EU institutional bodies.
The Cypriot people, themselves a victim of these policies, need to intensify their struggle for the protection of its living standards. The upcoming elections for the European parliament are a good opportunity to send out messages, both within and outside Cyprus. AKEL will work towards this end, elaborating radical, innovative and workable proposals for the benefit of our people and the peoples of the EU.