Brussels, 21/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - It's official: the International European Movement, supported by several national federations and some MEPs, has launched “YES!”, its transnational campaign in favour of the ratification of the European Constitution (see EUROPE of 3 December 2004).
The German social-democrat Jo Leinen, Vice-President of the European Movement (and President of the EP's constitutional committee), declared on this occasion: “We have only a plan A: 25 ratifications. We do not have a plan B to go back to the Treaty of Nice. (…) I am an optimist, we will win this fight”. The Spanish MEP Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE/DE) and the British Labour MEP Richard Corbett, the EP rapporteurs on the draft Constitutional Treaty, thought that the EP's “yes” to the Constitution sent out an “important message” to citizens (see EUROPE of 12 January, p.4 and EUROPE/Documents N° 2394, of 15 January). Nonetheless, the work is far from finished, and now it is time to “win the grand slam” for the yes vote, by 25 victories to nil. In order to do this, said the two rapporteurs, “we need civil society, associations and social partners”. The President of the PPE/DE group, Hans Gert Pöttering, recalled that he had appealed for a European constitution in 1979, when he was elected for the first time as an MEP. Polish MEP Bronis³aw Geremek (ALDE) said he had been “a happy man” on the day when the Constitution was approved by the Parliament: “It is wonderful to see that Europe as an idea can be realised after the sad experiences of the 20st century”. The new Member States should not see Europe as a “cash-register”, but rather as “a community”, “we want a strong Europe, conscious of its history, which is not ashamed of its past and focussed on its future”, added the former Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In order to conduct the “YES!” campaign to best effect, The International European Movement, headed by José Marie Gil Robles, wants to collaborate as widely as possible with civil society. Present at the launch were the Young European Federalists (JEF) and the Association des États-Généraux des jeunes étudiants de l'Europe (AEGEE) have promised their complete cooperation. Through their respective representatives, Joan Marc Simon and Silvia Baita, they promised that their networks would be very active in “mobilising young people” and explaining to them the importance of the Constitution.
Initiatives of the “YES!” campaign include, among others, training, conferences, public displays and lobbying. Links with the press will be close to ensure sufficient visibility. The campaign's website will have information on initiatives and the timetable, as well as information on the Constitution. It will give citizens a chance to voice their opinions. (Info: Marko Bucik - Tel: +32/485787077; Alec Elliott - +32/472847666; http: //http://www.yes-campaign.net/ ).