THE failure of the EEC summit in Brussels once again raises the attitude of socialists to the Common Market. WALTER CAIRNS continues Socialist Acions's series of discussion articles on the EEC by arguing that Labour must go beyond the 'memberchip' or 'withdrawal' argument.
beginning dominated socialist thinking in this country on Europe. On the one hand, there are those who have always opposed British membership of the EEC and look likely to continue to do so.
such a policy into a vote-winner is a proper explanation of the detrimental effects of membership on the country's economic and social structures.
This camp is by no eans restricted to the rat eft, since Austin Mitchell Peter Shore find *emseives on inis issue aked in an uneasy • nance win ennis skinAt the other end of the there are those ho claim that now that = UK is firmly attached the Common Market, •: may as well make the rest of it, try to reform the within, .. ne vanous curoocal estitutions as a forum for policy-forming.
Roots Here again this proach is not being a0 -• ocated exclusively he point of view of one particular faction of the L.Cila uniting it does such diverse thinkers Roy Hattersley, Stuart Holland, Richard Balfe Eric Hobsbawm Both sides of the arguHAUS aust mindful of the likely state :7 which the EEC will find ::self when the the government. On the one ..allu. the trade patterns nto which membership of has artificially ::opelled this country will :ave become even rainforced.
Also, the EEC as a cor- wale enuly or which ine * forms an indelible part Slave mychological roots in the -inds of the electors. Radical I am of the opinion -at the Party could sidequeston hdrawal simply by anbour Government that abour the K will continue to be a ember at it will not allow the ammon Markel Lonits radical proall c Cocc ams, the relevant clauses the 1988 Manifesto should read : mething like this:
•The :cognises that the asent stage of this counmembership of the wilhetawal can no nger be regarded DIODUSiLIOn. abour Government will, fundamentally 2w ever.
the relationship the United nadam n de Com-unity on the following (a) The Government will proceed with its plan for jobs : agardless of any provisons in the Treaty of TWO schools of thought have from the very They argue that all that is needed to transform Rome which may obstruct Unemployment having risen at a much faster rate in the UK than in the other Member States as a result mine vears disastrous policies, Lne LaDOUr Partv COl siders that is fully justified in contemplating such measures.
(b) Henceforth all regulations, directives and decisions issued by the authorities will subjecieu to approval Dy Parliament. so doing L Labour rary nee intends restore the democratic Community decision-making, in view of the present situation under which elected bodies. given unconstitutional powers to supersede the wisnes dime electorate as democratically expressed LICI representatives in Parliament.
(c) The present common Agricultural Policy of the EEC is designed to satisfy the needs of counLiCs will aDollintensive agricultural Industry operating through relatively small lands ullils.
As such, it is totally unrelated CYCL detrimental to the structure of agriculture in this country, and consequently the will cease to apply it forthwith.
In its place, a Labour Government will reinstate the system payments to tarmers with view achieving agricutural production which provides low prices for the consumer whilst at the same time guarantee ing a regular and fair income for the agricultural industry.
(d) As a result of this discontinuation of the Common Agricultural Policy, a Labour Government will only contribute to ine cec sucn runas as are necessary for its everywith the exception arricullure. This Will reduce the net contribution United Kingdom by approximately 70 Coul The authorities and the other Community countries would hardly be dancing with delight when proposition, but what effective acLUll LaKe against a Labour government prepared to embrace such a policy.
Thus the fundamental objective which gave rise to the policy of withdrawal would be realised - if we Lail arrive the sand result means than La policy withdrawal, why should be not pursue it? Karantina 1976. The fascist Christian militias who perpetrated this massacre are now on the defensive