Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-01-11-Speech-2-063"

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"Mr President, a Constitution is the founding act of a State, and it was an entirely conscious decision to choose that term, just as it was to give the EU a flag, an anthem, a motto and even a national celebration. Despite your pathetic denials, the European Constitution is, therefore, without doubt, the founding act of a European superstate. It represents the death of our often ancient nations and their transformation into a number of powerless provinces within this bureaucratic, omnipotent and centralised State. I know that you blithely accuse those who do not share your blind belief in the benefits of the Europe of Brussels of lies, of mediocrity and even of stupidity. This is a handy tactic and entails never having to explain. It also makes it possible to follow the peremptory statements of the happy few, who know – or think they know – what is good for the, in their view, uncultivated, masses. The fear instilled in you by the fact that referendums are to be held on the Constitution is an illustration of the contempt in which you hold the citizens. What, for that matter, are the benefits of which people speak? I have seen with my own eyes, as a direct consequence of European policies, the destruction of our farming and of our economies, company relocations and deindustrialisation, endemic unemployment and poverty, the disintegration of our social protection systems, the opening of our borders to immigration on a massive scale, to terrorism and to international crime. The Europe of Brussels is not, of course, solely responsible – it could not have created or exacerbated these problems without the collusion of governments, of all political hues, which have decided to sacrifice their countries’ independence and their inhabitants’ freedom to the Brussels Leviathan. The European Constitution will put the finishing touches to this monstrous edifice, which was begun over 40 years ago. That might be what you want, but we are rejecting it because Europe and the Europeans deserve better than this soulless superstate. We are rejecting it in the name of freedom, in the name of independence, in the name of the sovereignty which belongs solely to the people and which is inalienable, and in the name of those people’s right to self-determination. The Members of this House have betrayed their homelands. Their guilt is there for all to see. They will be cursed by history and by future generations."@en1

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