The People's Movement campaigns against any measures that further develop the EU into a federal super-state and works to defend and enhance popular sovereignty, democracy and social justice in Ireland.

Leinster House - 1 December 2009


The People's Movement will hold a symbolic event at Leinster House on Tuesday, December 1st, at 1:00 pm to mark the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The event will emphasis the massive transfer of sovereignty to Brussels and question the usefulness of Dáil Éireann in the post-Lisbon context.

Barroso refuses to rule out Brussels tax

Speaking in the European Parliament, Barroso was asked if he agreed with the bloc's incoming president, Van Rompuy, who is on record for proposing direct taxation.

'I intend to look at all issues of taxation in the EU, we have to look at all resources of the EU' Barroso said pointing out that tax proposals were the domain of his commission. 'We have promised it to the parliament, the programme with which I was elected was to look at possible "own resources" and this is in the programme that was adopted by this European Parliament.'

When setting out priorities for his second five-year term, the former Portuguese prime minister said Brussels cannot shirk the issue of 'own resources': 'we need to see how the EU can find a more efficient and transparent way of financing its policies'.

Negotiations on the next EU seven-year budget, set to come into force in 2014, are due to start in 2011. The EU is also launching a massive and expensive 'external action service', beefing up its diplomatic and foreign services with thousands more staff scattered across the globe. [25 November 2009]

McKenna critices Van Rompuy appointment


EU leaders' decision to choose Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy as the first permanent president of the European Council should not be seen as a welcome development for Ireland simply because he comes from a smaller member state, warns People's Movement chairperson Patricia McKenna. Read the statement in full here.

Presidential candidate advocates EU tax

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, a top candidate for the unelected European Union president job, recently presented his views on EU financing at a dinner of the secretive Bilderberg group. The guests included Bilderberg chairman Etienne Davignon, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and luminaries from the worlds of international politics and business. Van Rompuy is reported to have said that: 'The possibilities of financial levies at European level must be seriously examined and for the first time the large countries in the union are open to that.'

Mr Van Rompuy's participation at the secret Bilderberg dinner will give ammunition to critics of the EU top job selection process, which takes place via secret consultations behind closed doors between EU leaders and at informal social events.

The Bilderberg group is an elite club of aristocrats, politicians and businessmen dating back to 1954, which likes to meet away from the public eye and which is widely believed to exert undue influence on government decisions. Among its prominent former members are Garret Fitzgerald and Peter Sutherland.

People's Movement on the streets again

The People's Movement returned to the streets for the ICTU day of action on Friday, November 6th, marching behind banners that read 'We want the Lisbon jobs NOW!'.


Councillors Thomas Pringle (left) and Declan Bree (right) at the Sligo protest.


Waiting for the protest to begin in Galway; Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig is on the left.


Members marching in Dublin.

Practically every group advocating a 'Yes' vote used the promise of jobs as an inducement - now it's time to hold them to their promise!

Increased majority against EU membership in Iceland

A new opinion poll shows that the majority in Iceland opposed to joining the EU continues to grow. According to the poll 54% of Icelanders now oppose membership while only 29% favour the step. This is the third poll in a row showing a majority against EU membership:

August 4: 'No' 48.5%, 'Yes' 34.7%.
September 15: 'No' 50.2%, 'Yes' 32.7%.
November 5: 'No' 54%, 'Yes' 29%.

For more information, see: EU News From Iceland.

Direct EU taxes proposed

A leaked document from the European Commission contains proposals that the EU budget should in future be funded through direct taxation, rather than by the present model under which member states' contributions are based on their Gross National Incomes (GNI).


You heard it first from us!

The document suggests that money for the EU budget should be raised through levies on phone calls, flights, financial transactions or carbon emissions - despite assurances given during the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign that control of taxation would remain in the hands of the Irish government.

In his preface, Mr Barroso writes that the report 'presents the Commission's vision for the EU budget reform'. The current budget deal runs until 2013. Read the leaked document here.

People's Movement meetings

A series of People's Movement consultative meetings will take place over the next few weeks in Dublin, Mullingar, Kilkenny, Donegal, Galway, Sligo, Maynooth and a number of other centres to formulate proposals on the future direction of the People's Movement. These proposals will be sent to the National Committee elected at our last AGM. The National Committee will meet some time in December and will bring proposals to a general meeting of members as soon as possible afterwards - probably early in the New Year.

This method is being followed in order to facilitate the widest possible consultation among our members and supporters and to allow for the widest possible debate. In the meantime, we will continue with activity in order to advance our objectives.

Lisbon and the economy

A new paper by the People's Movement considers the connection between the economic crisis and the Lisbon Treaty - a treaty which perpetuates the failed economic, financial and monetary policies that led to the crisis.

Download a copy of the paper here.


For sovereignty, democracy and social justice.