The International Socialist Group is opposed to the Euro for the reasons outlined above. We are not anti-Europe in any way. We are internationalists and stand for the unity of the European working class, but we are against the kind of Europe being built under the treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice.
We are therefore for the dissolution of the EU or Britain's withdrawal from it. It is a capitalist club designed to organise the restructuring and concentration of capital to the advantage of the bosses. We do not believe that the EU can be reformed from within. But our aim is not a capitalist Britain outside of the capitalist EU. We want a socialist Britain in a socialist Europe. That's why, at every stage, we propose a Europe-wide internationalist and socialist alternative to the bosses' project and attempt to shape this into a practical perspective.
We cannot abstain on Maastricht or Amsterdam or the Euro on the grounds that they will give us just another form of capitalism, or that the global neo-liberal offensive will in the end have the same effect. Every capitalist offensive takes a specific, concrete form.
Today, it is the Maastricht process and the drive towards the Euro which is the most direct form the attack takes.
That's why we support a referendum on the Euro. We would prefer a referendum on the EU itself. But if the Euro, which is a crucial stage of European integration, is to be put to a referendum then we will campaign as hard as we can for a no vote. We reject the right-wing nationalist arguments. We do not defend the nation state. We do not defend the pound. We stand for a united socialist states of Europe. We are internationalists who recognise that the material conditions created by globalisation are incapable of solving the pressing problems faced by the impoverished peoples of the dependent countries. We want to see the profit motive and capitalist market overthrown and replaced by a rational and fair distribution of the world's resources. This struggle must include the demand for the cancellation of the third world debt.
The Europe we want today is one which prioritised the needs of the working class against profit in Europe and internationally, promotes full employment, a shorter - 35 hour - working week, welfare for all equality and liberation for women. fights racism and defends the environment. We want a real 'social Europe' and that can only be a socialist Europe.
This does not mean we abstain on battles taking place within the bosses' Europe, as we do not abstain on important issues or reforms within the existing nation states, we are for the best deal in the EU for the workers and demand the levelling up of all conditions, wages, and services to that of the highest level. In the same way that we are against the national capitalist state and its property forms.
In order to build such a Europe we are for workers' solidarity in fighting for their demands against the capitalist trusts and multinationals. We are for building direct links and joint struggles between workers across Europe. This was what the European Marches were about. This is what the Amsterdam demonstration was about and that is what all the demonstration which have taken place since around the summit meetings of the EU have been about. It is also what the European Social Forum will be about which is taking place in Florence in November this year.