YES To Another Europe M E M O R A N D U M

The European Union might become the bearer of a true peace project, of a constructive alternative to the policy of precarity, unemployment, poverty and an alternative to the policy of militarization and war which generate violence and insecurity. Violence restricts the field of possibilities, non-violence broadens it.

Neoliberalism and common security policy, in close relationship with NATO and without reference to UN bring economic and defence choices, which will act as reciprocal commitments between countries of the European union. There are here two ingredients of the patriarchal power. If the new constitution becomes adopted, it will confirm the dominating male and neo-liberal power and will carved it “in marble” for several decades. We desire that on the first line of a new treaty between European countries be written Women rights, thus of half the population, in the same way as human rights and that there appears a reference to Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as a compulsory measure between countries of Europe.

Indisputably, we dare defying the patriarchal order.

THE EUROPEAN FEMINIST INITIATIVE FEMINISTE (IFE-EFI) ACTS IN PRIORITY FOR A NO TO THE CONSTITUTION AND FOR A YES TO ANOTHER EUROPE

After the YES of Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia and Greece through the vote of their respective Parliaments, and the YES of Spain through a referendum past February, 8 countries-France, Holland, Luxembourg, Poland, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland and England- will held referendums in between May 2005 and 2006. In Sweden and Czech Republic, there is a tendency for the decision being taken by their respective parliaments but the struggles are not ended to impose a referendum consultation. A NO in France will be decisive for the whole Constitution procedure. The odds are great for the NO to block a text where even human rights are dependent upon economical and military objectives!

IFE-EFI calls the support of the GUE/NGL for organizing meetings, conferences and debates in the capitals of countries where it is still possible to act for a Democratic opening to the NO to the Constitution and for another Europe. A moratorium is necessary for new discussions and elaboration of a new treaty. In this process, feminist organizations and movements must be permanent consultant organizations in the same way as unions and humanitarian organizations.

WOMEN RIGTHS REGRESS IN EUROPE

Reproduction rights are forbidden in several countries of EU and are globally in the balance.
Women are the most threatened on the labour market by precarity, flexibility and increase of the working time.
Women are submitted to the male violence in the public sphere and the family sphere.
Migrant women suffer a double discrimination : as women and as immigrants.
Laicity is threatened in several countries through the role devoted to churches and religious communities.
The freedom of sexual orientation is challenged.
Women bodies are exploited and offered as goods.

IFE-EFI calls the support of the GUE/NGL for the organization of thematic regional conferences in order to contribute to the fact that women rights should at last be considered as full rights and that the woman is at last considered as equal to the man.

FOR ANOTHER EUROPE

In order to build another Europe, we want:

Parity and equality between men and women
Inversion of economical priorities, which must be based upon the reproductive sphere: health, education, parental protection, elder people, etc.
The choice of Resolution 1325 of UN as the base for any negotiation of peace and prevention of conflicts.
Modern public services
Banning of sexual exploitation and merchandisation of bodies, assistance, protection, rehabilitation of women suffering violence, terrorism and war inside and outside Europe.
New negotiations must start between European countries with compulsory consultation of social movements-among which feminist organizations.

IFE-EFI calls the support of the GUE/NGL for the editing of a quaterly report for contact, information and awareness about evoked topics.

IFE will endeavour to find supports among European Institutions.

Today, we live the construction of Europe surrounded by the silence and invisibility of women. For the first time in 50 years, people can debate about the future of Europe but in 15 countries among 25, their speech is seized. And yet women speak! The 1000 signatories from 132 organisations and from 30 countries who signed the call of IFE propose a feminist analysis critical about the European construction. It is a unique fact that can become th echo of voices of half the European population, in order to develop a democratic process in the name of all Human rights.

The feminist analysis which gather us among IFE for another Europe is a lever for action against the patriarchal order. By deciphering its links with neo-liberalism, our analysis will make it visible and vulnerable. The European Feminist Initiative, by contributing to the democratic process, also contributes to make possible the change in the European construction.

We know that 81% of women hold precarious jobs. The major part of people struck by poverty are women.
We know that incomes, salaries and pensions are unfairly shared between men and women. Women are in charge of the major par of the non-remunerate home work.
We know that women are greatly underrepresented in political executive power, union and economic life.
Whatever differences between countries of EU, we can, with our common feminist analysis, create an action and transformation force through a large solidarity movement.

Several countries are now watching France. French feminist organizations openly express themselves in favour of the NO to the European constitution. On the day before the referendum, in Marseille on May 28, la Marche Mondiale des Femmes has gathered women from all over Europe in order to express our requirement of another world and another Europe.

We need all democratic forces to build egalitarian Europe.

European Feminist Initiative INITIATIVE FEMINISTE EUROPÉENNE
BRUSSELS May 4, 2005
EFI – IFE for Another Europe
Paris May, 25 2005.