People's Movement against the EU
Encyclopedia
The People's Movement against the EU is a political association in Denmark
against the European Union
. It was founded in 1972 as a cross-party campaign platform for a 'no' vote in Denmark's referendum on EEC membership. It currently has one member in the European Parliament
.
The movement has approximately 3500 personal members, as well as collective members such as political parties, NGOs and trade unions (mostly local branches). The individual members are organised in about 100 local branches.
, unlike some other euro-sceptic organisations which hope to be able to reform or downgrade the EU. According to the movement, it supports democracy, sustainable development and increased cooperation in organisations like the United Nations
, OSCE, the Council of Europe
as well as the Nordic Council
. It strongly opposes the Lisbon treaty and has campaigned for a Danish referendum on the EU Constitution.
The People's Movement against the EU is a cross-party movement. It does not regard itself a political party
and claims to be non-affiliated to the traditional left/right-scale, hence it does not contest national parliamentary or local elections. Its traditional base is found among left-wingers and trade union
members, but there are also non-partisans and non-socialist members, e.g. from the Social Liberal Party, the Social Democrats, the Conservative Party, the Green Party
and the small georgeist
liberal Justice Party
. The movement aims at a cooperation with other political forces, although it has distanced itself from the right-wing eurosceptical Danish People's Party
.
The term People's Movement (another possible translation is Popular Movement) is common in Denmark and does not hint at socialism, but rather means 'broad movement for a common cause'. Several Danish parties label themselves popular parties (folkeparti).
it gained 5.2% of the national vote, electing one MEP
. It has been represented in the European Parliament
since 1979 when direct elections were introduced. In every election since 1994, it has been part of an electoral coalition with the euro-sceptic June Movement
.
Its current MEP, Søren Søndergaard
, is an associate member of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group. He was formerly a member of the Parliament of Denmark for Enhedslisten. Søndergaard replaced MEP Ole Krarup
on 1 January 2007 when Krarup resigned after a traffic accident.
Until 2002, they were part of the EDD group
in the European Parliament, but then switched to being associate members of the GUE-NGL group. Ole Krarup stated that the other Danish subgroup of EDD, Jens-Peter Bonde
from the June Movement, increasingly aimed at "democratising" or "improving" the EU, according to Krarup making it impossible for the People's Movement to pursue their policies within the group. Krarup claimed that the group membership was a primarily technical matter, and that only the GUE-NGL group could secure full political autonomy of the People's Movement. He stated that the movement's political cross-spectrum position was not affected.
The People's Movement is a member of TEAM (the European Alliance of EU-critical Movements
) and the coordinator of TEAM is currently Jesper Morville from the People's Movement.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
against the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. It was founded in 1972 as a cross-party campaign platform for a 'no' vote in Denmark's referendum on EEC membership. It currently has one member in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
The movement has approximately 3500 personal members, as well as collective members such as political parties, NGOs and trade unions (mostly local branches). The individual members are organised in about 100 local branches.
Policies
The primary objective of the movement is to withdraw the country from the EU and rejoin EFTAEuropean Free Trade Association
The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,...
, unlike some other euro-sceptic organisations which hope to be able to reform or downgrade the EU. According to the movement, it supports democracy, sustainable development and increased cooperation in organisations like the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, OSCE, the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
as well as the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
. It strongly opposes the Lisbon treaty and has campaigned for a Danish referendum on the EU Constitution.
The People's Movement against the EU is a cross-party movement. It does not regard itself a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and claims to be non-affiliated to the traditional left/right-scale, hence it does not contest national parliamentary or local elections. Its traditional base is found among left-wingers and trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members, but there are also non-partisans and non-socialist members, e.g. from the Social Liberal Party, the Social Democrats, the Conservative Party, the Green Party
De Grønne
De Grønne is a Danish green party. It was founded in October 1983. It was a founding member of the European Green Party.In 2008 the party was expelled from the EGP...
and the small georgeist
Henry George
Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land...
liberal Justice Party
Justice Party of Denmark
Danmarks Retsforbund was founded in 1919. The party's platform is based upon the principles of U.S. economist Henry George who advocated a single tax on all land...
. The movement aims at a cooperation with other political forces, although it has distanced itself from the right-wing eurosceptical Danish People's Party
Danish People's Party
The Danish People's Party is a political party in Denmark which is frequently described as right-wing populist by political scientists and commentators. The party is led by Pia Kjærsgaard...
.
The term People's Movement (another possible translation is Popular Movement) is common in Denmark and does not hint at socialism, but rather means 'broad movement for a common cause'. Several Danish parties label themselves popular parties (folkeparti).
European Parliament
In the 2004 electionEuropean Parliament election, 2004 (Denmark)
The European Parliament election of 2004 in Denmark was the election of MEP representing Denmark constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election. The vote took place on June 13...
it gained 5.2% of the national vote, electing one MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
. It has been represented in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
since 1979 when direct elections were introduced. In every election since 1994, it has been part of an electoral coalition with the euro-sceptic June Movement
June Movement
The June Movement was a Danish eurosceptic political organisation founded 23 August 1992. It took its name from the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty that took place in Denmark in June of that year...
.
Its current MEP, Søren Søndergaard
Søren Søndergaard
Søren Fjordback Søndergaard is a former amateur boxer from Denmark. He won the bronze medal at the 1987 European Championships in Turin, Italy in the Men's Light Welterweight division. Nicknamed Mr...
, is an associate member of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group. He was formerly a member of the Parliament of Denmark for Enhedslisten. Søndergaard replaced MEP Ole Krarup
Ole Krarup
Ole Krarup is a Danish EU politician and former professor of law at the University of Copenhagen.From 1994 through 2006 he was Member of the European Parliament with the Folkebevægelsen mod EU , Member of the Bureau of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left and sat onthe European...
on 1 January 2007 when Krarup resigned after a traffic accident.
Until 2002, they were part of the EDD group
Europe of Democracies and Diversities
Europe of Democracies and Diversities was a euro-sceptic political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1999 and 2004. Following the elections in 2004, the former MEPs of the group took MEPs from the new member countries on board and together, they registered the new group...
in the European Parliament, but then switched to being associate members of the GUE-NGL group. Ole Krarup stated that the other Danish subgroup of EDD, Jens-Peter Bonde
Jens-Peter Bonde
Jens-Peter Rossen Bonde is a former Member of the European Parliament with the June Movement. He resigned as an MEP in May 2008. Bonde was elected to the European Parliament in the first election in 1979 with the People's Movement against the EU. He has been re-elected 6 times consecutively...
from the June Movement, increasingly aimed at "democratising" or "improving" the EU, according to Krarup making it impossible for the People's Movement to pursue their policies within the group. Krarup claimed that the group membership was a primarily technical matter, and that only the GUE-NGL group could secure full political autonomy of the People's Movement. He stated that the movement's political cross-spectrum position was not affected.
The People's Movement is a member of TEAM (the European Alliance of EU-critical Movements
The European Alliance of EU-critical Movements
The European Alliance of EU-critical Movements or TEAM is a cooperation between eurosceptic or EU-critical associations in various countries of Europe, including both non-partisan associations and political parties....
) and the coordinator of TEAM is currently Jesper Morville from the People's Movement.
External links
- Folkebevægelsen mod EU, official web site (English version)
- forbehold.dk, website on the Danish EU exemptions
- The Euro Handbook
- Analysis of the EU Constitution