The following article originally appeared in the March/April 2004 edition of Workers Solidarity, for a copy of the full publication contact the Workers Solidarity Movement – for details see ‘Friends & Comrades’ inside.

On Saturday, the first of May, anarchists and other activists from the Dublin Grassroots Network are calling for a day of action and protest against the EU.
According to the government May Day is going to be Bertie’s big day out as EU president. This is the day – traditionally workers day – when the EU will officially expand. The government is planning on ‘celebrations’ for the population, while the 25 heads of state will be wined and dined in Farmleigh House. We intend May 1st to be the highlight of a full bank holiday weekend of opposition to some of the things we think are wrong with the EU: neo-liberalism, militarism and Fortress Europe.
Neo-Liberalism: In 2000 the leaders of the EU came up with a plan called the Lisbon Agenda. Essentially this targets education, healthcare and services like gas, electricity, the postal services and transport for privatisation. Before the government can privatise public services it has to make then attractive to potential investors. In Ireland the FF/PD coalition is doing this by introducing bin taxes, stealth fees for third level education and by attempting to sell off the most lucrative routes operated by Dublin Bus. Privatisation means reducing costs by lowering wages, cutting staff and increasing the cost to the consumer while delivering worse services.

Militarism: Just as the business policies of the European Union are based on looking after the fat cats, so too is its foreign policy. As the European Union develops into a more cohesive economic unit it needs to be able to ‘defend’ its interests. The development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Rapid Reaction Force allows for this to proceed and together they form the basis of a European Army.

Fortress Europe: While the leaders of these accession states might be welcome in the EU (along with their farms and sweatshops), most of the current EU countries will remain closed to the people of the accession states for the next 6 years. In advance of joining the EU these countries have had to open their borders to the flow of money, and to close their borders to anyone outside the new Europe. The EU’s repressive anti-immigrant policies claimed the lives of at least 3,000 people between 1993 and June 2003, people drowned in the Mediterranean, were electrocuted in the Channel Tunnel and suffocated in Wexford. This is ten times as many as were killed at the Berlin Wall during its thirty year history.
The Irish government currently holds the presidency of the EU and its behaviour typifies what’s wrong with the EU: the attempt to implement the bin charges continues and ministerial meetings that have taken place so far have been surrounded by expensive police operations. To cap it all off, the first ‘achievement’ of the Irish presidency was to establish a ‘repatriation fund’, to allow the wealthy countries to share the costs of deporting people.
We aim to show them that their plans won’t succeed, that they can’t just impose their agenda on us and decide our fate without our opposition. We’ll be out in the streets on May 1st. We hope to see you there.

What’s Going on? Events Planned for Dublin Mayday No Borders weekend:

While Dublin’s trade union bureaucrats have scuttled away from annual international workers day (May Day) celebrations amid media scare stories, growing opposition to the Irish governments plans to celebrate ascension day and for fear they might be associated with some real opposition to the bosses Europe we look at what is really going on from Friday April 30th to Monday May 3rd.

Events are kicking off with a Critical Mass: a “celebration of non-motorised transport”, as people take to the streets on bikes, skateboards, pogo sticks, or just on foot.

The many private and state businesses which supported and profited from the war on Iraq, will be brought to public attention in the Blood on Your Hands action. Meanwhile Welcome the Boat People points out that no human being is illegal - “everyone should be free to travel and live where they want without fear of persecution”.

Homes not Jails seeks to highlight the expansion of unaffordable housing in Dublin and the increase in homelessness on the cities streets.

Saturday May 1st (evening)

BRING THE NOISE! As EU Ministers dine in the opulence of Farmleigh House at the expense of the Irish taxpayer there will be a march to their doorstep to disrupt their dinner, to show them that we do not agree with their vision of Fortress Europe! Bring pots and pans, bells and whistles, horns and drums to generate the biggest noise possible.

Sunday May 2nd

No Borders, No Nations camp: all refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants should be allowed to settle in and travel Europe and the world here, regardless of origin, ethnicity, or background. Workshops, discussions, teach-ins, planning for the future, as well as music and food.

Monday May 3rd

Reclaim The Streets party on the May bank holiday to wind down the weekend. Unlike the State's street party, everyone from around the world is welcome to come to Dublin for this, not just those that satisfy the demands of Fortress Europe.

Also taking place throughout the weekend are Border Controls street theatre, Public Beatings street theatre, The Polluter Pays, Reclaim the City, and more.