European elections

ee OK

THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

SUPPURT THE FIGHT AGAINSL UNEMPLOYMENT & THE MIOSILES ACROZS EURCPH The european elections come at a time when a new mood is sweeping through Europe + the biggest wave of struggles for ten years is now taking lace

ss 6 o a

As the miners are conducting their bitter struggle against the Tories, a general strike took place in Lorraine against the plans of the Mitterand government to close down the steel mills. In Italy, a million peopile marched in Rome against the Craxi government attempts to limit the sliding scale of wages-eIn Germany, a campaign has been launched by IG-Metall, the 267 million strong engineering union, for a 35 hour week with no loss of pay. The IG-Metall campaign has meant one day stikes and they are now moving towards longer acthens. A similar wave of militancy is taking place in Spain,

Belgium and the Netherlands.

A fightback is also taking place across Europe against the militarisation offensive which has led to the siting of Cruise and Trident. This fightback has produced the biggest mass movement since the war, mobilising millions against the nuclear plans of NATO.

For socialists, the fight against the missiles and the worst effects of austerity - unemployment - should be at the centre of any programme for Europe. That is the fight for the 35 hour week with no loss of pay, and the demand for nuclear weapons and American bases to get out of Europe. Leaks of the manifesto which the Labour Party is about to sign with the European Socialist Parties indicate that it does not mention opposition to the missiles, or measures to solve unemployment.

European workers have taken austerity and unemployment for more than ten years and are now fighting back. Socialists shouid support these struggles and be against the governments, including those of the 'left', who carry

out right-wing policies.

In Britain we must turn the forthcoming election into a referendum against the Tories. But aueterity and the missiles are issues in the election. We should therefore say that we want a socialist Burope, and that means being against the missiles and NATO, against austerity and the Common Market.

Fred Leplat (Somers Town).

* a

A discussion introduced py John Harrison, member of the Conference of Socialist

Economists, and co-author of the ‘British economic disaster'.

ess item on the agenda on the miners strike, the

here will also be a buisn ; : ore orts from the London Bditorial.

organisation of Camden Lawor Briefing, and rep