|
MEP
to oppose single 'song' for Europe
The ink is not yet
dry on an EU treaty which excludes national anthems but the European Parliament
is already promoting its own corporate anthem to replace them, it is claimed.
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister says he is opposing the proposal, which is before the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee, and that such symbols were excluded from the Reform Treaty. "The Parliament wants these symbols for one reason only, to inflate its ego and attach the trappings of statehood to the EU. I have a much better anthem and flag, thank you very much, and I'm not about to trade them for these tawdry baubles of Euro-federalism," said Mr Allister. "Ode to Joy may be a very nice tune, but it means less to the average European citizen, particularly the average British citizen, than Jingle Bells. Like Jingle Bells it heralds a fantasy, in this case that the EU is good for you, but unlike Jingle Bells it will damage your national sovereignty and right to control your own destiny!" Mr Allister said the ink was "not yet dry" on a treaty which deliberately excluded these symbols, and the European Parliament is "arrogantly insisting that they will give them official status nonetheless. "And then they have the audacity to say they do this for the purpose of reconnecting with the citizens of Europe". He said Europe could "reconnect" by showing citizens enough respect to give them a referenda on the Constitution it was now "ramming down their throats". "Don't talk about respect for citizens and then connive to deprive them of what they deserve most, a democratic say on their own future," he added. © 2007 British People's Party, BM Box 5581, London WC1N 3XX |