The Common Market represents an attempt by the capitalist class to solve their political and economic problems at the expense of the working class.
The capitalist system is facing a recession which could be as great and severe as that which hit the capitalist world in the 1920s. That recession is opening up when the working class movement has never been stronger. In none of the countries of western Europe has the workers movement suttered a decisive defeat since the end of the second World War.
In Portugal and Greece the working class has thrown off the yoke of the fascist and military dictatorships, and the spectre of the collapse of Francoism in Spain haunts the minds of the European ruling classes.
The aim of the EEC is to try to create a supra-national European state in order to swing the balance of forces in favour of capitalism. The EEC therefore attempts to centralise the military, economic and political needs of European capital. It aims to serve the interests of the giant multi-nationals, so that during a period of economic recession the defensive measures taken by the crisis-hit economies of the nation states do not damage the interests of the international companies.
The pro-EEC coalition - right-wing Labourite Roy Jenkins and his Tory ally William Whitelan Like all political and social institutions, the EEC is not a neutral body but is specifically designed to serve the needs of capitalism. Along with NATO it is an integral part of imperialism's military and political alliance against the workers states. The EEC is organised to ensure the most 'efficient' exploitation of the colonial countries. It also has the objective of organising the forces of capitalism to push back the growing revolutionary process which is more and more beginning to seep into the metropolitan countries. It strengthens the capitalist class in ing class.
Although capitalism is once again entering into a period of severe crisis-accompanied by a radicalisation within the working class-it will not obligingly fall over and die in order to make way for the socialist order. Capitalism will resort to every political, social, military and benind the ecc - the imperialst NATO n The EEC is one of the key steps it has taken to save itself.
A 'No' vote in the referendum is just one of the practical and concrete steps necessary to oppose a central strategy for survival of the capitalist class.