(EuroParl Prez Martin) Schulz: 1 million EU signatures could spur finance tax

EU Observer ^ | 28.03.12 @ 18:38 | Honor Mahony

[Olog-hai]

The citizens' initiative—a participative democracy tool coming into effect at the end of this week—could be used to pressure EU politicians into accepting a financial transactions tax (FTT), the European Parliament President has said.

"I don't know if the next citizens' initiative would make the crisis disappear; I hope so. But a citizen's initiative to introduce the financial transactions tax could even increase the pressure on those who are still reluctant," Martin Schulz said at a press conference on Wednesday (28 March).

His words come just as Germany—until now among the most ardent supporters of such a tax—appeared to concede that it is a no-go in the EU.

"We just can't get it done," German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble said Monday. Berlin had been trying to push for an FTT at the EU-level, but London, in particular, has been strongly opposed.

The second idea of pushing for the tax only among the 17 eurozone countries is scarcely less problematic. Countries such as Ireland and Luxembourg, with significant financial sectors, do not want to introduce a tax that London—with its huge financial sector—does not have. …

[Olog-hai]

This tax, again, is specifically designed to destroy the City of London (the financial sector). The EU would have to fabricate a lot of signatures to get that "initiative" off the ground . . .

[Gay State Conservative]

As if democracy means anything to Eurocrats.A few years ago there was a nationwide referendum in Ireland on a major piece of EU legislation.To be enacted the legislation had to be approved by *every* EU country.Well,the Irish voted “no”...by a comfortable margin.Was that the end of the legislation? Nope,Ireland was required to vote again...and this time they were warned repeatedly by Eurocrats that civilization as we know it would end if *they* voted “no” again.Well,the voters buckled under the pressure...fell for the scare tactics...and voted “yes”.

[Stosh]

We should lend them the SEIU, the NEA, and the Wisconsin Public Employees Union - I’m sure in less than a week they could whip up a million signatures to pick somebody’s else’s pocket.

Now how many of those signatures would be legit is another question . . .

[Olog-hai]

. . . and this is what they got for it. They now have a “troika” from outside the country dictating their economic policy to them, on top of no jobs (one of the pro-Lisbon slogans was “Vote Yes for Jobs”).

[Chode]

at least according to the vote counters they did...

[wolfman23601]

They could just attend a few occupy events, labor strikes and riots and get a mere million signatures in no time. I hope Cameron has the cajones to tell them where they can shove their tax. My guess is the conservative MPs will eventually get him to defend his country kicking and screaming.