EU Harms The Working Class, Says Youth Socialist Republican Group

The Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) has criticised Ireland's upcoming presidency of the European Union, saying that EU policies serve the interests of capital rather than workers.

The group rejected claims that the EU provides freedom and security, arguing instead that "all its policies are designed to make more money for the capitalists, " using as an example the “ReArm Europe plan, which throws hundreds of billions towards warfare while the working people live in poverty”. 

In the same statement, the organisation also said that what is presented as freedom of movement is actually "a scheme to facilitate migration and access to cheap labour; the freedom of monopolies to exploit workers across EU member states and abroad, " adding that the EU is an “international bourgeois cartel designed to protect the interests of capital”. 

CYM also criticised increased EU military spending and the government's plans to remove the Triple Lock, claiming the move would make it easier to deploy Irish troops overseas.

The organisation said it opposes Ireland's EU presidency, accusing the bloc of supporting militarisation and war-mongering. 

The statement concluded with the slogan: "The rich want war! The youth want a future!"