MEDIA RELEASE
8 April 2005

Embargo: none

SACKED EU CHIEF ACCOUNTANT TO KICK-OFF UK CAMPAIGN FOR A 'NO' VOTE
TO THE EU CONSTITUTION

Marta Andreasen, the European Commission's Spanish former chief accounting officer - sacked by Neil Kinnock for revealing the scale of fraud taking place in Brussels - will be the keynote speaker at a major international rally this Saturday (April 9) calling on European voters to reject the new EU Constitution. Tony Benn will open proceedings.

The meeting entitled, 'Europeans for Diversity - No to the EU Constitution', will take place at the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1. It will start at 10am and conclude at 5.30pm.

It is being hosted jointly by the British non-party Democracy Movement, TEAM (Pan-European EU-sceptical alliance) and the trade union based Campaign against Euro-Federalism (CAEF). The rally represents the first major public event in Britain relating to the EU Constitution referendum campaign. Marta Andreasen will speak at 3pm and answer questions.

In her speech she will argue that the Constitution will add to the problems of fraud and waste. She will talk about the current Eurostat case involving slush funds and the use of funds for unauthorised purposes.The EU Constitution confirms the fact that Commission officials will continue to enjoy immunity from prosecution, not only during their terms of office, but for life.

Other speakers include Tony Benn, Jens Peter Bonde MEP (Danish leader of the EU-sceptics in the European Parliament), Cllr Mark Hill, (Green party), Thomas Rupp the German organiser of the European No Campaign, Bill Cash MP, Professor Anthony Coughlan of the Irish National Platform, and Cllr Steve Radford (president of the Liberals) among others.

The rally will call for a Europe of decentralised, democratic nation states that trade, enjoy cultural exchange and inter-governmental co-operation.

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