Dear comrades,

We would like to thank the Communist Party of Greece for hosting this seminar and thereby making it possible to implement the decision of the plenary meeting of the European Communist Initiative. We think that such seminars can contribute to further developing our cooperation and common understanding of the challenges confronting our parties.

Lenin's work "On the slogan for a United States of Europe" is today more topical than ever. We have not only witnessed the construction of the European Union as a reactionary alliance of monopoly capital, but also the contradictions described by Lenin, which could even lead its possible dissolution.

Lenin clearly demonstrated that a union of the capitalist, imperialist states in Europe would be either impossible or reactionary. It is important to emphasise the basis of his argument. His opposition to the slogan was not grounded on some circumstantial facts of the prevailing situation at the time. It was based on the analysis of the nature of monopoly capitalism and of inter-state relations in the era of imperialism. He also showed that because of the law of uneven economic and political development in capitalism, socialism can and must first be victorious in one or several countries before it can prevail on a global scale.

Dear comrades,

Our parties have always insisted on the reactionary character of the EU as an organisation of monopoly capital in Europe. The working class and the peoples of Europe are today more intensely experiencing the consequences of the policies arranged and implied on a European level. Even the suspension of democratic rights, the deployment of the military domestically and the declaration of a full or partial "state of emergency" are currently a reality in a number of European countries. But the peoples in other regions of the world are also witnessing the imperialist character of the EU through its political, economic and military interventions and more vividly through the presence of the armies of European countries. The reactionary role of the EU in the conflicts in the Ukraine and Syria destroys any illusions spread by various political forces about the peace-keeping role of the EU.

We want to draw attention to the current discussions around the formation of an actual European army. Apart from the contradictions between major European countries on the issue, the process clearly demonstrates the desire of European monopolies to engage more actively in armed conflicts in Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. There can be no doubt that this will also lead to the expansion and intensification of the deployment of military forces inside the European countries. The creation of such an army would be a powerful instrument in the hands of the monopoly capital against the working class movement in Europe and in other countries.

Also alarming is the recent decision concerning the restriction and repression of anti-EU propaganda, which is supposedly directed only against Russia. In reality this decision is directed against the people of Europe themselves. It creates a mechanism to crush people's opposition to the EU and its policies and has an openly anti-communist character. These developments must be carefully watched by our parties in order to be prepared for a harshening of the repression that already exists in many countries.

Dear comrades,

The current crisis of over-accumulation is leading to the sharpening of capitalism's contradictions and the escalation of antagonisms between imperialist countries and monopolist groups. The intensification of political, economic and military interventions demonstrates that even a general war represents a realistic threat. It is characteristic that such contradictions are become apparent even among countries which formed relatively strong and stable alliances during the second half of the 20th century. It is our duty to study current developments from the standpoint of Marxism-Leninism.

It is thus also relevant to concentrate on the temporary nature of the agreements between imperialist countries, which Lenin in his text underlines. The recent developments demonstrate that we may experience a restructuring or even dissolution of the EU in the foreseeable future due to intra-imperialist and intra-bourgeois antagonisms and contradictions. It is important to analyse that possibility and the possible impact on the working class movement in order to properly and effectively organise our struggle against the EU and the bourgeois class in our countries.

This becomes especially important as certain bourgeois forces that are dissatisfied with the current intra-capitalist balance of power attempt to use the disappointment and anti-imperialist sentiments of the people for their own interests. These forces are primarily represented by the most nationalist, racist or even fascist political parties, but often also by opportunist parties or degenerated communist parties. At the same time, they are represented inside more traditional bourgeois political parties, trying and often succeeding in influencing their political line. They possess and create their own mass media and other mechanisms of manipulation and they often have affiliations inside central state institutions such as the police, the military or the judiciary. At the same time, we must point out, that they have strong connections with ruling monopoly capital itself, which uses such forces in various ways, either to intimidate the people or to forcefully implement its reactionary policies.

Dear comrades,

We must understand these processes and find ways to confront them. If the outcome of the recent Austrian presidential elections shows us something, it is that the most reactionary, racist, nationalist and even fascist forces are getting stronger and gaining ground even among the working class and the other popular strata of society. This development must concern us and we cannot rest on their electoral defeat. In reality, it is the ruling bourgeois class itself that is becoming more reactionary. The policies of the European governments and the European Union do not contradict the agenda of these forces. On the contrary, we can observe how the social-democratic-led government in Austria takes measures against refugees and migrants, suspends democratic rights, increases military expenditure and harshens its policies against the rights of the working class and the people. Austrian social-democracy did not even shrink from forming a coalition government with the extreme right in the federal state of Burgenland. Even debates about the possibility of such coalitions on the national level are currently been waged by social-democratic officials. At the same time they try to present themselves as a bulwark against the extreme-right.

The Party of Labour tries to unmask the pseudo-"anti-fascism" of social-democracy, expose the antisocial character of its policies and point to the real cause of the social problems. It points to the necessity of a class-oriented movement from below in order to confront the reactionary policies and forces. It seeks to confront racism and nationalism with solidarity and unity among the workers of all origins. It formulates concrete demands in the interests of the working class and the people and maintains the necessity of overcoming capitalism.

The political situation in Austria is troubling and exemplifies a general tendency in Europe. For the developments in Austria are in no way unique. Quite the contrary, there is undoubtedly a trend in this direction in many European countries. It is thus important to analyse and discuss these processes carefully and collectively. An exchange of our experience can lead to making our struggle more effective and deepen our unity. Because further developments may pose a challenge to our ability to adapt our political work to changing conditions.

Dear comrades,

We believe that the founding and the work of the European Initiative of Communist and Worker's Parties is an important step in the right direction. By declaring our definitive opposition to the European Union and all imperialist organisations and alliances, we draw a clear dividing line from the "European Left" and other opportunist and bourgeois forces that openly or covertly embrace such alliances.

It will be up to our parties to direct the disappointment of the peoples of Europe towards the EU and its policies against the monopolies and the bourgeois class in every country, whose interests are behind the anti-worker and anti-people policies of the EU and the governments. Without strong Communist and Workers' Parties with deep and solid roots in the working class and a class-oriented movement on the basis of the common interests of the working people, there cannot be a real alternative.

Dear comrades,

In conclusion, we would like to commemorate comrade Fidel Castro on the occasion of his recent death and to remind once again of the stance of the EU towards Cuba, which exemplifies its reactionary character. We also want to recall the stance of the opportunist forces of the "Party of the European Left", which as a standard-bearer of the EU’s anti-communism always actively participated in its anti-Cuban-propaganda and acted accordingly. The consistent solidarity of our parties with the struggle of Communist Parties and the working class all over the world unmasks the opportunism of those forces that seek to disorientate the people from their real interests.

Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Austria
Vienna, 06 December 2016