Open Europe today responded to UK Prime Minister David Camerons speech on the European Union.Open Europe Director Mats Persson said,Polling has consistently shown that the British electorate want a better, looser relationship with the EU rather than a Brixit or the status quo if thats on offer. David Cameron has today outlined a clear course towards precisely the type of slimmed down Europe that most people and MPs in his party have been calling for.
He is right to say that doing nothing is no longer viable for the UK, given increasing eurozone integration and the increasing risk of the UK public demanding an exit from the EU, if there is no change. He was also right to stay clear of a specific shopping list of powers that he wants back, this far in advance.
There is a trade-off in his speech: as insurance to his own party and the electorate he's now on a strict timetable, which may or may not coincide with that of the eurozone. If he doesn't get concessions, is he willing to recommend Out in a referendum in 2017?
However, given that virtually all of the broad proposals mooted for more eurozone integration require some re-opening of the EU treaties at some stage, to which the UK must give its approval, Cameron will most likely get opportunities to negotiate a new deal.
European partners who feared an imminent dawn raid on Brussels will be relieved. He has set out a plausible and powerful case for EU reform. For this, he should get a fair hearing in national capitals.
A new Open Europe briefing published yesterday argues that the UKs leverage in arguing for reform in Europe is four-fold:
Future treaties and fundamental changes: Though EU leaders will want to see various elections behind them before embarking on institutional changes, talk of EU treaty changes will almost certainly re-emerge before too long. There are currently seven broad proposals floating around for more Eurozone integration most of which need EU treaty changes to be fully completed. Fears that the Eurozone can circumvent the UK through inter-governmental treaties or enhanced cooperation are valid but overstated, as Germany, in particular, is nervous about ad hoc-arrangements lacking firm constitutional grounding.
An economic asset: If the UK were to leave, the single market would shrink by 15%, with £261.4bn in annual European exports (up from £165.25bn in 2001) potentially facing extra costs, while the EU budget would be some 14bn light. At a time when the eurozone is searching for sources of external growth, the UKs annual trade deficit with the EU of £52bn remains important.
Balance of power in favour of freer trade: Without the UK in the EU, the Northern, liberal bloc would lose its blocking minority in the Council of Ministers, radically tipping the balance of power in favour of the Mediterranean more protectionist bloc. For example, if the UK left, Germany could find it very difficult to block proposals for reciprocity to be included as a tenet of EU trade policy which could seriously hurt its exports.
Global reach and hard power: The UK, along with France, is one of the EUs two major military powers and has a global network of diplomatic contacts. The UK accounts for 24% of all EU spending on defence, more than any other member state.
To read the full briefing, Right speech, right time? click the link below:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content...ropeSpeech.pdf
Notes to editors:
1) For more information, please contact the office on 0044 (0)207 197 2333, Mats Persson on 0044 (0)779 946 0691 or Raoul Ruparel on 0044 (0)757 696 5823.
2) Open Europe is an independent think-tank calling for reform of the European Union. Its supporters include: Lord Leach of Fairford, Director, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd; Lord Wolfson, Chief Executive, Next Plc; Hugh Sloane, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Sloane Robinson; Sir Stuart Rose, former Chairman, Marks and Spencer Plc; Jeremy Hosking, Director, Marathon Asset Management; Sir Henry Keswick, Chairman, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd; Sir Martin Jacomb, former Chairman, Prudential Plc; Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG, Life President, J Sainsbury Plc; Michael Dobson, Chief Executive, Schroders Plc; David Mayhew, former Chairman, JP Morgan Cazenove; Tom Kremer, Chairman, Seven Towns Ltd.
For a full list, please click here:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Page/Supporters/en/LIVE
Bron: politics.be
He is right to say that doing nothing is no longer viable for the UK, given increasing eurozone integration and the increasing risk of the UK public demanding an exit from the EU, if there is no change. He was also right to stay clear of a specific shopping list of powers that he wants back, this far in advance.
There is a trade-off in his speech: as insurance to his own party and the electorate he's now on a strict timetable, which may or may not coincide with that of the eurozone. If he doesn't get concessions, is he willing to recommend Out in a referendum in 2017?
However, given that virtually all of the broad proposals mooted for more eurozone integration require some re-opening of the EU treaties at some stage, to which the UK must give its approval, Cameron will most likely get opportunities to negotiate a new deal.
European partners who feared an imminent dawn raid on Brussels will be relieved. He has set out a plausible and powerful case for EU reform. For this, he should get a fair hearing in national capitals.
A new Open Europe briefing published yesterday argues that the UKs leverage in arguing for reform in Europe is four-fold:
Future treaties and fundamental changes: Though EU leaders will want to see various elections behind them before embarking on institutional changes, talk of EU treaty changes will almost certainly re-emerge before too long. There are currently seven broad proposals floating around for more Eurozone integration most of which need EU treaty changes to be fully completed. Fears that the Eurozone can circumvent the UK through inter-governmental treaties or enhanced cooperation are valid but overstated, as Germany, in particular, is nervous about ad hoc-arrangements lacking firm constitutional grounding.
An economic asset: If the UK were to leave, the single market would shrink by 15%, with £261.4bn in annual European exports (up from £165.25bn in 2001) potentially facing extra costs, while the EU budget would be some 14bn light. At a time when the eurozone is searching for sources of external growth, the UKs annual trade deficit with the EU of £52bn remains important.
Balance of power in favour of freer trade: Without the UK in the EU, the Northern, liberal bloc would lose its blocking minority in the Council of Ministers, radically tipping the balance of power in favour of the Mediterranean more protectionist bloc. For example, if the UK left, Germany could find it very difficult to block proposals for reciprocity to be included as a tenet of EU trade policy which could seriously hurt its exports.
Global reach and hard power: The UK, along with France, is one of the EUs two major military powers and has a global network of diplomatic contacts. The UK accounts for 24% of all EU spending on defence, more than any other member state.
To read the full briefing, Right speech, right time? click the link below:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content...ropeSpeech.pdf
Notes to editors:
1) For more information, please contact the office on 0044 (0)207 197 2333, Mats Persson on 0044 (0)779 946 0691 or Raoul Ruparel on 0044 (0)757 696 5823.
2) Open Europe is an independent think-tank calling for reform of the European Union. Its supporters include: Lord Leach of Fairford, Director, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd; Lord Wolfson, Chief Executive, Next Plc; Hugh Sloane, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Sloane Robinson; Sir Stuart Rose, former Chairman, Marks and Spencer Plc; Jeremy Hosking, Director, Marathon Asset Management; Sir Henry Keswick, Chairman, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd; Sir Martin Jacomb, former Chairman, Prudential Plc; Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG, Life President, J Sainsbury Plc; Michael Dobson, Chief Executive, Schroders Plc; David Mayhew, former Chairman, JP Morgan Cazenove; Tom Kremer, Chairman, Seven Towns Ltd.
For a full list, please click here:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Page/Supporters/en/LIVE
Bron: politics.be