EU debate ‘must be revived’
The debate over Britain’s future in the European Union must be revived, the Liberal Democrats argued today.
Europe spokesman Nick Clegg warned that collective action is vital in dealing with economic globalisation, international terrorism and the threat to the environment.
And he warned the government’s belief – and that of Tory leadership contender Ken Clarke – that they could walk away from the issue was both “cynical and wrong”.
“Europe is at a crossroads in the wake of the French and Dutch referendum votes,” he told the party’s annual conference in Blackpool.
He insisted it was up to the Lib Dems – “the most forthright and honest pro-European party in British politics” – to press for a positive debate about this issue.
“Europe will not disappear in a puff of smoke. Nor should it,” Mr Clegg continued, stressing that Britain’s future and that of Europe were inextricable linked.
Delegates passed a motion noting the EU’s success in promoting peace, stability, democracy and human rights across Europe, and citing these as reasons to expand the EU further across the continent.
And they called on the government to implement parts of the rejected constitution that do not require changes to EU treaties, such as making the proceedings of the Council of Ministers public – something Tony Blair has already spoken about.
Proposals to back a one per cent budget cap were rejected however, with many MEPs arguing that this would have a knock-on effect on British regions that depended on EU regional funding.
Speaking in favour of a cap on the budget, Mr Clegg insisted that the EU budget must be radically reformed before any ambitious increase in its spending.
And he was backed by Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, who warned that the EU had to show it was “financially responsible”.
He said that it was “unacceptable” that 40 per cent of the budget currently went on agricultural subsidies and it was up to a pro-European party such as the Lib Dems to push the case for reform.
However, Chris Davies, leader of the Lib Dems in Europe, warned the spending limit was “an attempt here to move the party in a more Eurosceptic direction.”
“But this is not a party of Europhobes and little Englanders. It is a party of principles and internationalists,” he said.
Fiona Hall, the MEP for north-east England, said her region was one of those that would suffer from a limit on EU spending, and expressed scepticism at the government’s assurances that it would make up any shortfall.
