European Movement UK

Britain's future is with Europe! Join the debate and put your opinion forward!

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Two tier Europe – really?

February 5, 2014

by Dr Richard Corbett, Member of the European Parliament 1996-2009, Advisor to the President of the European Council 2010-14, MEP candidate in the May 2014 elections/// People have been discussing a multi-tier Europe for decades: after all, the ECSC project in 1950 created what was then seen as a two-speed Europe, involving just 6 of… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, Elections, EU Treaty & Institutions

Wales in the European Union

January 26, 2014

by Dr James Luchte/// Will the proposed UK EU exit make Welsh independence inevitable? Should Wales follow Scotland if it votes ‘Yes’? The benefits of EU membership are universally acknowledged in Wales and nobody in the mainstream of politics, business and academia in Wales wants to leave the European Union – at least no one… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU

Why the UK shouldn’t go it alone: the benefits of a common European energy and climate policy

January 21, 2014

by Jonathan Gaventa, programme leader on European energy infrastructure at E3G. There is no security in separatism, no innovation in isolationism, and nothing to be gained from walking away from our seat at the European table. Connection to Europe will protect our energy security. Protecting UK energy security in a carbon-constrained world critically depends on… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, Energy Efficiency

Scotland’s Future is in the UK, in Europe and in Work

January 15, 2014

by George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland ALDE Member and Coordinator of the EP’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee Vice President of the EP’s Budget Committee/// For those of us who believe that Scotland and the UK are far better off as part of the EU some of the debates we see in the… » read more

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Uncategorized

An EU referendum and when?

by the Rt Hon Baroness Joyce Quin, Vice-President of the European Movement UK/// There has been much discussion recently in the press and elsewhere about whether or not an in/out referendum on our membership of the EU should take place and, if so, when such a referendum could or should be held. Last Friday in… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Uncategorized

European Movement UK

Britain's future is with Europe! Join the debate and put your opinion forward!

The origins of the European Movement

The origins of the European Movement lie in the aftermath of the Second World War. More than eight hundred delegates from across Europe gathered in The Hague in May 1948, under the chairmanship of Sir Winston Churchill, to create a new international movement to unite Europe and prevent further wars between its members. The British section of the European Movement was founded a year later.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the European Movement put forward the arguments for joining the European Economic Community, and it ran a major campaign in the early 1970s, both among the general public and in parliament, to win the battle for entry. In 1975, during the referendum on membership, the European Movement played a central role in the YES campaign. Other campaigns since then have included pressing for direct elections to the European Parliament in the 1970s and promoting the benefits of the single market in the run-up to 1992.

During the 1990s, the organisation became revitalised around the need to create a new national pro-European coalition. The rise in anti-European feeling threatens to undermine Britain's place in the European Union; our exclusion from the first wave of countries joining the euro is an example of how we lose out when the pro-European case is not put strongly enough in public.

Aims and activities

The European Movement is

- A rallying point: The European Movement rallies all those who believe that European unity is vital where the peoples of Europe have interests in common such as increased trade to improve economic prosperity, an improved environment to tackle climate change, and action to combat global poverty. A politically united Europe is needed to sweep aside the petty tribalism that has historically, at the very least, been an obstacle to progress or, at its worst, has led to bitter conflict and a catastrophic loss of human life. Europe must be united as a region of law, justice and democracy, equipped with the institutions capable of achieving these ends. Members receive a regular newsletter, euromove, with information and news about Pro-European developments. In addition, the office publishes updates on campaign ideas and issues an e-mail newsletter, e-News. Members take part in lively discussions in person and online, and the European Movement maintains an informative website.

- A campaign: The Movement has since its creation in 1948 sought to build and maintain public support for the unity of Europe. In the face of a backward-looking nationalist resurgence in some quarters, this role is as vital as ever. The campaigns include public information points, working with the media, and lobbying MPs and other decision-makers. In addition to the work of the London office, the branches and national councils organise campaign activities in their own areas, as well as political discussions and social events for members.

- A pressure group: The creation of the European Union has been an extraordinary achievement - democratic, sovereign states have created a common institutional framework in order to forge a future together based on the rule of law. But the European Movement is not the Union's information service or an apologist for its weaknesses. It must work to win support for the reforms necessary to improve its ability to meet the hopes and aspirations of its peoples.

Contact

Southbank House, Black Prince Road, London W3 7NS

www.euromove.org.uk

emoffice@euromove.org.uk

Tel: 0203 176 0543


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