European Movement UK

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

Archives for Britain and the EU

Mr Hague wants to put Britain at the heart of the EU. He must also put the EU at the heart of Britain.

July 1, 2010

Foreign Secretary William Heague says he is keen to ensure that Britain is more active in the EU. He wants more British officials to occupy Director level positions in the European Commission and more staff at entry-level positions at the Commission to be British. The question is what he intends to do with his new… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, English

The real threat to democracy?

June 21, 2010

Eurosceptics like to pretend that the EU is a threat to British democracy. For example, the idea that national governments should discuss their budget plans with each other is denounced as an attack on parliament. Britain’s budget should always be presented to parliament first, apparently. But then one looks in today’s newspapers, and finds extracts… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, English

The modern world summed up

April 28, 2010

A gift arrives for my baby daughter that sums up the modern world. Cousins in Australia have sent her a koala, not a real one of course, but a stuffed one. The label proudly states “This is another Australian souvenir designed by an Australian company handcrafted in China.” China is where things are made these… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, English

More interference from Brussels?

March 25, 2010

One of the founding ideas of the European Union is subsidiarity: that the EU institutions should only deal with issues that cannot be dealt more effectively by the member states. That means things like ensuring free trade between countries and fighting cross-border pollution. We are sorry to report an instance where an EU representative has… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, English

Who is Nigel Farage?

February 25, 2010

A UKIP MEP disgraces himself and embarrasses a nation in his attack on the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, yesterday. His apologists try to claim that the European Parliament would benefit from being a bit less consensual and a bit more controversial, but there is a world of difference between intelligent criticism… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, English

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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