European Movement UK

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

Archives for Britain and the EU

A never-ending story of obsession

May 16, 2013

Events over the last few days should not come as a surprise. Mr Cameron has for a while now been unable to impose his authority upon his party on the issue of EU membership. Even though he has expressed the wish to keep Britain in the EU (albeit the reduced, one-dimensional and irrelevant EU he… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU, David Cameron

History for Hobbits?

May 8, 2013

by Tom Spencer – former Conservative Member of the European Parliament. I believe that there will be an In/Out Referendum in 2017. I further believe that it cannot be won as a debate about the defects of the European Union as selectively chosen by the Eurosceptics. Rather we must re-engage in the debate which we… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU

Three scenarios for the UK’s EU future

May 7, 2013

by Peter Kellner – President, YouGov Will the United Kingdom still be a member of the European Union in 2020? Let us examine three scenarios. 1. The Conservatives win the 2015 and David Cameron is able to redeem his promise to renegotiate Britain’s membership terms and hold a referendum in 2017. If current public hostility… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU

A true plan for growth and reform in the EU

May 6, 2013

by Lord Liddle – Chairman, Policy Network A lot of what has been said since Mr Cameron’s Europe speech in January seem to make an assumption that he is going to be Prime Minister after 2015, and that therefore the referendum promised for 2017 is going to take place. This is by no mean a… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU

The rise of UKIP reflects a European trend that needs to be addressed

May 5, 2013

by Giles Goodall and Petros Fassoulas, European Movement. UKIP’s relative success in the English local elections and South Shields by-election this week has met with predictable reactions across the political spectrum: from copycat politics and jealousy on the Tory right, to handwringing and disappointment on the centre left. But while UKIP has succeeded in hoovering… » read more

Posted by European Movement UK

Britain and the EU

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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