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EDM 318 - The future of the European Union

That this House notes that the peoples of Europe oppose the concept of an ever closer union and calls for the UK Presidency to be used to develop proposals for a lighter touch European Union with fewer competencies, a smaller budget, and a lesser ability to make impositions on member states.

EDM 318 has achieved limited amount of notoriety in the 2 short days since it was tabled.

Quoting from Ming Cambell later, however: "I want a European Union that is decentralised, transparent and accountable and that protects human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law. There is no other economic association that requires those who wish to join it to satisfy a set of criteria on good governance and human rights. The Copenhagen criteria are unique. No other economic organisation or association requires its members to satisfy such standards of governance. That is often forgotten and not given sufficient emphasis."

There is, of course, no conflict between this and EDM 318.

*EDM - Early Day Motion

Comments

John Hemming said…
I have always thought there was a substantial majority for a "light touch" European Union.

Theoretically that is Lib Dem Party policy, but we tend to get tangled up in a debate of "in or out" rather than the sort of Europe we wish to see.

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