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Ming's Vision of a Liberal Europe
December 12, 2006 5:18 PM
Sir Menzies Campbell spoke today at a Centre for European Reform event at KPMG's premises in London. He believes that few matters are more fundamental to Britain's interests than our position within the EU. Three areas are of particular importance - foreign policy, regulation and Ming's new idea of an EU powers audit.
Foreign Policy
Britain can more effectively lead the way from within Europe than on our own, whether in carrying weight in the wider world or in influencing our ally, the US.
The European project has sought to extend peace and prosperity amongst its member states and increasingly among its neighbours but needs to become more imaginative and effective so that its values become the values of the countries it deals with whether in the Balkans, Middle East, Caucasus or North Africa. Our security depends upon this but there is a feeling that the EU is punching below its weight with good objectives but no idea of how to achieve them.
The EU needs to promote its values through the CFSP and the UK needs to fully participate. Britain should distinguish its own foreign policy from that of the US. Whilst we should value our relationship with the US it needs to be rebalanced, redesigned and renewed.
We need to strongly support the UN and help it to be more effective. The EU supports these objectives. It is not clear that the other side of the Atlantic does. We must work together to persuade the US.
Enlargement and agreements with neighbours has been about using soft power to obtain hard results.
Britain can add to the confidence and capability of the CFSP. The Middle Eastern peace process needs to be restarted soon or there could be further conflicts. There will be no resolution without the US but because of its close ties with Israel the EU is needed in the process.
The new British PM will have a chance to realign our foreign policy and it is expected that he will do so. The Blair / Bush approach will wither on the vine. But Brown's distaste for and distance from Europe are plain to see.
Meanwhile Cameron marginalises the subject of Europe and contributes to our marginalisation in Europe.
Jonathan Wallace has provided us with a video of the whole event including Q & A session. (See navigation menu)
See also -
http://www.libdems.org.uk/parliament/vision-of-a-liberal-europe-part-one.11527.html