 |
STATEMENT
READ BY LORD STODDART OF SWINDON |
|
STATEMENT
READ BY LORD STODDART OF SWINDON |
It is with great pleasure that on the occasion of your meeting in London I join with you in our common struggle for a different kind of Europe.
Since the Maastricht Treaty the European endeavour has got lost in a federalist blind alley. More technocracy, less political responsibility; more confounding of powers, less democracy; more levelling, less national wealth; the failings have continued to become more pronounced, marked by the unacceptable Treaty of Amsterdam and by European summits at which the blind pursuit of institutional change has replaced the consideration of policy.
The European Constitution of which we are being told makes no sense, for there is no European people and no European nation.
Nevertheless this notion does have the merit of reminding us of the need to reform the way Europe works so as to put an end to the unbelievable confusion of powers between the Council, the Commission and the Parliament. This confusion is aimed at limiting the role of governments and allowing federalism to develop through the combined ambition of an unaccountable Commission and a Parliament that lacks legitimacy.
Together we can make a different kind of Europe, one of co-operating states, one of growing wealth, one of nations. Our British friends can be an essential element of this fresh Europe if they can find the courage to rely on their people, a great people, proud of their history and their role in the world.
Our nations do not stop at the frontiers of Europe, they are open to the world, a world that expects something better from them than a federalist hodge-podge. Let us together rediscover the strength of nations!
In each of our countries we must stand against the homogenisation imposed on us by a federalist Europe. The most recent example in France is the attempt to weaken the Presidency by shortening its term so as to leave the country more amenable to federalist ambitions.
I count on you to co-ordinate the struggle for a different kind of Europe, to support us in our struggle to say NO to a five-year Presidency and our friends in Denmark in their struggle to say NO to the euro.
Federal Europe is an artificial Europe of technocrats and ideologues. it is the Europe of Nations which is the true Europe of peoples.
The choice is clear, we must fight with ardour. I hank you for all you are doing in the service of your countries and your peoples.
ENDS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LETTER FROM LORD BLAKE
TO THE FOURTH CONGRESS FOR DEMOCRACY, 14 July 2000
I can't come to the Fourth Congress, but I strongly support the cause.
I do hope that we will make the political objections to the euro our top priority. Of course the economic case should not be forgotten, but it is far more nebulous and obscure than the threat of being subordinated to a Federal Euroland.
ENDS
