Democracy is the greatest achievement of the nations of Europe and parliamentary democracy is the British contribution to this. True democracy requires that the people elect and dismiss those who make their laws and govern them; that the people are therefore the final arbiters of their government's policy. In a healthy democracy the people can trust their representatives to share their values and thus to govern not only in their name, but in their interests.

Europe is a continent of different nations, each justly proud of its history, institutions, culture and individuality. While international co-operation within Europe and beyond is essential, a central European government which lays down the law to so many different peoples with diverse backgrounds cannot meet these democratic imperatives. Full democratic control must be retained by the local and national assemblies of the nation states, accountable directly to their peoples.

Free association to achieve social, economic and political reform will always be part of any healthy democracy.

Congress therefore declares that:

1. The electorate must agree by referendum any further transfer of power to the EU.

 

2. The Common Law of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the ancient legal system of Scotland, trial by jury and habeas corpus are inviolate, and must not be weakened by alien European law and any attempt to do so must be resisted.

 

3. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, or any "European Constitution", will transfer too much power from national parliaments to unaccountable European judges. A European Constitution is unthinkable and the Charter of Fundamental Rights is unacceptable, even in declaratory form.

 

4. National parliaments must be the custodians of their peoples' constitutions, taxation, defence, foreign affairs, jurisprudence, police and electoral policy.

 

5. This will involve the retrieval of powers already granted to the European Union and the rejection of the legal process by which powers are expanded by the European federal institutions and then retained forever.