Conclusion
In addition to the unfinished business described above, the age of globalisation is confronting the EU with a range of new challenges. There is an evident case for our using the throw-weight of the EU to enlarge our ability to improve the lives of our citizens and to contribute to meeting the main challenges of our age. By ensuring that that weight is optimally deployed, to the general and to our own advantage, we can both safeguard our security and make our prosperity more sustainable, giving us the chance to be both true to our history and sure of maximizing our ability to defend and promote our interests.
Issues to consider
- What in the age of globalisation should the UK aim to contribute to the EU in terms of leadership?
- How can the Liberal Democrats best articulate a vision and ambition for the EU which connects effectively with popular hopes and preoccupations?
August 17th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
One thing we have to do is improve the exposure of flaws in the rationale of the arguments presented by anti European groups. We do a good job in countering flat out lies and factual errors however greater effort should be made to counter the underlying flawed logic of these arguments. We must not accept the underlying premise of the eurosceptics whilst argueing with them on detail. We must try to challenge the very basis of their arguments and set the agenda of the debate.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
@ George Turner: Indeed. However the power of logic, rational thinking and good argument can only make so much headway. And, in some way it helps to reinforce the view of a technocratic Europe that some find disagreeable. Effort has to be made to win the heart as well as the head. As Europeans we need to do more things together in the world. Say; to make more of the combined abilities of Europeans in competition with Americans, Chinese and Russian on the sports field.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
We have to find a way of making other EU countries actually follow the “rules of the game”. France is protectionist of its industries and flouts the law openly. Italy behaves similarly - witness the protectionist attitudes in relation to Alitalia. We cannot allow this to go on while allowing our own strategic British interests to be undermined. This is an urgent matter which no-one seems to have woken up to. Britain must make her views known more strongly on this and other matters, if necessary setting up an independent EU scrutiny body, together with other net contributors, to consider how the system is actually working.