Vote or Veto – the future of the UK in the EU
The last in the series of the Industry and Parliament Trust’s European Breakfast Briefings was appropriately timed on the day of the European parliamentary elections. Avoiding the stampede at their local Polling Stations, a group of around twenty, largely industry, professionals discussed the UK’s options in the EU: ‘Vote or Veto’.
One of the UK’s longest serving MEPs and an active member of the Transport Committee, Robert Evans MEP deftly summarised the EU policy making process and the importance of the European Parliament. Although the parliament sometimes seemed remote to people in the UK, Robert asked whether his audience knew who was responsible for ensuring disabled people were not refused airline tickets or who had lowered mobile phone calls abroad. The answer was the European Parliament.
With his extensive diplomatic experience the former head of the UK’s de facto embassy to the EU, UKREP, Sir Stephen Wall outlined his view of the UK’s sometimes troubled relationship with Europe. He quoted a former Foreign Secretary as saying that Britain’s choice was either working for positive change or merely stopping initiatives. It was as simple as that. The French has an expression along the lines of ‘an empty chair is never right’. Although he lamented the lack of honesty in parts of the current debate in Britain on Europe, Sir Stephen saw some positive signs for the future.
Given the day the briefing was taking place, the first question was topical: the reason for low turnout at European parliamentary elections. As a seasoned campaigner Robert said that despite two highly visible and charismatic candidates for Mayor of London in 2008, turnout had only been around 45%. People only tended to vote in those elections that they thought really mattered. That tended to be General Elections. The challenge of demonstrating the relevance of the European Parliament to people’s daily lives was a constant one.
On the Lisbon Treaty, Sir Stephen said that we had probably reached the end of ‘competency creep’ and that we were now likely to see a more settled period. Changes in the dynamics of the French-German motor, which had driven European integration in the past, was one factor but in most member states there was no appetite for a further transfer of power to ‘Brussels’.
For the industry audience, the speakers had a single piece of advice for effective engagement with the EU institutions: ‘get in early and get in low’, the latter meaning at working level rather straight in at the top.
An informative and timely briefing with an insight from two distinguished players. Guests left fired up to have their say along with 375 million other electors in 27 countries. ‘Vote’ rather than ‘Veto’ seemed to be the general mood.
Steve Newsome
Head of International & European Affairs, Transport for London
