West Midlands Lib-Dem Phil Bennion, one of seven members of the Coalition for the Reform Treaty is calling for the EU to agree to the changes outlined in the draft Reform treaty.
In a letter published in the Guardian and covered in the Independent, the coalition argue that the changes to the treaty are necessary as the EU has enlarged in recent years.
A copy of the letter is included below.
We believe it would be fitting in the EU's 50th anniversary year for the Union to agree the changes outlined in the draft Reform Treaty. These proposals have been precipitated by an increase in EU membership from 15 in 2004 to 27 members today. These enlargements have been very successful, bringing in ten former communist countries of eastern Europe to the EU fold. Any large business or other organization which almost doubled its membership in such a short space of time would have to alter its rules and modus operandi. There is no doubt that if the EU didn't address the impact of new members on its institutions, it would be severely criticised.
The draft Reform Treaty, agreed at the European Council in June, is in Britain's interests as well as the European Union's because it will lead to more efficient, effective and democratic decision-making. Ratification of the Treaty by all 27 EU Member States will help the Union to focus on the issues that really matter including a deeper Single Market and climate change. It is this agenda, rather than excessive debate about institutional reform, that should occupy the EU's energies in the years ahead.
In a letter published in the Guardian and covered in the Independent, the coalition argue that the changes to the treaty are necessary as the EU has enlarged in recent years.
A copy of the letter is included below.
We believe it would be fitting in the EU's 50th anniversary year for the Union to agree the changes outlined in the draft Reform Treaty. These proposals have been precipitated by an increase in EU membership from 15 in 2004 to 27 members today. These enlargements have been very successful, bringing in ten former communist countries of eastern Europe to the EU fold. Any large business or other organization which almost doubled its membership in such a short space of time would have to alter its rules and modus operandi. There is no doubt that if the EU didn't address the impact of new members on its institutions, it would be severely criticised.
The draft Reform Treaty, agreed at the European Council in June, is in Britain's interests as well as the European Union's because it will lead to more efficient, effective and democratic decision-making. Ratification of the Treaty by all 27 EU Member States will help the Union to focus on the issues that really matter including a deeper Single Market and climate change. It is this agenda, rather than excessive debate about institutional reform, that should occupy the EU's energies in the years ahead.
Roland Rudd (Chairman, Business for New Europe)
Brendan Donnelly (Chairman, Federal Union)
Peter Luff (Chairman, European Movement)
Dr Olaf Cramme (Associate Director, Policy Network)
Mary Creagh MP (Chair, Labour Movement for Europe)
Phil Bennion (Chair, Liberal Democrat European Group)
Alex Bigham (Head of Communications, Foreign Policy Centre)
(signed as members of the Coalition for the Reform Treaty)
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Update:- The following comment was included in the independent.
Publication: The Independent
Author: Andy Grice
Date: 12 September 2007
Pro-Europeans launch fightback against call for treaty Referendum
Pro-Europeans are launching a fightback today against growing demands for a referendum on the new European Union treaty.
The Coalition for the Reform Treaty will argue that the treaty is in Britain's interests as well as the EU's because it will lead to more efficient, effective and democratic decision-making. The long-awaited response by pro-European businessmen and politicians comes after the campaign in favour of a referendum gathered momentum during the summer.
Roland Rudd, chairman of Business for New Europe, said: "We have heard a lot of negative things about the treaty. Many are scare- stories or based on inaccuracies. We took the initiative to form this coalition to make a more positive case."
The new network aims to co-ordinate pro-European activity, rebut Eurosceptics' arguments and lobby for the treaty when it is debated in Parliament.
Business bosses joining the coalition in a personal capacity include Sir Philip Hampton, (Sainsbury), Niall FitzGerald (Reuters), Sir Michael Bishop (BMI), Phillipe Varin (Corus), Roger Carr (Centrica), Sir Martin Sorrell (WPP) and Sir Mike Rake (KPMG ).
The campaign begins as the European Commission formally ended its long fight to persuade Britain to abandon the mile and the pint in favour of the kilometre and litre. EU industry commissioner Gunter Verheugen said it was a "pointless battle".
Any company which grew that fast in such a short time would indeed need to change the rules in how it operated.
Any company that wanted to change the rules of management would need to ask the shareholders at an EGM/AGM to approve those changes.
That *is* a referendum.
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