The LibDems sold out on Europe.

Find the relevant section of the Conservative Liberal Democrat coalition negotiations Agreements reached

9. Relations with the EU

We agree that the British Government will be a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners, with the goal of ensuring that all the nations of Europe are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century: global competitiveness, global warming and global poverty.

We agree that there should be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament. We will examine the balance of the EU’s existing competences and will, in particular, work to limit the application of the Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom.

We agree that we will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that any proposed future Treaty that transferred areas of power, or competences, would be subject to a referendum on that Treaty – a ‘referendum lock’. We will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that the use of any passerelle would require primary legislation.

We will examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority remains with Parliament. We agree that Britain will not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament. We agree that we will strongly defend the UK’s national interests in the forthcoming EU budget negotiations and that the EU budget should only focus on those areas where the EU can add value. We agree that we will press for the European Parliament only to have one seat, in Brussels.

We agree that we will approach forthcoming legislation in the area of criminal justice on a case by case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s security, protecting Britain’s civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system. Britain will not participate in the establishment of any European Public Prosecutor.

At the end of the chapter 4 the also mention the single currency (no surpise there though):

4. Banking Reform

The parties also agree to rule out joining the European Single Currency during the duration of this agreement.

Detailed analysis and comments to follow soon.

On April 24 right across Europe, progressives and activists from the Party of European Socialists (PES) will be participating in a day of action to call for an international financial transaction tax. Play your part in the London event of this Pan-European Campaign Day.

We’ll meet at 10am at 11 Market Way, E14 6AH next to Chrisp Street Market.
[It's close to All Saints and Langdon Park DLR stations - the Bus Number 15 also goes there.]
The financial crisis has already cost 7 million Europeans their jobs. The cost of the bail outs and intervention measures has been estimated by the PES to have cost each European €6,000 in extra public debt by the end of 2011.
Over the last 15 years, the number of financial transactions has increased by 450%. We are therefore calling for a financial transaction tax, (sometimes known as a ‘Robin Hood’ or ‘Tobin’ tax) of 0.05%, so that this massive flow of money, produces more social good.
A small tax on these transactions could help fund public services and help the world meet the UN Millennium Development Goals, to ensure that as we re-build our economy, we all benefit from this growth.

You can find further information on the European campaign is at: http://europeansforfinancialreform.org/

Please watch ‘The Vandal Banker’ and see where else in Europe FTT activities will take place. http://www.pes.org/en/financial-transaction-tax/pes-european-day-of-action

10:30 – 11:30 Event:

leaf letting passersby, taking pictures and recording short clips to upload to the PES Action Day website. Play your local part in a Pan-Eurpean event with a global goal.
We will be joined by Jim Fitzpatrick MP and Claude Moraes MEP and are expecting considerable media interest in the event.

To RSVP and to request further information on the social, environmental and macro-economic benefits of a financial transaction tax please email lme.lse@hotmail.co.uk or call David Schoibl on 07976 252 768.

There is one aspect of the Greek debt crisis, which has not been widely discussed sofar. Much nonsense has been written about how the Euro was to blame for the Greek crisis. (find an excellent rebuttal of these arguments by Stefan Collignon in the Social Europe Journal http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/03/what-conservatives-do-not-understand-about-the-euro/)

Is it because the European and American arms industries do not want to loose a good customer, that most commentators fail to mention that Greece spends excessive amounts on its military?

Could better European defence co-operation (economies of scale in division of labour and joint procurement) and an active peace policy in the region (solving the Cyprus standstill and unblocking Turkey’s accession negotiations) enable Greece to agressively cut down on its military shopping-binge? Just a thought.

Look no further than wikipedia for some base figures on this.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Greece:

“… Greece directs approximately 4.3% of its GDP to military expenditures, the 2nd highest percentage in Europe (behind the Republic of Macedonia).[4] In absolute numbers the Greek military budget ranked 28th in the world in 2005. By the same measure, Greek military budget ranked 6th in the Mediterranean basin (behind France, Italy, Turkey, Israel and Spain) and 2nd (behind Turkey) in its immediate vicinity, the Balkans.[5] It must be noted that Greek arms purchasing is among the highest in the world: Greece ranked 3rd in the world in 2004.? …”