LME seeks clarifications from Cameron on EU policy

LME has written to David Cameron with a series of questions about his baffling attitude to Europe. Here is a copy of the letter, which we have also released to the media.

Dear Mr Cameron,

We are writing to you today to try and clarify your position on the EU. We have been confused by your recent statements on Europe and so we have an number of questions we hope you can answer.

1. Opting out of the Charter of Rights

Why opt out of a Charter of Rights that simply ensures that the EU has to respect fundamental rights and that any EU legislation that fails to do so, can be struck down by the courts? It is a safeguard, not a threat!

2. Giving UK law primacy over EU law

What is the point of agreeing common rules at EU level if each country is then free to break its agreements and override them by new national laws? Britain won its court case against France when they continued to ban British beef after it was declared safe, precisely because countries must live up to what they have agreed to. If French law had primacy over EU law, they would still be banning our beef!

3. Opting out of the Social Chapter of the Treaty

Having common rules for the common market on some aspects of social legislation ensures a level playing field, a single set of rules for companies to follow instead of the costly confusion of 27 sets of rules in a single market, and gives all workers, including British workers, basic rights and protections. Why should British workers be denied the rights enjoyed by their counterparts across Europe? What is so wrong with this legislation, that is accepted by every other government, including conservative governments, in Europe? You have mentioned the Working Time Directive – legislation that was NOT adopted under the Social Chapter (it is health & safety legislation) and was approved by the Council of Ministers under the last Conservative government with Britain abstaining. Didn’t you know this?

4. Opting out of co-operation on Criminal Justice

Are you aware that Britain already has, under Lisbon, the right to opt-in or opt-out of legislation in this field? Not that we should – criminal gangs operate across borders and we need to co-operate with our neighbouring countries in fighting them – but we can already choose which measures to sign up to.

And how do you respond to the comments of Pierre Lellouche, the French Europe Minister, who describes your plans as “pathetic” and says that your plans to try and renegotiate long-standing agreements will not work, as EU members want to concentrate on tackling big issues such as climate change, trade and security, rather than reopen discussions on things agreed by all countries?

We hope that you can answer our questions because there is a lack of clarity in your supposed pledges that indicate they have not been thought through and are intended simply to placate, for the time being, the extreme eurosceptic element in your party.

We look forward to hearing from you.

———————————————————–

We’ll keep you posted here on any response we might receive.

Which institution is Cameron talking about?

At the Conservative Conference, in Manchester, David Cameron has used one of the most common argument to attack the European Union, the lack of democracy, but he has only showed his own ignorance.

Talking to the conference he siad: “People who think of themselves as progressives have fallen in love with an institution that no one elects, no one can remove, and that hasn’t signed off its accounts for over a decade”.

Which institution was he talking about? Maybe the directly elected European Parliament? Or was he talking about the European Commission, that has to receive the confidence of the EP and that  (remember about Mr. Santer) can be sacked by the Parliament itself?

Read the rest of this entry »

EU for Dummies

This youtube video explains in simple terms how policy making on the EU level works.

Learn why the European Parliament and the upcoming elections matter in under 7 minutes.

click here or on any text in this post to view the video

GET THE EUROPEAN VOTE OUT – DEFEAT THE BNP!

Your help is needed!

We are running three phone banks ahead of the European elections on June 4.

We will be phoning EU expats who have registered to vote in the UK for the European elections. We will remind them that a higher EU expat turn-out might prevent the BNP from winning seats.

Sessions are scheduled from 6pm to 8.30pm at a location in Central London on the following days

Wednesday May 27, Monday June 1 and Tuesday June 2

to rsvp and for detailed joining instructions please write to lme.lse@hotmail.co.uk

Happy Europe Day!

Happy Europe Day!

I thought the European theme tune might go down easier in the Muppet’s version of this catchy Beethoven ode.

I want to hear you humming, me-me-me, …

PS: I have tried it, you won’t get struck by lightning

Link to the original lyrics in German with English translation