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.

What became clear was that Cameron and the Tories are more focused on structure and prefer to keep talking about treaties and referenda and that their view of foreign policy remains stuck in the 19th century. Everybody (like Cameron) who says with a straight face “in Europe and not run by Europe” knows nothing about how decision making on the EU level works. If the other 26 partners would follow Camerons advice and say in Brussels what they are saying in Brest, to say in Brussels what they are saying in Brindisi, to say in Brussels what they say in Braunschweig or Bratislava, … or as Cameron wants to say the same in Brussels what he is saying Bristol  (well in Brussels he can say it to the Kaminsky’s of this world and the other extreme right-wingers the Tories chose to ally themselves with in the European Parliament after snubbing Merkel and Sarkozy) – Europe will cease to work. The common challenges we face are more important than petty squabbles about where best decisions to solve them are made. Climate Change and post crisis recovery needs cooperation on a global stage. European people can have a stronger voice on shaping global outcomes when working together.

Cameron repeated his nonsense on what’s needed is political will not institutions. Firstly, its him who was talking about institutions and Brown and Clegg were talking about content on Europe. Secondly, it required immense political will post WW2 and subsequently to build common institutions to facilitate co-operation and more efficient decision making.

The Tories seem to believe that European integration and cooperation is a zero-sum game. If Germany benefits from a specific measure, does everybody else suffer for it? No, we are all interconnected and if a members-state on the continent would suffer economically, the UK would be effected and vice-versa. As EU-citizens we share a multitude of values and interests. Insisting on dividing each other along national lines does not make sense anymore in an increasingly interdependent and globally interconnected world.

What also became clear during the debate is that the differences between Labour and LibDems on Europe are minimal compared with the gulf that divides both form the Tories.

On Saturday April 24th the Labour Movement for Europe together with the UK Branches of PES sister parties (German SPD, French & Portuguese Socialists, to name but a few) & Labour Friends of Italy are going to Poplar & Limehouse to campaign and help re-elect Jim Fitzpartick MP.

With so many undecided voters that close to the elections, every door knocked, every letter delivered, every hand shook and every conversation had can make all the difference especially in three-way marginals.

Jim faces a double euro-sceptic threat in his constituency. George Galloway’s Respect Party seems to think of Europe as an irrelevance. They didn’t even field candidates in the European Elections last year. The real threat, however, is that the euro-ignorant Respect party wins enough Read the rest of this entry »

I had a really enjoyable day of campaigning in Hammersmith.  I even managed to get sunburnt in the process for the first time this year. It was great to catch up with German and US American comrades I met the Saturday before when we were out for the campaign launch of Sadiq Khan in Tooting. It was also great to see French, Italian and Portugues friends again, who were also out in Tooting and or in Islington on March 20. And to meet so many new PES sister party activists. As on the Saturdays before parliamentary and local candidates as well as everybody in the local Labour party made us feel welcome and at home right from the start.

Hammersmith can really do with 4-5 more years of Andy Slaughter MP and a Labour Government. Having seen the effects  of the socially divisive policies this Tory run Council has been advancing, you can only wish for all the local citizens that Labour will be able to wrestle back control locally as well on May 6.

I am just worried about this  new tribal confidence I have detected amongst Lib-Dem voters. Clegg’s perfomance in the leaders’ debate on ITV and subsequent polling results seem to have made them immune to the Tory squeeze message (As in “this is a Labour-Tory marginal, by voting Lib-Dem you let the Tories in”) So is Clegg’s success this Thursday a blessing in disguise for Cameron? Let’s hope not. Because we all know what the Tories stand for and not only in terms of their position on Europe.

Don’t Let the Tories Get Away with it!