If the European Union is the Answer - What Was the Question?

12.00.00pm GMT Fri 11th Mar 2005

In a paper published in the journal of the Liberal Democrat European Group in March 2005, Lee Glendon provided a rebuttal of Euro-sceptic arguments.

He said:

"It makes perfect sense that we complete the Single Market; that we support the Constitution and thereby provide the platform for Europe to develop the required common defence, security and foreign policy frameworks to meet the above challenges. We need to use our collective economic power to rid Europe of a reliance on fossil fuels and to take a lead on dealing with the effects of global warming; equally we need to open up trade with the developing world and foster good internal governance to bring stability and hope to millions less fortunate that we are.

The need to make the political case for the EU is more important than ever. Pro-Europeans often shy-away from discussing the future of Europe for fear of using the "f - word" - the Referendum thankfully forces us to distill our vision for Europe and we should welcome this - perhaps the Referendum question should be: How should we protect and develop our interests in a world dominated by the self interests of the USA, China and India and an EU without Britain?"

Read the full text at http://www.bracknell-libdems.org.uk/pages/europeanunion.html