The future's bright

THE FUTURE FOR EUROPE IS BRIGHT - ERIC GOODYER
Nottingham Evening Post Article, 11 July 2008

My grandfather served in the trenches, my father in the Royal Air Force. I am the first male member of my family in 100 years that has not had to fight, and I never want my son to have to serve either. At the end of the bloodiest war the world has known the Allies set-up a suite of organisations to create a new Europe where Nationalism, Envy, Racism and Genocide could never again arise. Thus were born, NATO preventing war by pooling sovereignty in a unified command structure, The European Court of Human Rights protecting individual freedom against oppressive states, and the EEC/EU which has created the economic and social environment that has maintained the peace.

Today the EU continues to play a major world-wide peace keeping role, diplomacy with Iran, the International Quartet seeking solutions for the Middle East, and supporting Kosovo. Like war, pollution does not respect borders. Filth in the Vistula, Rhine or Danube crosses many borders before reaching the sea. Are British fish loyal? Do they know that they can only swim in to British
nets? The EU has led the way to improve Europe's health & environment, through co-operation not conflict. I have just been asked to join a French/German medical research consortium seeking to restore the ability to speak to patients who have damaged 'voice-boxes'. Our hard working MEP Glenis Wilmot is a member of the important Environmental, Public Health & Food Safety committee; charged with combating climate change and implementing environmental measures that must be co-ordinated at the European level; because environmental protection is an international problem, that needs international solutions. Simply removing trade barriers is not enough; to be truly free & fair requires a level playing field. Why should great British companies go bust from paying decent wages and making quality products. How can they compete with cheap goods sweated from poor working conditions, using dodgy materials, like lead based paint on kids toys. We need a framework for fair trade and fair work, with people paid decent wages, working sensible working hours, and not discriminated against. EU directives ensure that products are safe, and workers & consumers are protected. That's why the EU is the world's largest trading block, supported by the world's leading currency, The Euro.

So where next for Europe? The EU is run like NATO, each country appointing ambassadors (Commissioners), uniquely supported by the democratically elected European Parliament. However, these rules were created for a club of 6 members, not 27. The European Constitution was consigned to the dustbin of history when it was rejected by 2 members. Lisbon sought to save the most important aspects - abolition of a 1/3 of the commission, and the right for National Parliaments to amend and reject commission proposals. Eire did not vote to leave the EU. Today's Tory Party demands for a referendum are hypocritical - they are the architects of Britain's membership of the EU, and will never take us out. Thatcher (quoting Clement Atlee) said referendums are the "refuge of dictators and demagogues". The EU can and will continue to operate under its current rules.

Over 2 million Brits now work and live on the Continent – once the preserve of the rich. We are successfully co-coordinating international action on pollution, environmental & consumer protection, crime and border security. The more we work together the more secure and prosperous we become.