Conservative splits over the EU risk damaging our relationships in Europe at a time when economic circumstances dictate we should be working more closely together to promote growth and jobs. Yet Conservative fixations with whether we should be members of the EU or not, risk damaging our ability to promote UK interests in Europe. Nick Clegg is urging an end to this futile distraction, and to put jobs and our economic interest first, before narrow sectarian politics.
Instead of negative jibes we should be welcoming the real power our membership gives us, if we choose to use it positively, to reform the EU and make it more efficient, to continue its championing greater competition, as pioneered by local Liberal Democrat MEP’s Sharon Bowles and Catherine Bearder. We need our membership to make a real impact on the issues that affect us, such as promoting economic growth, and working together on defence issues, where successful co-operation on Libya for example, could be expanded to wider defence issues.
Conservative attitudes to Europe are negative and obstructist, however as part of the Coalition, Liberal Democrats have restrained Conservative impulses, and want to promote positive engagement for a reformed EU as part our strategy to promote the growth and jobs we so desperately need at this time of economic hardship.
Mid Sussex benefits from its proximity to EU markets and in particular we benefit from being a part of:
· The EU’s Single Market gives British companies free trade access to the world’s biggest single market worth £12tn in GDP and over 500 million consumers.
· 3.5 million British jobs are reliant on the EU’s single market. That’s 1 in every 10 British jobs.
· The growth in free trade within the EU has generated around £3,300 per British household per year over the last 30 years.
· Over 50% of foreign direct investment (FDI) to the UK comes from other EU member states, and is worth £351bn a year. The UK attracts global FDI because of its full access to the single market.
· The UK is pushing to liberalise trade within the EU in new growth areas such as energy, digital, services and green tech. sectors. This could add over £650 billion to the EU economy, making the average UK household almost £3,500 better off each year.
· By negotiating as part of the world biggest single market bloc, the UK is able to get much better terms and access than it would if it were negotiating by itself. For example, a recently signed EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea (a bigger market than Turkey or Indonesia) has virtually eradicated all tariffs barriers for EU exporters. It will bring £500m a year of benefits to British businesses.
David Cameron’s Conservatives seem intent on finding implacable enemies in Europe when in many cases we have common ground to reform and make more efficient the European Union, Liberal Democrats see this as a positive opportunity to reform, whilst the Conservatives see this as a sterile debate over whether we are in Europe or out, whilst ignoring its potential to promote jobs and economic growth.