Wednesday, 16th June 2010
‘Ever closer union’ calls must be resisted
An MEP has urged Prime Minister David Cameron to stand firm in the face of calls for ‘ever closer union’ from EU power-brokers.
On the eve of Mr Cameron’s first visit to Brussels as PM for a summit on EU financial regulation tomorrow (Thursday, June 17), European Commission chief José Manuel Barroso admitted in a speech to Euro MPs that the financial crisis was being used to push the ‘European project’.
Mr Barroso said today (Wednesday, June 16):
“Once again, we can see that a crisis can accelerate decision-making when it crystallises political will. Solutions that seemed out of reach only a few years or even months ago are now possible.
“As the history of European construction reminds us it is usually in times like this, in times of crisis, that we can make progress in the European project.
“The reality is that member states are now ready to accept some proposals that some years ago or even some months ago were simply not acceptable.”
In response, Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said:
“Mr Barroso’s comments display the cynical rationale of those pushing for a ‘United States of Europe’ that the British public do not want.
“Already we have seen calls by France and Germany for full fiscal union in the eurozone and the Commission is now hell-bent on vetting the tax-and-spend plans of all member states – even ones like Britain that don’t use the euro.
“David Cameron must continue to take a tough line with these people, although you sometimes wonder what part of the word ‘no’ they don’t understand.”
