Britain is sliding away from Europe
Dec. 17th, 2017 09:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ruthct21It's always good to visit Amsterdam and we enjoyed our visit 2 weeks ago for the ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) Congress, although our desire to spend time sightseeing was cut short by the extremely cold weather! Our hotel was comfortable, with convenient public transport links to the airport, the city centre and the Conference centre. We had 2 excellent meals in restaurants literally across the road from where we were staying, one Israeli and one Indian, ace food in both, as well as the usual lunches and evening buffets at the Congress.
Yes, the Congress: usually we come back feeling politically invigorated and keen, but this time was different. We met many of our old friends and, like the other Brits, played an active part in the debates and discussions, but it became increasingly clear that Britain has ceased to be very important to European politics. Other people have been planning ahead and moving on, as of course they must. Two of the key debates were about how the European Parliament seats which will soon be vacated by Britain (assuming Brexit goes ahead) could be used to develop and extend EU democracy, for example by creating a new tranche of MEPs who would be elected by the entire EU electorate: they would be European MPs rather than MEPs from particular countries. Our former Party President, Ros Scott, who is well-respected right across ALDE, was unsuccessful in defending her position in the ALDE Bureau so, for the first time since ALDE was created there is no Brit in the ALDE inner circle. It seems unlikely that this situation will change in any near future.
If indeed we do leave the EU in 2019, we will lose the British places on the two powerful bodies which advise the EU institutions on policy: the Committee of the Regions (representing regional and local government) and the European Economic and Social Committee (representing workers and employers groups and other interest groups of civil society). Having served both on the ALDE Council and on the Committee of the Regions, I feel an active sense of grief at the prospect of Britain leaving these bodies. If that happens, it will not be long before the good work Brits have done there and the expertise many of us have acquired will be forgotten.
If Brexit goes ahead, Britain will still have a voice in Europe, of course, primarily through the Council of Europe, but it will be a much smaller voice and it will be heard less often. Liberal Democrats often say that we are the most pro-European party in the UK and from what we heard at the Congress that definitely seems to be the case. Our colleagues elsewhere perceive that both Conservatives and Labour are already cutting back their engagement in European politics and that although the Greens are still active in Europe they are a much smaller group and are not represented in every country. If Britain wants to retain some influence on the future of Europe, ALDE may become the major vehicle for conveying that influence.
Yes, the Congress: usually we come back feeling politically invigorated and keen, but this time was different. We met many of our old friends and, like the other Brits, played an active part in the debates and discussions, but it became increasingly clear that Britain has ceased to be very important to European politics. Other people have been planning ahead and moving on, as of course they must. Two of the key debates were about how the European Parliament seats which will soon be vacated by Britain (assuming Brexit goes ahead) could be used to develop and extend EU democracy, for example by creating a new tranche of MEPs who would be elected by the entire EU electorate: they would be European MPs rather than MEPs from particular countries. Our former Party President, Ros Scott, who is well-respected right across ALDE, was unsuccessful in defending her position in the ALDE Bureau so, for the first time since ALDE was created there is no Brit in the ALDE inner circle. It seems unlikely that this situation will change in any near future.
If indeed we do leave the EU in 2019, we will lose the British places on the two powerful bodies which advise the EU institutions on policy: the Committee of the Regions (representing regional and local government) and the European Economic and Social Committee (representing workers and employers groups and other interest groups of civil society). Having served both on the ALDE Council and on the Committee of the Regions, I feel an active sense of grief at the prospect of Britain leaving these bodies. If that happens, it will not be long before the good work Brits have done there and the expertise many of us have acquired will be forgotten.
If Brexit goes ahead, Britain will still have a voice in Europe, of course, primarily through the Council of Europe, but it will be a much smaller voice and it will be heard less often. Liberal Democrats often say that we are the most pro-European party in the UK and from what we heard at the Congress that definitely seems to be the case. Our colleagues elsewhere perceive that both Conservatives and Labour are already cutting back their engagement in European politics and that although the Greens are still active in Europe they are a much smaller group and are not represented in every country. If Britain wants to retain some influence on the future of Europe, ALDE may become the major vehicle for conveying that influence.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-25 03:53 pm (UTC)Wishing you and your partners in politics strong vigilance and good luck with whatever's next...
no subject
Date: 2018-01-18 05:17 pm (UTC)