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----- Original Message -----
From: "e-News" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 3:42 PM
Subject: e-News from Britain in Europe and the European Movement
CONTENTS
1. Jack Straw issues rallying call to pro-Europeans
Time for supporters of the EU to fight back
2. More euromyths on defence
Debate on defence does not mean the end of Nato or a European army
3. Euro shorts
Extracts from this week's news
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1. Jack Straw issues rallying call to pro-Europeans
Time for supporters of the EU to fight back
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, this week urged pro-Europeans to respond
to the increasingly shrill anti-European assault against British membership
of the EU.
In a speech in Chester he called on, "those who believe in the EU - in
politics, in business, in the media, indeed in all walks of life" to work
harder to make the pro-European case.
Going on to criticise anti-European scaremongering on the EU constitutional
treaty he said, "the rejectionists would rather pretend there is a threat to
the Queen's status than admit that the draft constitutional treaty actually
says there is no threat to national identity." On defence, "they would
rather invent a European army than explain why the world will be less
dangerous if European nations work together on military tasks which NATO
does not take on."
Read Jack Straw's speech
<http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&
c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1065717954126> here
Mr Straw also praised Ken Clarke's pamphlet on the EU constitutional treaty
featured in e-news earlier this month. The pamphlet is now available online
<http://www.toryeuropenetwork.org.uk/downloads/Ken%20Clarke%20Ten%20Essay.pd
f> here
While admitting that it was tempting to laugh off some of these fantastical
stories, Mr Straw pointed out that their cumulative effect had been to
undermine support for the EU.
Earlier in the week, during a statement on developments at last weekend's
European Council, Mr Straw had argued that, "the European constitutional
treaty has to be based on independent sovereign nation states co-operating,
not on some federal superstate - and so it will be."
Read the House of Commons statement
<http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/cm031020/debtext
/31020-05.htm> here
2. More euromyths on defence
Debate on defence does not mean the end of Nato or a European army
Defence has been the main issue on the European agenda this week. The
Brussels summit was dominated by reported splits on European defence.
Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph today reports on a leaked internal memo
written by senior German army officials which allegedly calls for a fully
integrated European army and nuclear deterrent.
Whether or not such a plan has been suggested there is not the remotest
possibility of it ever being agreed to by this, or any other, British
government. Nothing in the proposed constitutional treaty will make the
slightest bit of difference to our ability to veto any such plan. To suggest
otherwise is to indulge in the most appalling scare tactics. Anti-German
hysteria belongs to the last century.
The reality of the situation is that there is a genuine debate currently
being had on European defence. There is agreement that EU countries need to
contribute more to their own defence and that it makes sense for them to be
able to act together where Nato does not want to be involved. The main
debate this week has been concerned with whether the EU should develop a
planning capacity separate from Nato.
In the last week the US Ambassador to Nato, Nicholas Burns, had expressed
concerns about a Belgian plan, supported by France, Germany and Luxembourg,
to build an EU operational headquarters in the suburbs of Brussels. In the
eyes of the US this would mean that the EU would be duplicating, and
therefore undermining, Nato's own HQ.
At a Nato meeting this week the US received a reassurance that the Atlantic
alliance will remain the cornerstone of Europe's collective defence and
that it will be fully consulted on developments in EU defence. The plan for
a separate EU planning facility remains on the table but Britain, without
who's support and participation any European defence initiative is likely to
fail, is opposed to the idea.
There is no serious suggestion however that there should be a fully
integrated EU army or nuclear deterrent. For Britain, certainly, and in all
likelihood for France, neither scheme is viable either strategically or
politically.
3. Euro shorts
Bits and pieces from this week's news
The Daily Mirror this week reported that the euro has received the backing
of England captain, David Beckham. The Real Madrid star is reported to have
said Britons should not fear signing up to the single currency adding, "I've
had to get used to a few different things in Spain and the euro is one of
them. Of course, I'm used to it now. It's really easy and it's not a
problem."
Further celebrity endorsement for the single currency was received from the
more bizarre quarters of American rap-star 50 Cent. (Although his reasoning
- that Britain should join so we would be able to use a coin named after him
- is unlikely to be a major vote winner in a euro referendum). But at least
if we join the euro we won't have to die trying to get rich - as the
Treasury estimates it will boost our incomes by £1700 per person.
Meanwhile almost 90% of Romanians this week voted in a referendum to adopt a
new constitution to bring the country's laws in line with EU legislation -
clearing the way for the country's expected accession in 2007.
And finally the EU Council of Ministers has this week approved plans for a
new EU-wide health insurance card. The health card will be readable by
computers and will replace existing paper forms such as the E111. It will
be widely available from 1 June 2004.
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