Liberal Viewpoint

Europe and Freedom

Andrew Montgomerie argues that Liberals need to promote a clear freedom agenda on Europe

Our policy on Europe distinguishes us from all other British political parties, but it must not become the issue which defines us. In other words, our distinctive approach must not be misread or allowed to define us as an ‘anti-European’ or ‘Euro-sceptic’ party. Rather, our policy on Europe should clearly demonstrate that the party “in all spheres sets freedom first.”

Liberals, by definition, are internationalists. We do not give primary importance in our vision of the future to the isolated nation state. Our Party Constitution commits us to “working with other countries to build a United Europe”. Surely this makes us pro-Europe and suggests that to be regarded as anti-Europe or ‘euro-sceptic’ is a distortion of what we stand for.

Our policy can be misrepresented if we do not effectively communicate our distinctive contribution to the vitally important on-going debate about Europe. What defines Liberals’ attitudes to the EU is not the question- “should we get out or stay in?”, but that we advocate a European Union which is a vehicle for freedom and democracy.

Our stated policy on the EU says that the Party “opposes the European Union as currently constituted” but that we seek “to reform the European Union from within”. The EU at present does not fit the purpose which we desire for a united Europe. Why? Because it is undemocratic, unaccountable and therefore inefficient. So:

1. We are opposed to an EU in which the European Parliament cannot effectively hold the European Commissioners to account and does not initate all EU legislation and regulation;
2. We are opposed to an EU in which members of the Council of Ministers have the power to promote and safeguard one group’s interests at the expense of others - for example in farming and fisheries polices;
3. We are opposed to an EU which can change our Constitutional status (through the Lisbon treaty) without our consent;
4. We are opposed to the Euro currency, which is managed by unaccountable bankers and imposes socially regressive conditions on our economy.

But our opposition to these real failings of the EU does not require us to pursue a course of withdrawal at any price, as the likes of UKIP do. Politics is about working with the real world in order to change it. Our position is clear- these failings in the EU are undemocratic and unacceptable and we should oppose them vigourously and rigorously. In practice this should mean seeking out genuine Liberals within and beyond the EU and working with them to build a re-formed EU, one which fits our purposes of freedom and democracy.

Those Liberals who advocate simple withdrawal from the EU, if they are serious, should propose alternative ways to promote a united Europe of free peoples, with democratic institutions which can tackle the great problems which we face - such as nuclear-free security, tackling climate change, maintaining free movement of goods and labour, protection of our common human rights, a European lead on sustainable alternative energy, and political equality in the context of ethnic diversity. All these issues are European issues. Failure to address them will harm the weakest and the poorest most and, above all, will imperill the freedoms we seek to promote. Opponents of EU membership need to set out clearly what other realistic means they propose to use to achieve these ends. At a time of economic depression and the rising spectre of fascism and ethnic conflict, we should be very careful about which political groups we make common cause with.

Our Liberal policy is clear, distinctive and rational. It must not be misrepresented in simple Euro-sceptic terms. We need rather to develop a future agenda for freedom in Europe. That agenda should be pursued together with other Liberals across Europe if it is to seriously impact the direction of our continent.

Cllr Andrew Montgomerie is a member of the Liberal Party’s National Executive Committee

This article is written in a personal capacity and is not an official statement of Liberal Party policy.