New year message
January 2008
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European Movement is beginning 2008 in better shape than we have been for many years. This is very good news because we are faced with arguably the biggest challenge we have faced since the referendum campaign a generation ago - to convince our fellow citizens that Europe is not merely economically important for our economic prosperity but, even more crucially, central to our security in the coming decades. As the world staggers from one crisis to another, the peaceful evolution of 27 countries into a strong and powerful Union prepared and able to work together, with increasing democratic accountability, on such key issues as trade, the environmental protection, including climate change, justice and home affairs, is little short of miraculous and offers hope to other areas of the world presently engaged in seemingly endless conflict. I believe that our enemy is not just committed Europhobia, but also a widespread ignorance encouraged by a media, increasingly obsessed by trivia. Personally, I am far more irritated by mindless asides and ill thought out ‘jokes’ that reveal a hopeless misunderstanding of Europe’s purpose and functions than I am by principled opposition that can at least be challenged with facts and argument. continued in right column |
continued One of the many reasons we are extremely fortunate in having Charles Kennedy as our new President is that he not only makes the case for Europe in the corridors of Westminster and Whitehall but that he also takes it out to people throughout the country with great wit and good humour. Already, we are experiencing a far higher level of coverage in the media and we shall ensure that this expands greatly during the coming year. I hope that, in 12 months time, a strong and united European Movement will be playing a major part in the debate on Britain’s future and that we shall begin to see a real change in the British people’s perception of the European Union. I hope also that you can work with us to make this happen. Meanwhile, I wish you a very happy and peaceful new year. Peter Luff Chairman |
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