European Movement Sussex branch Annual General Meeting Wednesday 7 December 2005 at 7 pm for 7.30 pm at the Steyning Centre, Fletcher’s Croft, Steyning (adjacent to the car park opposite the church)
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European Movement Sussex branch Chairman’s Report for 2005The year had been a volatile one with the May General Election in which the issue of the UK’s role in the EU had barely figured in spite of the then assumed imminent referendum campaign; the rejection by the French and Dutch of the Constitutional Treaty and the controversies still ongoing consequent on the UK’s six month Presidency of the Council. The Chairman welcomed the agreement to start accession talks with Turkey; he regretted the continued hostility to European solidarity of the mainstream printed media, but commended a slew of recent BBC programmes which had succeeded in presenting issues more even-handedly than elsewhere. Nonetheless the public’s quest for adequate and objective information still remained largely unsatisfied. The Branch Committee had met eight times. Events and activities organised included: The Chairman commented on the particularly heavy workload entailed in the year’s two highlights. As a consequence Oliver Hayward wished next year to stand down as Brinsbury lead, and Grace Blaker to withdraw from the Committee. The Chairman drew attention to the reaction of Catherine Bearder from Britain in Europe who, in concluding an audit of the Branch’s work in June, bad remarked on the lively and varied programme. In 2007 the Branch intended to continue with its tried and tested formulas – two Presidency lunches (Austria and Finland), study afternoons, information stalls, a new edition of the Brinsbury seminar – perhaps recast after consultation with members; and in addition complete the Steyning U3A presentations; work up a contribution to the work of the West Sussex Schools Council; and give further thinking to the Branch’s proposed Frangois Duchêne award. The new national EM website has just been launched which will make communications within and between Branches more effective – the Committee will pass on guidance to members early in the new year. One final issue for the whole Branch – more members than the current 75 are needed, and particularly younger ones!
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European Movement Sussex branch Minutes of Annual General Meeting 7 December 2005
A social with food and mulled wine concluded the evening. ih |