MP to play central role in EU renegotiation process

7:10am Monday 28th January 2013 in News

MP to play central role in EU renegotiation process MP to play central role in EU renegotiation process

A BUCKS MP is set to play a central role in the quest to renegotiate Britain's position with the European Union.

David Lidington will be part of a three man Coalition panel which will analyse a series of reports by departments across Whitehall looking at how the UK benefits or suffers from its role in the EU.

The Tory MP, whose Aylesbury constituency includes Stokenchurch and Radnage, will be heavily involved in the process in his role as Europe Minister.

He, a fellow Conservative and one Liberal Democrat, will form a group which will mull over the findings of civil servants.

It follows David Cameron's announcement that there will be a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU if the Conservatives win the next general election.

A process is now underway at Westminster to assess the detail in each departmental area, looking at what powers would be beneficial to be pulled back in any negotiation with Brussels.

It is called the review of the balance of competences.

Mr Lidington described it as a “an impartial evidence collecting exercise”.

He told the BFP: “There's a lot happening at Government level. The party side is early days and now the Prime Minister has made his announcement one of the things we've agreed as a coalition is to audit policy areas.

“There will be a series of reports to summarise evidence, the good side and the bad side of EU membership.

“With my party hat on I will be looking to see which are the changes we want to include in the 2015 manifesto.”

He said different parties will able to use the findings of the final report to make their own assessments.

Mr Lidington explained that negotiation in Europe is nothing new.

He said: “EU business is a constant process of renegotiation and that’s something I'm already involved in, with a list of British properties going into different meetings.

“I might go into one meeting where I have a list that George Osborne or Vince Cable want highlighted on a business front, for example.”

Various organisations, think tanks and interest groups will be consulted along the way, he said, with business leaders a key participant.

He said: “Obviously as a Conservative I will want to look very closely at what business says about the detail of European policy, what is important to protect and what they think should be changed - either to a directive or a treaty - and what language that should take.”

The MP agrees with Mr Cameron that Britain should not leave the EU – but make changes to the current deal.

“My view is I want us to be a fully committed member of a reformed EU having got a decisive public consent from a referendum.

“I'm confident we can get a settlement which is fair and makes the EU much more competitive to deal with the global challenges here today.”

Comments (9)

9:27am Mon 28 Jan 13

Darren Hayday says...

David's a good man - I hope that he does well!
David's a good man - I hope that he does well! Darren Hayday

9:40am Mon 28 Jan 13

Kania 2000 says...

I have writen to my MP David Liddington several times on a significant local issue over the last 2 years but unfortunatly I'm still waiting for a reply! Can't say I have much faith in anything he my be responsible for.
I have writen to my MP David Liddington several times on a significant local issue over the last 2 years but unfortunatly I'm still waiting for a reply! Can't say I have much faith in anything he my be responsible for. Kania 2000

9:57am Mon 28 Jan 13

miccles says...

Heaven help us.
Heaven help us. miccles

12:23pm Mon 28 Jan 13

gpn01 says...

If EU membership is redefined such that it becomes what it should have been ... a European Free Trade Agreement, then that's a good thing. Problem is it became a vessel for political power on a Multi-National level....with increasing legislation coming through as "EU Law". Then there was the forced fiscal fiasco called "The Euro" which saw completely mismatched National economies brought into line with a single currency and associated financial constraints - thereby handcuffing participants to each other. Then there's EU subsidies and cross-border rights of internal migration (facilititating economic migration on a scale completely underestimated by the UK Government).

Let's have a European FTA to promote free trade across Europe and then get on with trading with the Rest of The World too!
If EU membership is redefined such that it becomes what it should have been ... a European Free Trade Agreement, then that's a good thing. Problem is it became a vessel for political power on a Multi-National level....with increasing legislation coming through as "EU Law". Then there was the forced fiscal fiasco called "The Euro" which saw completely mismatched National economies brought into line with a single currency and associated financial constraints - thereby handcuffing participants to each other. Then there's EU subsidies and cross-border rights of internal migration (facilititating economic migration on a scale completely underestimated by the UK Government). Let's have a European FTA to promote free trade across Europe and then get on with trading with the Rest of The World too! gpn01

12:42pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Malc London says...

Totally agree with gpn01.

I'd go further and say the current EU membership is illegal as the voters had no say in the change of constitution. I still have all the literature and promises from the referendum and it clearly states it is a trading relationship.

We cannot afford to remain in the EU in it's current format.
Totally agree with gpn01. I'd go further and say the current EU membership is illegal as the voters had no say in the change of constitution. I still have all the literature and promises from the referendum and it clearly states it is a trading relationship. We cannot afford to remain in the EU in it's current format. Malc London

5:20pm Mon 28 Jan 13

carpediem says...

Maybe if the press stopped peddling blatant misinformation about the EU we'd have more of a chance of having some kind of sensible discussion about renegotiation or an in/out vote. As it is, half the populace think believe nonsense like the EU banning curved bananas, stopping eggs being sold by the dozen, forcing buildings to fly EU flags, etc. If we pull out then we'll still have to abide by the vast majority of EU regulations (as Norway and Switzerland do) because it is a major trading partner - we just won't get the benefit of having any kind of say in it. Plus I'm sure it'll be loads of fun filling out visa applications for every member of the family each time you want to go to Tenerife of Corfu.
Maybe if the press stopped peddling blatant misinformation about the EU we'd have more of a chance of having some kind of sensible discussion about renegotiation or an in/out vote. As it is, half the populace think believe nonsense like the EU banning curved bananas, stopping eggs being sold by the dozen, forcing buildings to fly EU flags, etc. If we pull out then we'll still have to abide by the vast majority of EU regulations (as Norway and Switzerland do) because it is a major trading partner - we just won't get the benefit of having any kind of say in it. Plus I'm sure it'll be loads of fun filling out visa applications for every member of the family each time you want to go to Tenerife of Corfu. carpediem

10:43pm Mon 28 Jan 13

philbo says...

carpediem wrote:
Maybe if the press stopped peddling blatant misinformation about the EU we'd have more of a chance of having some kind of sensible discussion about renegotiation or an in/out vote. As it is, half the populace think believe nonsense like the EU banning curved bananas, stopping eggs being sold by the dozen, forcing buildings to fly EU flags, etc. If we pull out then we'll still have to abide by the vast majority of EU regulations (as Norway and Switzerland do) because it is a major trading partner - we just won't get the benefit of having any kind of say in it. Plus I'm sure it'll be loads of fun filling out visa applications for every member of the family each time you want to go to Tenerife of Corfu.
We need a "like" button. Well said.

The thought of a Euro in/out referendum worries me, especially after torrent of misinformation and just plain lies we had in the run-up to the AV referendum (and afterwards.. if I hear one more MP or peer say the British public have rejected PR, I'll go postal). We have been fed a steady diet of anti-EU propaganda for so many years, it's barely surprising that the poll above is showing at nearly 2/3 wanting out.
[quote][p][bold]carpediem[/bold] wrote: Maybe if the press stopped peddling blatant misinformation about the EU we'd have more of a chance of having some kind of sensible discussion about renegotiation or an in/out vote. As it is, half the populace think believe nonsense like the EU banning curved bananas, stopping eggs being sold by the dozen, forcing buildings to fly EU flags, etc. If we pull out then we'll still have to abide by the vast majority of EU regulations (as Norway and Switzerland do) because it is a major trading partner - we just won't get the benefit of having any kind of say in it. Plus I'm sure it'll be loads of fun filling out visa applications for every member of the family each time you want to go to Tenerife of Corfu.[/p][/quote]We need a "like" button. Well said. The thought of a Euro in/out referendum worries me, especially after torrent of misinformation and just plain lies we had in the run-up to the AV referendum (and afterwards.. if I hear one more MP or peer say the British public have rejected PR, I'll go postal). We have been fed a steady diet of anti-EU propaganda for so many years, it's barely surprising that the poll above is showing at nearly 2/3 wanting out. philbo

10:48pm Mon 28 Jan 13

gpn01 says...

carpediem wrote:
Maybe if the press stopped peddling blatant misinformation about the EU we'd have more of a chance of having some kind of sensible discussion about renegotiation or an in/out vote. As it is, half the populace think believe nonsense like the EU banning curved bananas, stopping eggs being sold by the dozen, forcing buildings to fly EU flags, etc. If we pull out then we'll still have to abide by the vast majority of EU regulations (as Norway and Switzerland do) because it is a major trading partner - we just won't get the benefit of having any kind of say in it. Plus I'm sure it'll be loads of fun filling out visa applications for every member of the family each time you want to go to Tenerife of Corfu.
Agree that it's important to remove the misinformation about what being "in" or to "out" would comprise - which would also help to prevent the other side of the fence trying to spread malicious rumours - rather like your suggestion that you'd need a visa to visit tourist destinations.
[quote][p][bold]carpediem[/bold] wrote: Maybe if the press stopped peddling blatant misinformation about the EU we'd have more of a chance of having some kind of sensible discussion about renegotiation or an in/out vote. As it is, half the populace think believe nonsense like the EU banning curved bananas, stopping eggs being sold by the dozen, forcing buildings to fly EU flags, etc. If we pull out then we'll still have to abide by the vast majority of EU regulations (as Norway and Switzerland do) because it is a major trading partner - we just won't get the benefit of having any kind of say in it. Plus I'm sure it'll be loads of fun filling out visa applications for every member of the family each time you want to go to Tenerife of Corfu.[/p][/quote]Agree that it's important to remove the misinformation about what being "in" or to "out" would comprise - which would also help to prevent the other side of the fence trying to spread malicious rumours - rather like your suggestion that you'd need a visa to visit tourist destinations. gpn01

7:28pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Aquator says...

It really is stunning how these sham occurences attempt to give the appearance of choice. I would ask each of you to answer two very serious issues in relation to this (in my view) dangerous suggestion.
The individuals sitting at the top of the EU all seem to have similar ancestral and recent links in with communism and as such represent a serious threat to the lives and wellbeing of the people of this nation as others.

WHy ask business and so called think tanks and stake holder groups. The EU has not been able to provide audited accounts for more than 17 years, we are being forced through coercion to pay for what appears to be a culture of corruption that appears to be directly responsible for the plight of Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland amd all these places were subjected to that insidious free (for all) trade agreements whereby foreign corporations can avoid taxes and be allowed to perloin our own public assets and resources.

Given that according to the Lisbon Treaty, MEPs and all those connected with the European Stabilisation Mechanism cannot be held accountable under law for any of their actions!
It really is stunning how these sham occurences attempt to give the appearance of choice. I would ask each of you to answer two very serious issues in relation to this (in my view) dangerous suggestion. The individuals sitting at the top of the EU all seem to have similar ancestral and recent links in with communism and as such represent a serious threat to the lives and wellbeing of the people of this nation as others. WHy ask business and so called think tanks and stake holder groups. The EU has not been able to provide audited accounts for more than 17 years, we are being forced through coercion to pay for what appears to be a culture of corruption that appears to be directly responsible for the plight of Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland amd all these places were subjected to that insidious free (for all) trade agreements whereby foreign corporations can avoid taxes and be allowed to perloin our own public assets and resources. Given that according to the Lisbon Treaty, MEPs and all those connected with the European Stabilisation Mechanism cannot be held accountable under law for any of their actions! Aquator

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