Ankara International Youth Forum: 22 February 2014 EU Before I talk about our vision for the future of the EU, I think it’s worth spending a couple of minutes considering what the European Union has achieved in the past. It was born from a commitment to sustained peace and friendship and a determination to banish war and tyranny from our continent. It’s not exaggerating to say it’s the most successful peace project history has known. In the 21st century, the EU’s continuing mission has to been to maintain the peace established between its member states, to bring European countries together in practical cooperation, to preserve European identity and to promote the values that Europeans share. It’s been a means to achieve prosperity, stability, freedom and democracy both within and beyond Europe. The EU has already seen a major wave of enlargement in the 21st century. The countries of Central and Eastern European countries, which had for decades endured the restrictions of life behind the “iron curtain”, were once again free to choose their own destiny. Many decided that their future lay within the family of democratic European nations. So the EU has been an engine for promulgating the values of European civilisation. In order to join, candidates have to show that they have met EU standards, not only in terms of economic indicators but also in terms of establishing a framework for respect for fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law. This makes it a highly effective lever for reform. Human rights and the rule of law are universal principles upon which our societies are built. All citizens should be able to benefit from and enjoy these freedoms. We want to see these freedoms enjoyed in an ever-expanding area. UK-EU relations The UK remains committed to the European ideal. We have a positive vision for the future of the EU and want to play an active part in the EU. We want the EU to be a success - but we do think some changes are needed if the EU is to continue be a success. Our Prime Minister has set a clear vision for the reformed European Union which we will work with our partners to achieve: one that is open, flexible, competitive and more democratically accountable. This will be for the benefit of the whole of Europe, not just the UK. Competitive: What do we mean by “competitive”? People across Europe look to the EU to help deliver not just peace, but also prosperity. The single market is at the core of the EU and it’s been a huge success. We need to build on this success. European countries must continue pulling together if they are to ensure economic growth and be able to compete on the world stage with other major – and growing – economies. So the UK’s driving mission is to see the single market completed. We want to see obstacles to trade removed and businesses freed from unnecessary “red tape”. We also want to see new trade relationships built. Flexible: The UK doesn’t think that “one size fits all”. The UK wants to help build a European Union that respects the diversity of its Member States. Member States may have different national approaches to the European Union; we support an EU that acknowledges this and allows different configurations of member states to cooperate in different policy areas. It’s a relatively new debate but it’s one that we need to have.
The UK also wants to see a leaner and less bureaucratic Union. “More Brussels” is not the answer to Europe’s problems. To quote the Dutch Subsidiarity Review, Europe’s approach should be “Europe where necessary, national where possible”. There is growing agreement on this. Commission President Barroso recently said that “Europe must focus on where it can add most value”. Democratically accountable: We want to see a stronger role for national parliaments and national governments in EU decision-making. Citizens feel themselves represented in national parliaments and hold national governments accountable for decisions. National parliaments and governments embody the democratic spirit of a nation. I’d like to touch on two recent developments in the UK that might be of interest to you. Firstly, our “Balance of Competences Review”. This is a serious and extensive analysis of what the EU means for the UK. We hope that it will form the basis for the debate we will have as a country on our membership of the EU. That leads me on to the next point. You may have heard of proposals to hold a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. The Government has no plans to hold a referendum in this Parliament but the Conservative Partly has made it clear that it favours a referendum in future. Whatever the eventual outcome of that debate, the Government could not be clearer that membership of the EU is in Britain’s interests. EU-Turkey relations Finally, where does Turkey fit into all of this? Turkey represents a sizeable and growing market for EU goods and services. It’s a dynamic country with enormous economic potential and a vibrant, young population fuelling growth. Turkey is an important player in an increasingly unstable region and already cooperates with the EU on a range of cross border issues. So the UK supports Turkey’s EU membership bid. Thank you.