The European Union is now dying before our eyes: long live Europe.

The European Union is now dying before our eyes: long live Europe.

01 Mar 2006

The panel debate the motion: the European Union is now dying before our eyes: long live Europe. Chaired by John Kampfner.

Arguing for the motion are Larry Siedentop, Tom Kremer and Anatole Kaletsky.

Larry Siedentop says that France's idea of Europe is now expiring, and that a change of direction is badly needed. The EU is dying because of its own enlargement, but there is also accumulating evidence that the project has lost touch with public opinion.

Tom Kremer points out that 89% of all laws in Germany since 1988 originated in Europe as evidence of the standardisation that the EU entails. He suggests that the various projects of the EU are not working: the single market is a day-dream and corruption still continues. He believes that integrating, enlarging and maintaining independence is a patent impossibility.

For Anatole Kaletsky, it's not the peaceful and communal idea of the EU that is dying, but the future as outlined by the proposed constitution. He questions whether a continent-sized political union is really desirable, and proposes instead a Europe with a single market, but comprised of individual nations.

Arguing against the motion are Robert Cooper, Valery Giscard d'Estaing and Kenneth Clarke.

Robert Cooper begins by noting the warring history of European nation-states and suggests that, while this is now behind us, we need the framework of law and institutions that the EU provides because peace is not the natural condition of mankind.

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing says this is not a vote on, but a perception of, Europe, and suggests that the French 'non' vote was more a response to their own government than to Europe. He believes it is important to give future generations the influence and importance necessary to influence the world.

Kenneth Clarke states that it is essential for Britain to be involved with international institutions such as the EU and United Nations, despite their imperfections. He ends with the observation that the enlargement of the EU has been one of the most spectacular political successes to occur during his lifetime.

First Vote: 283 For, 151 Against, 320 Don't Know

Final Vote: 371 For, 300 Against, Don't Know 94

The motion is passed by 71 votes

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