Daniel Hannan’s argument that Britain should leave the European Union and seek to emulate Switzerland in its relations with the EU (read it here) relies on two assumptions, neither of which I think is true. The first assumption is about the EU, the second is about Britain. The EU assumption is that it would be [...]

Amid all the argument and misinformation flying round about the agreement and disagreement at the European summit, here is a summary of what was actually at stake. The member states of the eurozone wanted a new treaty to establish closer integration among them, particular regarding fiscal matters, as part of a programme to save the [...]

At the risk of being accused of jumping on the Leveson enquiry bandwagon (to which I would have to plead guilty), the European Movement has had its own skirmish with press regulation, with rather unsatisfactory results. The cause of the complaint was an article about Europol on page 1 of the Daily Express on 26 [...]

A Daily Express headline claimed last week that “EU says water is not healthy” on the front page in letters 42 mm high.  This is a perfect example of a euromyth.  Perfect, because it is not true; perfect, because it damns the European Union; and perfect, because everything we need to know to debunk it [...]

What is the state of British public opinion on Europe?  A recent survey by YouGov for Vote UK out of the EU gave us the headline that a majority of people would vote in a referendum against membership of the EU, but looking behind the headline provides a rather more interesting picture. Positive about membership? [...]

At a debate on EU membership organised by the Spectator on 20 September (read a report here), leading eurosceptic Daniel Hannan MEP compared the UK unfavourably with Switzerland.  The Swiss experience of non-membership of the EU, he said, has been more beneficial than the UK experience of membership.  We are poorer, both in economic terms [...]

The sale of 60 watt incandescent light bulbs is banned in the UK from today, as part of an EU-wide strategy.  A report on the BBC website was accompanied by a comment from a shopkeeper: “This is not a democracy, it’s becoming like a dictatorship, ordering you to do this, do that. You should have [...]

The People’s Pledge campaign claims to be in favour of a referendum on EU membership.  The European Movement does not support this campaign: while it is not necessarily against a referendum on further developments in the EU – should Britain join the euro, for example – the European Movement does not believe that a referendum [...]

The government has launched a new website where people can post petitions for signature.  If a petition gets at least 100,000 signatures, it will may be debated in the House of Commons.  The petitions website is here http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/index.html. One of the first campaigns to be launched is the so-called Restore Justice campaign, arguing for the [...]

By Petros Fassoulas Perhaps the flightless African bird does not deserve the reputation it has acquired but in terms of symbolism at least the British government’s reaction to the eurozone crisis resembles a lot the ostrich’s alleged tendency to bury its head in the ground when confronted with danger. Because there is no other way [...]

As the sun rises over central Athens those that have engulfed the Parliament building ponder their situation. They have been driven here by disappointment, desperation, even anger and the stark realisation that this is truly as bad as it gets. Their disenchantment has made them think the unthinkable and all of the sudden While their [...]

In early May 2011, borth France and Italy requested the European Commission to adapt the Schengen rules, abolishing border checks within the EU and proving crucial for the free movement principle, cornerstone of the EU’s economic and legal system. A few days later, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise the Schengen system and [...]

Certain anti-European groups have been getting agitated lately about an experiment in road-pricing that is underway.  They complain that the EU is forcing another tax on motorists, in order to pay for road-building in other parts of Europe.  The truth is rather different.   First of all, there is no compulsion on any member state [...]