| “David Cameron argues that
it is wrong for a eurosceptic party to be allied with
the federalist EPP.” BBC News, 7 December 2005 |
| "Belonging to the EPP, which
is the most federalist of the Europe groupings and really
does believe in a federal state and single currency and
all of that, makes no sense at all," Mr Cameron told
Today.
"It would make much more
sense to build a centre-right group with other like-minded
parties that are [in favour] of the sort of open, flexible
Europe we want. It is a matter of months, not years,
in which it will be done."
|
“Europe minister Graham
Brady told BBC Radio Four's World at One Mr Cameron had
no intention of isolating the MEPs.
"’What we are doing is progressing in an
orderly, sensible, rational way and we are going to
be negotiating and talking to a number of other parties
- not extreme parties - across the European Union where
we believe we have things in common with them, where
we believe we can exert some leadership,’ he said.
”But Mr Brady made clear
that the Conservative party's leaving the EPP is not
dependent on forming an alternative alliance, explaining:
‘David Cameron has made a completely firm, solid
bankable commitment that we will end the relationship
with the EPP.’"
|
“Would you leave the EPP?
“I believe it is important that we are consistent
in our statements and actions. This means that the Conservative
Party should espouse views in the European Parliament
which are consistent with the views we espouse in the
UK parliament. This, in turn, leads me to believe that
we should not be part of the EPP – a group that
holds views inconsistent with our own. I believe that
we can cooperate with our sister-parties in the European
Parliament on a wide range of issues about which we
agree, without being part of the EPP.”
Cameron Campaign website
|
“So why the upset? The EPP
will still be the biggest party even if the Tories leave.
One has to look at the EPP's federalist charter for an
answer. This is a party dedicated to increasing the power
of the EU state via further empowering the Commission
and the EU Parliament. Pulling all Europe's centre-right
parties into one grouping, just as parties of the left
join the European Socialists, creates two large Europe-wide
parties - a step towards that hallowed day when we all
vote on Europe-wide elections.
“By breaking away, the Tories are shattering
this illusion. They're also alerting other EU nations
to the possibility that their elected MEPs might belong
to a federalist group dedicated to robbing their home
parliament of power. Creating a new party - or simply
sitting it out on the sidelines - demonstrates that
not every party needs to betray its principles for the
sake of cost European unity. You could call it a public
service.”
EURSOC, 3 February 2006
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