On 15 June 2015, the day after the Scottish referendum and the general elections in the United Kingdom, the Foundation organised a contradictory debate on the University of Lausanne campus on the place of the United Kingdom in Europe, particularly in view of the last referendum on whether or not to keep it in the European Union (EU).
On the same day, Pat Cox, President of the Foundation, gave an interview on the subject for Radio Suisse romande broadcast in the evening on the programme Forum. He also discussed the Greek question and migration issues.
Around President Pat Cox, who moderated the debates, the following British personalities took the floor: Martin Howe, Lord Hannay of Chiswick, Martin Bailey and John Peet.
Sir William Cash, a member of the House of Commons, who was on the Foundation’s 12th Dialogue programme, was forced to withdraw. Earlier this week, parliamentary committees were scheduled to discuss the Scottish question and the planned referendum on the EU. Given the small majority of the Conservative party to which he belongs in the House of Commons, his presence was required in Westminster.
Martin Howe was warmly thanked for agreeing to replace Sir William Cash at the last minute, which made it possible to give the debate its full contradictory character.
Martin Howe is a Queen’s Counsel, specialising in European law, practising before both the British courts and the European Court of Justice. Close to the Conservative Party, he is sensitive to the preservation of British sovereignty and critical of the EU, but also of the European Convention on Human Rights. He called for a renegotiation of relations between the United Kingdom and the EU, or even a withdrawal from the EU.
The other three speakers, on the other hand, expressed their support for keeping the United Kingdom in the EU.
Lord Hannay of Chiswick is a member of the British House of Lords and former Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union (1985-1990) and Ambassador to the United Nations (1990-1995). He was involved in the negotiations on behalf of the British Government that led to the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities in 1973.
Martin Bailey is President of the Brussels-based Pro Europa association, which advocates keeping the United Kingdom in the European Union. It was in this capacity that he expressed himself. He is also an official at the European Commission.
John Peet is a journalist for the prestigious weekly The Economist, editor-in-chief for European affairs.
Opening of the Dialogue by Pat Cox, President of the Foundation, former President of the European Parliament
Speech by Martin Howe, a lawyer specialising in European law (Queen’s Counsel)
In his intervention, Martin Howe said that he represented the same “Eurosceptic” point of view as Sir William Cash. He believes that the political price of EU membership has become too high in terms of loss of sovereignty for the United Kingdom. It will be expressed in the referendum for the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, but this does not prevent trade relations from being fully maintained in a form to be defined.
Statement by Lord Hannay of Chiswick, Member of the British House of Lords and former Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union
Lord Hannay of Chiswick believes, on the contrary, that leaving the United Kingdom would not be in his or the EU’s interest.
It highlights the difficulty for the United Kingdom to seek to reform the EU or negotiate new special statutes to its advantage, and if necessary to revise the European treaties, while preparing a national law on the organisation of the referendum on whether or not to keep the United Kingdom in the EU, and then a referendum campaign. No less complex would be, if necessary, to negotiate the modalities for exit from the EU and the establishment of a new framework to regulate future relations between the United Kingdom and the EU. It regrets that supporters of EU exit do not make any alternative proposals to this effect.
Speech by Martin Bailey, President of the Pro Europa Association
In his speech, Martin Bailey said that it is at the heart of the EU that the United Kingdom is best placed to reform it and defend its own interests. For example, could the United Kingdom, and in particular the City of London, afford not to be able to benefit from the internal market in financial services? Could he consider having to apply part of European law without no longer having the right to vote for its adoption or development?
Speech by John Peet, Editor-in-Chief for European Affairs, The Economist
By way of introduction, John Peet recalled that the very conservative Margaret Thatcher was very reluctant to hold a referendum in the United Kingdom. He returned to the 1975 referendum on whether or not to retain the United Kingdom in the European Communities to which he had just acceded. He pointed out that political, and not only economic, objectives were already well established at that time, and in particular that the expression “ever closer union” was already included in the founding treaties. In his view, the United Kingdom’s position in the EU has improved over time and is much more beneficial to the United Kingdom today than it was then. It has been able to influence many developments, starting with the enlargement of the EU, but also in a more liberal sense in the economic fields. John Peet believes that the joint exercise of national sovereignty can also be an added value for the United Kingdom. He is also concerned about the future of relations with the EU if the United Kingdom were to emerge from them.
Discussion among participants
Debate with the public
Pat Cox opened the debate with the audience by first giving the floor to Mr. Cenni Najy, a doctoral student at the University of Geneva, who is conducting a study on the theme of Dialogue for the think tank foraus. He warned those who would like to use the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU as a model for establishing a new relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU in the event of an exit.
Conclusions of Pat Cox
