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Press release - 17th October 2007OVER 50 BRITISH BUSINESS LEADERS CALL FOR CHANGE TO BRITAIN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE In a letter in today's Financial Times, over 50 eminent British business leaders back Global Vision's call for a new relationship between Britain and the European Union which would allow Britain to prosper fully in the 21st Century. This new relationship should be built upon free trade and mutually beneficial cooperation whilst opting out of political and economic union. This would thus allow British business to escape from high cost EU regulation and enable the UK to realise its future as a successful global trading nation - looking outwards to the new opportunities in the fast growing emerging economies. The letter - which includes Lord Young of Graffham, Sir Rocco Forte and Julian Blackwell as signatories - declares, "As business leaders we believe the time has now come when we need not only to reject the impetus to further intervention that would flow from this [Reform] Treaty, but finally face up to the need to negotiate a new relationship within Europe that better serves our national interests." Ruth Lea, Director of Global Vision, states, "Britain is a great trading nation and it is vitally important that we continue to trade with Europe for our prosperity. There is, however, absolutely no reason to believe such mutually beneficial trade would be damaged if we changed our relationship with the EU to one based on free trade and cooperation, whilst opting out of political and economic union." "Our polling tells us that such a relationship is the option of choice for the people of this country. It is increasingly clear that it is also the option of choice for Britain's business leaders." Lord Blackwell, Chairman of Global Vision, comments, "This letter marks the opening of a new chapter in the debate about Europe." "Up until now the prevailing wisdom has been that the UK's economic interests were best served by playing along with the EU project, seeking to influence its direction as a core player. That presumption is now under serious challenge. For too long the arguments have been represented as a polarised choice between going along with the full European project or pulling out and breaking all our ties. But at last the realisation is growing that there is a middle way that does not imply turning our backs on Europe and walking away. Instead we can and should negotiate a constructive new relationship where we maintain the benefits to both the UK and our European neighbours of free trade - and free movement of capital - across our large common market." |
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