Press Release

Global Vision launches with new poll: Three out of four want changed relationship with Europe

Global Vision, a powerful new campaign group backed by business and economists, launches today with a new poll that shows its call for a looser relationship with Europe is backed by the vast majority of voters.

Global Vision argues that in a globalising economy, Britain's future prosperity as a global trading nation needs a new form of positive engagement with Europe that

• maintains free trade and cooperation
• but allows Britain to opt out of economic and political integration and the attendant costs and regulatory burdens.

The new poll shows that the kind of relationship proposed by Global Vision has the mainstream support of 51% of the electorate, with a further 23% opting for simple withdrawal - a total of 74% supporting a change to a looser relationship. Only 23% preferred remaining a full member of the EU. 

Global Vision argues that Britain cannot depend on the EU as a whole to reform, and should therefore take the opportunity of current EU Treaty discussions to negotiate a new relationship for the UK.  It believes this could provide a blueprint that some other EU members might also choose to adopt, evolving into a new model for Europe as a looser ‘European Commonwealth'.

Global Vision is a cross-party campaign supported by an Economic Advisory Panel of respected economists (list attached) and endorsed by a growing list of Business Supporters (list attached). 

Lord Blackwell, Chairman, said ‘There is a growing realisation that the costs and regulations imposed on the UK economy are becoming a real drag on our competitiveness, and that we cannot rely on Europe to reform. Without turning our back on Europe, we need a mature, informed debate about how we grasp the nettle and change our relationship with Europe to allow Britain to prosper. Global Vision aims to give a voice to this mainstream view.'

Ruth Lea, Director, said ‘There is no doubt that political tensions exist within the EU, firstly, between those member states who want further political and economic integration and those who don't and, secondly, concerning the thorny issue of further enlargement. The current monolithic structure of the EU obstructs any lasting resolution of these tensions.

Global Vision believes that the UK should lead by example and pioneer a new, 21^st century solution to Europe's problems and negotiate a looser relationship with the EU, thus opening the door to a freer, more flexible Europe.'