EFTA or the EU?

A viable alternative to EU membership

Since its inception the Bruges Group has researched and promoted possible alternatives to EU membership and the exit strategies available to Britain. Here the Bruges Group considers replacing the UK’s membership of the EU with that of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

EFTA/EEA is a simple off-the-shelf working alternative to the EU and has immediate benefits. EFTA states offer a shining example of what Britain can achieve outside of the EU. Those sovereign states are much better-off and much more free and economically dynamic.

Replacing the UK's membership of the European Union with that of the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Area will enable regulations to be repealed, it will allow businesses to grow and will thus lower unemployment and create around 1 million new jobs. Membership of EFTA/EEA will also lower the burden placed on the taxpayer as it requires a much lower financial contribution. The UK will withdraw from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy, enabling it to take back control of its own farming and fishing grounds again. Membership of EFTA/EEA would also mean that the UK will regain full responsibility for Justice and Home Affairs.

Replacing Britain’s EU membership with that of EFTA/EEA will also mean that there would be no loss of Britain's trading relationship with other EU states. What is more, the UK would retain influence in EU decision making.

This paper demolishes the vacuous arguments put forward by the pro-EU lobby for the UK's continued membership of the European Union.

We can easily implement the EFTA/EEA alternative, we have the public looking for a better alternative to the EU, we have businesses that would like less regulations, we now need to let the British people know that there is a simple alternative to EU membership and to give the electorate a referendum so that they can determine their own future. Asking the question which would you prefer, membership of the EU or membership of EFTA/EEA?

There is an alternative!

Click here to read the full analysis

NEXT MEETING
Parliament, the EU and National Sovereignty
Britain’s democracy and sovereign independence, as well as our economic wellbeing, have been grievously wounded by the UK’s membership of the European Union. And according to many experts the Government’s EU Bill, contrary to what has been claimed for it, at best does little to address this and may actually weaken Parliamentary Sovereignty. To explore this the Bruges Group has instituted this meeting to discuss the important issues of Parliament, the EU and National Sovereignty. The speakers will be Bill Cash MP, Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, and Peter Oborne, columnist for The Daily Telegraph and author of The Rise of Political Lying and The Triumph of the Political Class.

Thursday, 24th March 2011
6.45pm for 7pm

ADMISSION: £10 payable on the door or in advance
Including wine, orange juice, mineral water and nibbles

To purchase your ticket visit:
www.brugesgroup.com/meetings
Or call Robert Oulds on 020 7287 4414, or reply to this e-mail

WITH THE SPEAKERS

Peter Oborne
Peter Oborne is a British journalist and political commentator. He is the author of The Rise of Political Lying and The Triumph of the Political Class. He is particularly known for acerbic commentary on the hypocrisy and apparent mendacity of contemporary politicians; especially the misuse of MP's allowances.

Peter regularly appears in the media and presented a Channel 4 programme called Why Politicians Can’t Tell The Truth, examining how the major political parties in the UK allegedly pursue an agenda designed to appeal only to a narrow band of floating voters.

He is also a Daily Telegraph columnist. Peter Oborne, a long standing Eurosceptic, wrote the foreword to the Bruges Group publication; Professor A.J.P. Taylor on Europe.


Bill Cash MP
Bill Cash is the Member for Stone and was Shadow Attorney General from 2001 to 2003. He is the Chairman of the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee. He was also Chairman of the Conservative Backbench Committee of European Affairs 1988-91. In advance of what became the Maastricht Intergovernmental Conference Bill declined a Government position in 1991, choosing instead to orchestrate opposition to the Maastricht Treaty and founding the Maastricht Referendum Campaign. Bill was voted Parliamentary Campaigner of the Year 1991 by an independent panel of journalists.

Bill Cash is the Chairman of the European Foundation and was also Chairman of the Parliamentary Friends of the Bruges Group in the House of Commons. His publications include; Associated, Not Absorbed – The Associated European Area, Are we really Winning on Europe?, Against a Federal Europe: The Battle for Britain and British and German National Interests.

LOCATION:
Princess Alexandra Hall, Royal Over-Seas League, Over-Seas House
6 Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR

AGENDA:
Lectures: 7pm – 8pm
Discussion: 8pm – 8.30pm
Wine and refreshments: 8.30pm – 10pm

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Honorary President: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG, OM, FRS
Vice-President: The Rt Hon. the Lord Lamont of Lerwick, Chairman: Barry Legg
Director: Robert Oulds MA, Head of Research: Dr Helen Szamuely
Washington D.C. Representative: John O'Sullivan, CBE
Founder Chairman: Lord Harris of High Cross, Former Chairmen: Dr Brian Hindley, Dr Martin Holmes & Professor Kenneth Minogue

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For further information contact:

Robert Oulds
Director
The Bruges Group
227 Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London W1B 5TB
UK

Tel: +44(0) 20 7287 4414
Mobile: 07740 029787
E-mail: info@brugesgroup.com

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