What could actually lie beneath David Cameron’s ‘renegotiation’ with the European Union?
To attempt to shine a light into what might be bargained away, today six EU experts spell out what might be negotiated on, what this means in terms of the nuts and bolts of change, what it means for the United Kingdom and the EU – and, crucially, how Labour might prepare to respond on each individual issue.
Richard Corbett MEP, deputy leader of the European parliamentary Labour party, examines how freedom of movement became a key issue;
Catherine Stihler MEP, vice-chair of the European parliament committee on internal market and consumer protection, looks at the issue of securing ‘safeguards’ for the United Kingdom in a single market dominated by eurozone member states;
Owen Tudor, head of European Union and international relations at the Trades Union Congress, spells out the ways in which David Cameron could seek to undermine provisions of the social chapter;
Will Tanner of Business for New Europe inspects the substance behind the prime minister’s expressed desire to cut away ‘red tape’;
Rachel Franklin of Labour Movement for Europe takes on the contentious issue of in-work and out-of-work benefits and suggests how Labour itself can respond;
finally, Labour Movement for Europe’s Kevin Peel considers the symbolically important goal of ‘ever-closer union’.
This referendum is one which the prime minister was pushed into by his own backbenchers; the lack of clarity of purpose behind Cameron’s negotiations derive from these messy origins. What are you trying to achieve when those agitating for the poll will accept nothing less than Brexit? Moreover, the referendum will ultimately be determined by a sense of how the country sees itself rather than the individual aspects of intricate EU processes, most of which are unfamiliar to even hardened politicos. But understanding some of the details of what is at stake will be vital. As Labour people preparing to take the arguments to the country, we will be stronger for mastering the foundations of what is going on, and readier to fight for a British future firmly at Europe’s heart.
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Adam Harrison is deputy editor of Progress. He tweets @adamdkharrison
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