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 address and
question time with Professor Bernd Lucke, founder and leader of the
Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland) political party
which opposes the euro
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 An address and
question time with Terry Smith, the Chief Executive
Officer of the City of London firms, Tullett Prebon and Fundsmith,
the economist Professor Tim Congdon CBE, and Roger Bootle, the
Managing Director of Capital Economics
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Saying
No to the Single Market
Ruth Lea
Barry Legg
Dr Andrew Lilico
Ian Milne
Professor David Myddelton
Professor Jean-Jacques Rosa
 The political
establishment now mainly defends our membership of the European
Union on the grounds that to leave the Single Market would be a disaster for
us
economically. EU membership is not a prerequisite for access to the Single
Market. Switzerland
and Norway which are outside of the EU, export more in relation to their GDPs
and
per capita than the UK does. Furthermore, both China and the USA each export
more to the EU than the UK does and without having their economies burdened by
costly EU regulation
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 On the
20th anniversary of the creation of the EU’s Single Market the Bruges Group
exposes how membership of the customs union is hurting our economy and
preventing Britain from competing on the world stage. We slay the
myth of EU Single Market membership
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 This Bruges Group paper by
Bob Lyddon, who is an independent management consultant specializing in
European banking, exposes the fact that the UK has a Maximum Possible Loss of
€149.2 billion on current capital and commitments to the institutions involved
in the financing of the EU and the euro
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 The Hon. Jacob
Rees-Mogg MP, member of the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee and
the economist, author and broadcaster, Ruth Lea spoke to the Bruges Group
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 This paper examines the
claim that the single market has helped investment, and specifically the
foreign direct investment (FDI) into the UK, which has in recent years
contributed somewhere between a fifth and a half of the total gross UK capital
formation. Membership of the EU’s single market is commonly assumed to have
been a key factor in encouraging foreign investors to choose to invest in the
UK
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 The euro is at
the heart of the economic crisis within the European Union. The Bruges Group
hosted an international conference to advocate the dismantling of the Single
Currency, prevent the impending disaster of Fiscal Union and halt
taxpayers' money being used to bailout the euro
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This weekend, at an international conference in Westminster organised by
The Bruges Group, speakers from across Europe will be making the case that the
Euro is at the heart of the economic crisis within the European Union. It will
be argued that to dismantle the Single Currency now in an orderly fashion, as
opposed to repeatedly raising money to lend to Eurozone countries who are
struggling to service their debts, like Greece, Italy or Spain, will
ultimately prove to be both safer and less costly for the world economy
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 The historian
and broadcaster, Dr David Starkey, spoke at the Bruges Group's fringe
meeting at the Conservative Party Conference. Also addressing this event was
Mr Timo Soini the leader of the anti-EU bailout The Finns Party
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The Government, via the IMF, is using British money to bail out the
problems caused by the euro. However, 32 Conservative MPs voted against this
misuse of funds. The £9.3 billion can be better used at home; instead
the Government is borrowing this money and paying interest on it to offset the
failure of the euro
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 This Bruges Group
meeting had important, influential and informative speakers that are prominent
in Britain’s Labour movement.
The respected economist and former economic advisor to Prime Minister Tony
Blair, Derek Scott, spoke at this event. Derek is the author of Off Whitehall
a book on the economics of EMU and the politics of Europe. Speaking alongside
him was Kelvin Hopkins MP a Labour Member of Parliament and member of the
European Scrutiny Committee
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 The Euro has
effectively become a German currency empire which is draining the resources of
the Eurozone’s smaller economies. The harm that German policy is causing is so
severe that the Mediterranean-Rim countries are caught in a debt trap where
their economies are suffering, they are incurring debt and must then impose
austerity measures which further weaken their economies. Yet their economies
will not grow so long as the Euro helps German manufacturers dominate the
Eurozone
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 The
EC Customs Union dates to 1957. The Single European Act came into
effect in 1992 and superimposed on the Customs Union a costly,
tightly-regulated, supposedly harmonised internal market: the Single Market.
The outsourcing to Brussels of the regulation of all the City’s financial
markets, the Social Chapter, the Working Time Directive, Health and Safety and
Tax Harmonisation: all are part of the pursuit of the Single Market.
Membership of the Single Market is often said to be vital for British trade.
The facts suggest that that proposition is wrong
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 Contagion in the
eurozone means that 2011 is likely to see the default of several Eurozone
countries and it would be advisable to conserve the UK’s resources so that we
are better able to deal specifically with the banking crisis that will then
ensue. Britain’s own finances are still sufficiently precarious that we cannot
afford to risk losing £7 billion of taxpayers’ money on the flawed
economic strategy of bailing out Ireland
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 The euro is
creating a crisis across the EU, yet as always Brussels is determined to turn
this into a beneficial crisis and take more power over tax and spend; powers
which Brussels has long coveted as occupying these important policy fields
will allow the EU to truly eliminate the last vestiges of the nation-state.
Yet it is greatly disappointing that we do not have a Prime Minister that is
prepared to take advantage of the crisis in the eurozone and stand up to the
Euro-elite by forcing the return of power to our elected representatives
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 French EU
bureaucrats have used the strategy of raising rivals' costs in other
fields before, and will do so again to undermine the City of London. Under
qualified majority voting, the majority of highly regulated countries (say,
France) have an incentive and the power to impose their high level of
regulation on the minority of more market-oriented countries (say, the UK) in
order to weaken the latter's competitiveness. In the political economy
literature, this is called "the strategy of raising rivals'
costs"
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 John Redwood MP
discussed the threat to the City of London from the EU's AIFM Directive.
Also at this event the respected economic commentator Gabriel Stein talked on
the current economic outlook/problems for the euro area, including looking at
the history of previous monetary unions and the technicalities involved in
leaving the euro
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 The leading
economist Professor Tim Congdon discussed the crisis in the eurozone and
whether or not it will break-up. Also addressing this event was the prominent
campaigner for democratic reform, Douglas Carswell MP who talked about why we
need an in or out referendum
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 Bruges Group
research shows that the EU’s proposed financial services regulations are set
to destroy thousands of well-paid jobs in the City of London. These jobs –
like those in manufacturing – will be forced out of the UK; losing Britain
many talented professionals. Almost certainly the financial services industry
will go to Asia. The EU now threatens the long term prosperity of the City of
London and, by extension, the London and UK economies
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 The leading
economist Professor Tim Congdon warns of the dangers posed by the EU’s
unwarranted interference in the City of London, Britain’s most successful
industry; which is under threat from the EU. Professor Congdon discussed the
EU’s latest power grab where Brussels is aiming to complete its project to
take full control over financial services. Daniel Hannan MEP discussed the
Lisbon Treaty and the continuing assault on our democracy and our freedom. He
also talked about the coming crunch between Britain and Europe
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euro
Vice
Dr Anthony Coughlan
Edward Leigh MP
 How EU corruption,
the euro and the Lisbon Treaty are putting the squeeze on Europe
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 At this key time for
the economy John Redwood MP, Chairman of the Economic Competitiveness Policy
Group, and Professor Tim Congdon, one of Britain’s leading economic
commentators, discussed the EU and the Credit Crunch
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 In this detailed
examination of the severe strains facing the Single Currency the Bruges Group
finds that the entirely ‘man made’ problems that confront the eurozone today
have their origins in the fatally flawed notion that one exchange rate and one
interest rate are appropriate for economies with very different and disparate
histories, structures, performances and sovereign governments
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 After the
EU agreed its 'Economic Recovery Plan' José Manuel Barroso said
“Europe has passed its credibility test”. Yet, the Bruges Group’s detailed
examination of the EU’s economic policies in The EU’s Credibility Crunch finds
that the European Union has been a major contributor to the economic malaise
in Europe and is not a credible body to face the challenges of the downturn.
And is using the economic crisis to expand its power; particularly by using it
as an excuse to push for the Lisbon Treaty to be ratified and even to re-start
the debate in Britain on joining the euro
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 Well meaning, but
misplaced, environmental policies, corruption and waste by the European Union
and the British government is costing you money and threatening jobs. The
Bruges Group conference looked at those issues and discussed the solutions to
the problems that the European Union is forcing upon us
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 The price of the
combined direct and indirect expenses of EU membership in 2008 costs Britain
£55.775 billion. Set out in the latest Bruges Group research by UKIP MEP
Gerard Batten, the full financial burden to Britain has now been calculated.
They show a dramatic increase in the costs of the EU - A price Britain cannot
afford
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 Historian and broadcaster Andrew Roberts spoke alongside Dr Irwin
Stelzer who is a respected economic and political commentator
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 How proposed
changes to corporation tax will damage the UK economy by reducing GDP by
£73 billion and cutting investment by £58.4 billion over 10
years
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Professor Tim Congdon CBE delivering a eurosceptic critique of the EU's
FSAP and MIFID plans. Professor Kenneth Minogue also discusses the European
Union
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Gordon Brown’s surrender in Portugal will sign Britain up to a Treaty that
will allow the European Union to undermine the last vestiges of Britain’s
competitive free market, bringing to an end the reforms introduced by Margaret
Thatcher.
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 Gordon Brown's
Government is handing-over billions of pounds of taxpayers' money to the
EU.
The combined direct and indirect costs of EU membership will cost Britain this
year over £114,000 per minute.
As a result of the Government's surrendering of the UK's rebate, and
the mounting costs of pointless EU regulation, this figure is set to rise even
further
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 By 2007 the combined
direct and indirect costs of EU membership will cost Britain close to
£100,000 per minute. If the Government believes that membership of the
EU is beneficial to Britain and that we should remain a member, then let it
commission an independent and impartial cost/benefit analysis so that the
supposed benefits can be proved and the findings openly debated
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Luke Johnson, the Chairman of Channel 4, and Dr Irwin Stelzer of The Times
and the Hudson Institute spoke to the Bruges Group on Wednesday, 24th May
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 As the EU project
continues it is time to think outside the box and explore the alternatives to
the EU
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 In the latest of the
Bruges Group's Alternatives to the EU series Daniel Hannan MEP sets out
the case for the European Free Trade Association. Membership of the European
Free Trade Association (EFTA) comes close to realising the dispensation that
most British voters always wanted from Europe: free trade without unnecessary
regulation or political union. Its rude prosperity is embarrassing to British
Euro-sophists, who have been telling us for 30 years that the EU is vital to
our economic survival. Yet, the EFTA states enjoy lower inflation, higher
employment, healthier budget surpluses and lower real interest rates than
those countries that are members of the European Union. It is simple, people
in EFTA are more than twice as rich as those in the EU.
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 Calls for reform of
the European Union’s outmoded practices and policies are the latest platitudes
emanating from the Government during the British Presidency of the EU, even
Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso has been calling
for change, but is this just propaganda or is there a chance that the
supporters of integration can be persuaded that the European project was a
mistake. In the first of the Bruges Group’s four page Micro guides Robert
Oulds analyses the ability of the EU to deliver the policies that Britain
needs to compete. The character, customs and culture of the European Union and
its member-states are also examined and the conclusions are stark
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 The Rt Hon. John
Redwood MP and Steve Richards, Chief Political Commentator of The Independent,
debated which direction the Conservative Party should take and its future
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 The booklet proves that
the EU is dragging Britain down and unless the alternatives to the EU are
explored integration will continue to threaten your job, your bank balance,
your democracy and your freedom
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 Leading young
businessman Simon Wolfson, the youngest CEO of a FTSE100 company, addresses
the Bruges Group
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 Derek Scott,
Economics Advisor to the Prime Minister, 1997-2003, examines the response of
the British government and the rest of the EU to the French and the Dutch No
votes
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 What is the meaning
of the “constitution” of something resembling a new Soviet Union in Europe
that was presented to EU bosses at the end of June? How do its antecedents
shape predictions about how it will operate? Why is Tony Blair so keen on
promoting it? What will be its impact on Britain and on the “new Europe” drawn
from the debris of the original Soviet Union and its satellites? And how will
it affect the operation of international capital markets and of the world
economic system?
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 A summary of our
relationship with 'Brussels', including the case for the United
Kingdom to leave the EU. As the fourth biggest economy in the world, as its
third largest trading nation, and as a major military power, leaving the EU
would be a liberating, refreshing, positive, modern thing to do. And we would
be very much richer as well!
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 As opposition to EU
integration, and its political and economic costs, grows the Bruges Group
looks at and beyond the EU Constitution to discuss the options open to Britain
and how best to pursue them
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Roger Helmer MEP busts 10 Euro myhs and undermines the misinformation of
the pro-euro/EU lobby
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Arguments used in favour of EMU have always tended to express issues in
broad terms, with very few specifics. They are based on idealism and economic
ignorance, using lightweight arguments to mask what is really a purely
political project. They are easily countered.
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The Chancellor's so-called five-tests are dissected and shown to be
spurious indicators as to whether or not Britain is suited to scrapping the
Pound.
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The decision by the European Court of Justice reveals the power vacuum at
the heart of the European Union's aspirations", - says Professor Tim
Congdon CBE, author of the Bruges Group pamphlet, 'Will the EU's
Constitution Rescue its Currency? Oliver Letwin MP said that, "The
decision shows the direction of thought of the ECJ, armed with the EU
Constitution, it will be all to likely to interpret the Constitution as giving
a large amount of power over the economies of the member states to the central
EU institutions"
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The euro is failing and will fail without the back-up of political
integration including harmonised taxation and a centrally managed EU-wide
fiscal policy. These measures will be the inevitable consequence of the euro
and the EU Constitution. Despite the claims made by our Government the EU
Constitution, if ratified, will lead to EU-wide tax control and the
enforcement of damaging outmoded economic policies responsible for the high
unemployment on the continent.
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Blair has surrendered control over Britain's economic and employment
policy. This undermines democracy and threatens prosperity. It is a strange
state of affairs that in the week when the Labour Party celebrates a 30,000
drop in unemployment its leader agrees to a Constitution that will, if
ratified, lead to the enforcement of policies that are responsible for the
high unemployment in France, Germany and Spain.
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For the sake of the world economy Britain must take a leading role in the
EU and veto the EU Constitution
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The costly 'rights' culture has overwhelmed Britain. The font of
this is the European Union. And the EU Constitution is set to make it worse,
it is time that the tap was switched of at source
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The Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer speaking to a Bruges Group seminar
on the economic consequences of the EU Constitution
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The Prime Minister's claims about the EU Constitution are merely a
smokescreen designed to hide the true economic implications of the EU
Constitution. In reality it is a threat to jobs and democracy
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The probable economic consequences of the draft EU Constitution. Bill
Jamieson, economic journalist, author of numerous books and pamphlets,
Executive Editor of The Scotsman and Director of the independent Scottish
think-tank, The Policy Institute, analyses what he sees as the already present
economic disaster of European integration and looks at future developments
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A look at the arguments in the debate on the costs/benefits of EU
membership
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Extracts from a Speech by Lord Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer,
speaking to Citizens Against EMU in The Skandia Hall, Parliament Building,
Stockholm on Monday 1st September 2003
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The OECD's figures on inward investment show, contrary to the pro-euro
lobby's claims, that the Pound is better for jobs and growth
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Wednesday
11th June 2003
The Rt Hon. Oliver Letwin MP
Professor Patrick Minford CBE
The Rt Hon. Oliver Letwin, MP, Shadow Home Secretary, discussed the draft
EU Constitution and Criminal Justice. Professor Patrick Minford, CBE,
economist and author of 'The Cost of Europe' lectured on the economic
consequences of EU membership and the EU Constitution.
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Statement by Lord Lamont of Lerwick, Co-Chairman of the Bruges Group on the
Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement on the euro.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9th JUNE 2003
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Statement prior to Gordon Brown's 'political' decision about
the euro
Embargoed until midnight 8th June 2003
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Lord Lamont, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1990-93, rebuts the pro-euro entry
Begg Report
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The Prime Minister's pledges on Europe and the euro fail to match the
reality - he must be closely watched
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Time to stop pandering to the EU and ask the electorate, 'do you want
to give control of your country to the corrupt, unaccountable, undemocratic
and incompetent Brussels Bureaucracy'
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19TH SEPTEMBER 2002. Extracts from a speech by Norman
Lamont, Vice-President of the Bruges Group, to the Allied Irish Bank in Dublin
at 6.30pm on Thursday 19th September 2002. Where he talked about the lessons
of the ERM for Britain and the euro.
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Speech by Norman Lamont, Vice-President of the Bruges Group, to the Allied
Irish Bank in Dublin at 6.30pm on Thursday 19th September 2002. Where he
talked about the lessons of the ERM for Britain and the euro.
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A new organisation "Medborgere mot EMU" ("Citizens against
EMU") has been founded to present the centre-right case against Sweden
joining the euro
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Despite the misinformation of the pro-euro lobby the young are the most
Eurosceptic generation.
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Calls for Britain to scrap the Pound and join the euro, after its rise in
value, are rebutted
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It's really been a rotten couple of weeks for the euro-luvvies. One
bad news story after another. The problems are coming home to roost, while
the so-called "benefits" of euro membership are just not
happening.
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54% of Germans want the Deutschmark back and now dub the new currency the
“teuro” from the German word “teuer” for expensive.
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‘The Economics of European Integration’
April 17th is Budget Day. A day when the Chancellor of the Exchequer
supposedly sets a course for Britain’s economy – though for how much longer?
Extracts of a speech to the Bruges Group on Wednesday, 17th April 2002
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Statement in response to Kenneth Clarke's launch of the Conservative
pro-euro 'Tory European Network'
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Another ill thought-out move by the EU will add more costs to business and
hurt those who most need the support of business
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In 2003 sweden will have a referendum on joining the euro, but as Margit
Gennser points-out, euro membership will create major economic problems.
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Despite the promises made on its behalf Economic and Monetary Union since
1st January 1999 has failed to produce any improvement in unemployment or
growth in the Eurozone countries. The United Kingdom and Denmark, who are
outside of the euro, have on the contrary continued to do much better in both
these respects.
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Statement by the Rt Hon. Lord Lamont of Lerwick, Vice-President of the
Bruges Group, on the introduction of euro notes and coins
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Alternatives
to the EU
Dr Anthony Coughlan
Professor Christie Davies
Margit Gennser
Roger Helmer MEP
Dr Brian Hindley
Dr John Hulsman
HE the Rt Hon. Don McKinnon
Professor Ivar Raig
Dr Helen Szamuely
This International Conference, always a major newsworthy event in the
EU-sceptic calendar, was intended to further push forward the boundaries of
debate regarding the European Union. It did not disappoint. The Conference not
only criticised the push towards further integration but most importantly it
promoted the positive alternatives, for Britain and the nation-states of
Europe, to membership of the European Union. To this end the Bruges Group
gathered together in London many influential and internationally renowned
figures to discuss the positive, dynamic alternatives to the status quo, which
are on offer. The conclusions of this event left everyone convinced that a
free trade alternative model for Europe and the North Atlantic should be
vigorously pursued.
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Vice President of the Bruges Group attacks Tony Blair's Evasiveness on
Europe .
Speaking at the Bruges Group's 'Special Election Meeting'
The Westbury Hotel, Tuesday 22nd May 2001
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The authors examine Central Bank independence and the ECB and determine
that independence itself offers dubious anti-inflationary prospects and that
the ECB as constituted is anti-democratic and economically inept.
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The devastating consequences of Euro membership on Britain's
independent fiscal policy
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Businessman and entrepreneur urges Britain to ignore the pro-euro
propaganda - businesses will be hurt if Britain joins the euro
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The economic dangers and folly of Europe's drive towards Economic and
Monetary Union are exposed. The Chancellor's so-called five-tests are
also dissected and shown to be spurious indicators as to whether or not
Britain is suited to scrapping the Pound.
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A speech to the Political Action Group for Europe on 23rd May 1998 by the
Senior Partner at Gouldens City Solicitors
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Bernard Connolly explains why Tony Blair should retain a floating currency
and resist the temptation to raise taxes.
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Businessman and entrepreneur urges Britain to ignore the pro-euro
propaganda - businesses will be hurt if Britain joins the euro
Speech to the Bruges Group, May 21, 1998
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This paper is addressed to those who feel that there are economic gains to
be had in joining the euro. 'A Single European Currency' shows that
the benefits are illusory and that Economic and Monetary Union will result in
dire economic consequences.
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The European Union has embarked on ambitious, but unwise, economic and
political experiments - The Single Market and Economic and Monetary Union.
'From Single Market to Single Currency' is the definitive text for
showing just how badly the EU has led Europe down the wrong economic path.
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