Kennedy sets out three tests for Britain's Presidency of European Union (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

Kennedy sets out three tests for Britain's Presidency of European Union

July 6, 2005 3:52 PM

Charles Kennedy has set out three tests for British Presidency of the EU. He was speaking in a debate organized by political think-tank the Centre for Reform at the London School of Economics, entitled 'Europe: where do we go from here?' Other participants included Joschka Fisher, Robin Cook, Douglas Hurd and Peter Sutherland.

Charles Kennedy said "The first is progress on the Budget Deal - requiring the UK to spell out exactly how it envisages CAP reform. The second is maintaining the momentum for enlargement - it would be a historic disaster if the EU was to turn inward, not outward, to promote stability and prosperity. Finally, there is the issue of economic reform: Britain should not lecture the rest of Europe but the EU should recognise that the single market only applies to 20% of the EU economy and that liberalisation and competition, including in services, represent and acid test for Europe's future prosperity."