Forthcoming Events

Exit Strategy

Working towards taking Britain out of the European Union

Why the election pledges must be honoured
Roger Helmer MEP 
Melanie Phillips 

The manifesto commitments to take back powers from Brussels and to protect the UK from the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights have been quietly dropped. To make matters worse the pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was abandoned. At this year’s Conservative Party Conference the Bruges Group will make the case as to Why the election pledges must be honoured

Recent Events

Is the eurozone breaking up?
Douglas Carswell MP 
Professor Tim Congdon 

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

Demanding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty
Nigel Dodds MP 
Stuart Wheeler 

It’s time the three party leaders kept their parties’ promises that there would be a referendum on the European Constitution. Nigel Dodds, MP, presented a private members` bill to hold just such a vote

New Year's Reception
The Rt Hon. Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, FRS 

Exclusive New Year's Reception with Baroness Thatcher, Honorary President of the Bruges Group

2009 Conference

With the EU’s drive for power over our democracy and everyday life continuing unabated the Bruges Group held this conference to oppose the surrendering of our freedoms to Brussels

The City Under Threat & Britain and the EU: The Crunch
Professor Tim Congdon 
Daniel Hannan MEP 

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

Are the political parties failing the voters of Britain?
Simon Heffer 
Peter Hitchens 
Barry Legg 

As faith in our elected representatives is at an all time low, the Bruges Group invited the broadcasters and columnists Simon Heffer and Peter Hitchens to discuss, alongside Barry Legg, the topic of; Are the political parties failing the voters of Britain? This event was reported on Newsnight and in a number of newspapers

euro Vice
Dr Anthony Coughlan 
Edward Leigh MP 

How EU corruption, the euro and the Lisbon Treaty are putting the squeeze on Europe

Immigration and the European Union
Sir Andrew Green KCMG 
Richard Shepherd MP 

Sir Andrew Green, Founder and Chairman of MigrationWatch UK, discussed immigration and the European Union and launched at this meeting MigrationWatch’s report on how the European Union is affecting immigration into Britain. Richard Shepherd MP spoke on the constitutional failings affecting British politics which are preventing the voice of the British people being heard by the political class

The EU and what the Conservatives should be doing about it
Fraser Nelson 
Stuart Wheeler 

As a result of Labour surrendering our nation’s democracy any future Conservative government will find itself to be in office but not in power. At this event the Bruges Group discussed their EU policy and looked at what the Conservative Party should be doing to reclaim our independence

Quantitative Easing, the Credit Crunch and the EU
Professor Tim Congdon 
The Rt Hon. John Redwood MP 

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

The Destruction of Parliamentary Democracy
Martin Howe QC 
Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP 

As the European Union makes most of our new laws the Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP and Martin Howe QC discussed the EU and the destruction of Parliamentary democracy

Bruges Group Conference: How EU and Government Waste is Costing You Money

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

Dinner in the Presence of Baroness Thatcher
Václav Klaus 
The Rt. Hon Lord Tebbit of Chingford, CH 
The Rt Hon. Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, FRS 

It is time for the principles so eloquently set out by Lady Thatcher in 1988 to be embraced. Norman Tebbit called on the Conservative Party to take early action and resolve the European question. Calling on a Conservative Government to show ‘Thatcherite courage and determination’

The Political Economy, the Financial Crisis and Anglo-American Strategy
Andrew Roberts 
Dr Irwin Stelzer 

Historian and broadcaster Andrew Roberts spoke alongside Dr Irwin Stelzer who is a respected economic and political commentator

Will a Conservative Government Deliver on Europe?
Nigel Farage MEP 
Simon Heffer 

At the 2008 Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham the Bruges Group asked the key question of whether or not a future Conservative Government will be able and will have the will to roll-back the decades of surrendering our sovereignty to Brussels; or will it settle to be just in office but not in power?

Europe, America and Democracy
John O'Sullivan CBE 

John O'Sullivan founder and Co-Chairman of the New Atlantic Initiative and Executive Editor of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty discused Europe, America and Democracy

Waterloo Day Meeting
Gerald Frost 
Lord Willoughby de Broke 

On the day of the final vote in the House of Lords on the Lisbon Treaty, Lord Willoughby de Broke spoke on the EU, the House of Lords and the Lisbon Treaty. Gerry Frost discussed the topic of Euroscepticism: Why has it failed?

Repealing the Lisbon Treaty and Independence from the EU
Douglas Carswell MP 
Frederick Forsyth 

Frederick Forsyth discussed continuing the opposition to the Lisbon Treaty and why the Conservative Party must hold a post-ratification referendum to repeal the Treaty. Douglas Carswell will talked about direct democracy and independence from the EU

Campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty
Bill Cash MP 
John Hayes MP 
Lord Pearson 

Bill Cash MP, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, and John Hayes MP speak on the campaign against the Lisbon Treaty, its progress through Parliament and why there must be a referendum on the revived and renamed EU Constitution

2007 Conference
Gerard Batten MEP 
Christopher Booker 
Bernard Connolly 
Dr Anthony Coughlan 
Marc Glendenning 
Roger Helmer MEP 
Martin Howe QC 
Ruth Lea 
Cllr Steve Radford 
The Rt Hon. John Redwood MP 

The conference showed how the EU's revived and renamed constitution threatens you and exposed what the EU plans for us next

The EU's Threat to the City of London
Professor Tim Congdon 
Professor Kenneth Minogue 

Professor Tim Congdon CBE delivering a eurosceptic critique of the EU's FSAP and MIFID plans. Professor Kenneth Minogue also discusses the European Union

Conservative Party Fringe Meeting 2007
Syed Kamall MEP 
The Rt Hon. John Redwood MP 

John Redwood MP, Champion of lower taxes and smaller government, and Syed Kamall MEP, Member of the European Parliament and trade expert, demand that the public have a say on the EU

Rally for a Referendum
Nigel Farage MEP 
Daniel Hannan MEP 

MEPs Daniel Hannan and Nigel Farage demand that the British people have the final say on EU integration

EU corruption and EU environmental policy
Chris Heaton-Harris MEP 
Julian Morris 

Chris Heaton-Harris MEP discussed, CORRUPTION AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. And Julian Morris spoke on environmental policy in the EU, discussing, DO WE NEED A EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY?

The EU moving forward, but holding the world back
The Rt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP 
Dr Brian Hindley 

David Heathcoat-Amory speaks on, THE EU - WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING FOR US. Brian Hindley talked on how the EU is holding-up trade liberalisation, discussing, THE EU AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE DOHA ROUND

Tercentenary Dinner with Lord Tebbit and Andrew Roberts

On 1st May 1707 The United Kingdom of Great Britain came into being. The time has come for us to recognise the positive influence the UK has in the world and assert our independence by celebrating our nations's 300th birthday

Bruges Group Conference
Christopher Booker 
Barry Legg 
 John Midgley   

Developing policies for a post-EU Britain

Conservative Party Fringe Meeting with Douglas Carswell MP and Christopher Booker
Christopher Booker 

Radical thinker and MP, Douglas Carswell, talks alongside the acclaimed journalist and author, Christopher Booker, at the Bruges Group’s meeting titled The EU: Options for Britain

Andrew Roberts addresses the Bruges Group
Andrew Roberts 

Andrew Roberts speaking on his latest book, A History of The English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900, which covers the four world-historical struggles in which the English-speaking peoples have been engaged — the wars against German Nationalism, Axis Fascism, Soviet Communism and now the War against Terror. Just as Churchill did in his four volumes, Roberts also deals with the cultural, social and political history of the English global diaspora.

Frederick Forsyth addressed the Group
Frederick Forsyth 

The author and political commentator Frederick Forsyth spoke to the Bruges Group about the incompatibility between the destination of the EU and the desired destiny of the UK and he discussed when it will no longer be possible for any honest British politician to refuse to accept this

Luke Johnson and Dr Irwin Stelzer

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

Christopher Booker and Lord Tebbit address the Bruges Group
Christopher Booker 

Two stalwarts of the movement to protect democracy, prosperity and the British nation-state addressed the Bruges Group on Tuesday, 25th April 2006

Conference: Integration marching on
Christopher Booker 
Ruth Lea 
Professor Kenneth Minogue 

As the EU project continues it is time to think outside the box and explore the alternatives to the EU

Fringe Meeting: The Conservative Party, Where Next?
The Rt Hon. John Redwood MP 

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

Simon Wolfson, CEO of Next plc, addresses the Group
Simon Wolfson 

Leading young businessman Simon Wolfson, the youngest CEO of a FTSE100 company, addresses the Bruges Group

Where does Europe go now?

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

The EU Constitution: Why Britain Should say No

With the Rt. Hon Oliver Letwin, MP - Shadow Chancellor, Cllr Steve Radford - President of the Liberal Party and Marc Glendenning - Campaign Director Democracy Movement

International Conference

The ultimate question, The European Union: In or Out? Debated with the pro-integration Federal Union

European Problems and Their Non-Solutions
Václav Klaus 

Václav Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic, speaking to the Bruges Group. Let us move to Europe of economic freedom, to Europe of small and non-expanding government, to Europe without state paternalism, to Europe without pseudomoralizing political correctness, to Europe without intellectual snobbism and elitism, to Europe without supranational, all-continental ambitions

Conservative Party Fringe Meeting
The Rt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP 
The Rt Hon. Lord Lamont of Lerwick 

The EU and the US and Washington's view of European integration

Tuesday, 13th July 2004
Sir Andrew Green KCMG 

Sir Andrew Green KCMG, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, discusses immigration to the UK and analyses the European Union dimension and the implications of the EU Constitution

Wednesday, 9th June 2004
Professor Roland Vaubel 

Why the European Conventional wisdom is a threat to freedom. Simon Heffer and the German Economist, Professor Roland Vaubel

Wednesday, 19th May 2004
Gisela Stuart MP 

Gisela Stuart MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston and the UK's representative on the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe opposes and exposes the EU Constitution

Wednesday, 5th May 2004
Jeffrey Donaldson MP 
Carl Mortishead 

Carl Mortished, International Business Editor of the Times, 'Tax harmonisation and EU Competition policy'. And Jeffrey Donaldson MP, 'The European Union - an Unionist/Ulster perspective', address the Bruges Group

15th Anniversary Meeting
Professor Kenneth Minogue 

Andrew Roberts, historian and broadcaster, 'The Malcontente Cordiale: 100 Years of Anglo-French "Alliance"'. Professor Kenneth Minogue, writer on international affairs, discussed 'Britain as a moral example to the nations'.

The EU Constitution and the UK's Role in Europe and the World: International Conference 2003
Lord Blackwell 
Christopher Booker 
Hynek Fajmon MP 
Ruth Lea 
Barry Legg 

Britain is approaching decision time. Will Britain follow a free and global future or become an EU Province? This International Conference focused on the EU Constitution and the UK's Role in Europe and the World

Conservative Party Fringe Meeting

David Heathcoat-Amory, MP and Norman Lamont to Expose the EU CONstitution

Tuesday 8th July 2003

An audience with Lord Rees-Mogg discussed the draft EU Constitution

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.

Wednesday 14th May 2003

Frederick Forsyth - author and political commentator plus Martin Howe, QC - Constitutional lawyer and co-author of 'Better of Out?' discuss European integration, the British Constitution and the draft EU Constitution

14th Anniversary Meeting
The Rt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP 
The Rt Hon. Lord Lamont of Lerwick 

Rt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP, Delegate to the Convention on the Future of Europe, and Lord Lamont discuss the EU Convention

What future the EU?
Lindsay Jenkins 

As the Convention on the Future of Europe attempts to push the EU towards federation; as the European Union faces the challenge of enlargement;as the CAP and CFP fall apart; as the eurozone economies slow down, we ask "What future the EU?"

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.

Issues
Alternatives to the EU
Civil liberties
Climate Change
Corruption
Defence
Democracy
Enlargement
Euro and Economy
Foreign affairs
Health care
Immigration
Propaganda
Sport
Taxation
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Eat the Pound: Online Game

Published Papers


A Lesson in Democracy


A Crisis of Trust


The City of London Under Threat


Cool Thinking on Climate Change


Are the British a Servile People?


The Costs of Regulation


The Principles of British Foreign Policy


Lost Illusions: British Foreign Policy


The Case for EFTA


Plan B For Europe


Will the EU's Constitution Rescue its Currency?


Galileo: The Military and Political Dimensions


The Fate of Britain's National Interest


Health and the Nation


Criminal Justice and the draft Constitution


Subsidiarity and the Illusion of Democratic Control


A Constitution to destroy Europe


Giscard d'Estaing's "Constitution": muddle and danger presented in absurd prolixity


Free Speech: The EU Version


Federalist Thought Control


Democracy In Crisis


European Union and the Politics of Culture


Britain and Europe: The Culture of Deceit


The Bank that rules Europe?


Conservative MEPs and the EPP: Time for Divorce


Bruges Revisited


Aiming for the Heart of Europe: A Misguided Venture


Is Europe Ready for EMU?


A Single European Currency: Why the United Kingdom must say 'No'


From Single Market to Single Currency