Press Release from www.brugesgroup.com
Europe's last chance: The Bottom Line

Proposals for the Conservative Party

The Conservatives’ policy on the EU is to oppose the Constitution, while fighting for the return of key elements of the decision-making process to national control. This is to be achieved within the framework of continuing EU membership.

To meet this challenge and develop an amicable settlement with the EU the Bruges Group has submitted a paper, The Bottom Line which has a foreword by Lord Tebbit, that is intended to be a constructive analysis of the elements that are key to successful resolution of this combined objective, without withdrawal, such as may be attained by vigorous renegotiation.

The next government will face the inevitability of a crisis in Brussels as the Constitution hits a wall. It is a rare moment where a Conservative government with nerve can achieve the objectives of a generation.

The Bottom Line addresses the very fundamentals of setting in place a long-term resolution of a massive issue where the British public is already vastly alienated.

Dr Lee Rotherham, Conservative PPC for Rotherham, and co-author of the proposals, said:

"The Shadow Cabinet and Conservative policy makers now have a realistic and achievable proposal in front of them, one that falls within the set limits of current party policy.

"A Government with guts can turn rejection of the EU Constitution into a positive vision of Europe: democratic, open, and popular, with Parliament's role restored. This paper is a final milestone before we hit a Brussels superstate. It provides a blueprint to turn defeat of the Constitution into an enduring victory for democracy."