Brussels, 16/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 12 July, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague announced before his Parliament the launch of a comprehensive audit which would “look at where competence lies, how the EU's competences, whether exclusive, shared or supporting, are used and what that means for our national interest” and their impact on the United Kingdom (UK), in order to assess the nature of the EU/UK relationship and its evolution. The minister explained that the audit should help to clarify “decisions” regarding the “future direction of Britain in Europe” and will be part of a public debate on the development of the EU. This audit, planned to be carried out from this autumn until the end of 2014, will, the minister promised, be the “most thorough and detailed analysis possible”. “Such a complete work has never before been undertaken, but it is long overdue”, he added.
Hague stated that each ministry would carry out an examination of the fields of competence of the EU for which it is responsible, but the parliamentary committees, administrations, businesses, civil society and any interested persons would also be able to participate. “We are also going to invite our European and G20 partners, as well as the European institutions and under international organisations (…), if they wish”, to take part in the audit, the minister said.
Not a question of for or against the EU
Hague stressed that being a member of the EU is in the United Kingdom's national interests. “We must take the opportunities for Britain to shape its relationship with Europe in ways that advance our national interest (…). That should involve less cost, less bureaucracy and less meddling in the issues that belong to nation states”, he explained. “The government is committed to playing a leading role in the EU and to protecting British national democracy”, the foreign secretary added.
He also said that it was not a question of deciding for or against the EU. “It is not a consultation on disengaging or withdrawing from the European Union. The coalition government's policy on Europe has not changed. We remain committed to our membership of the EU and to a strong and stable Europe”, he added. He went on to say that the future of the EU “lies in its continued variable geometry, in the various layers of integration”. Pointing out that his country had decided not to take part in some of these layers, Hague nonetheless stressed that London “will continue to play a dominant role in the completion of the single market, defending free trade and enlargement, and in the foreign policy and new areas, such as the single patent, which benefits British business”. (CG/transl.fl)