Brussels, 17/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - In a press release issued on Tuesday 16 October, the EPP group at the European Parliament spoke out against the announcement by the British government to withdraw from some 130 European policies in the field of justice and home affairs. Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group Manfred Weber described this as an action which “has not been thought through and would be contagious for the whole of the EU”.
On Monday 15 October, the British Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced to MPs the government's plan to use its opt-out on a range of policies, such as the European arrest warrant, which London feels expensive and ineffectual. The United Kingdom has until June 2014 to express its intention of no longer taking part in areas of judicial and police cooperation, which would become effective as of 1 December 2014.
Manfred Weber feels that with this decision, the UK would be harming its own interests, he continues, calling on London to return “to the spirit of collaboration”.