European Movement UK

The European Movement is Britain's pro-European campaigning organisation. It argues that the European Union should become more democratic, effective and accountable, and that Britain should play a full role in reforming and developing the EU. The current President of the European Movement UK is Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP and the current chairman is Peter Luff.

The European Movement is independent of the British Government, from political parties, or from the European Union or any of its institutions.

History

The origins of the European Movement lie in the aftermath of the Second World War. More than eight hundred delegates from across Europe gathered in The Hague in May 1948, under the chairmanship of Sir Winston Churchill, to create a new international movement to unite Europe and prevent further wars between its members. The British section of the European Movement was founded a year later.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the European Movement put forward the arguments for joining the European Economic Community, and it ran a major campaign in the early 1970s, both among the general public and in parliament, to win the battle for entry. In 1975, during the referendum, the European Movement played a central role in the YES campaign. Other campaigns since then have included pressing for direct elections to the European Parliament in the 1970s and promoting the benefits of the single market in the run-up to 1992.

Aims and Activities

The European Movement is a cross-party organisation and promotes the idea of a politically united Europe, that should keep defending and improving law, justice, democracy, economic prosperity, and environment.

The Movement has since its creation in 1948 sought to build and maintain public support for the unity of Europe. The campaigns include public information points, working with the media, and lobbying MPs and other decision-makers. In addition to the work of the London office, the branches and national councils organise campaign activities in their own areas, as well as political discussions and social events for members.

The European Movement has to be distinguished from the European Union. The European Movement is a pressure group that works to reform and improve the European Union.

The European Movement has a range of activities, including the following:

Education information for schools and universities;
Media briefings for journalists;
Politics pressure on Britain's political leaders to put the pro-European case;
Business information for companies about Europe;
Local branches around 30 branches active throughout the UK;
Conferences events for members for debate and discussion;
Publications analysis about European current issues;
Young European Movement an independent youth and student campaign with activities throughout Europe;
European Movement International an international pro-European network, active in more than 40 countries.

External links

* [http://www.euromove.org.uk European Movement UK]
[http://www.europeanmovement.org European Movement International]
[http://www.euromove.org.uk/yem Young European Movement UK]
[http://www.cleg.org.uk Central London European Group]