- Conservative Europe Group
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Conservative Europe Group 
Chairperson John Bowis, Matthew Lewis (youth chair) Founded 1969 Mother party Conservative and Unionist Party European affiliation European Democrat Students (EDS) British Isles, Nordic, and Baltic affiliation Nordic Conservative Student Union (NKSU) Website Website The Conservative Europe Group exists to promote Britain's vigorous and purposeful membership of the European Union and a Europe built on Conservative principles of an open market, individual and business opportunity and a responsible engagement in world affairs.
Originally the European Forum, until 2009 it was known as the Conservative Group for Europe before changing its name to reflect an adaption of its agenda.[1] John Bowis is the current Chairman, and Kenneth Clarke MP is the President.
Founded in 1969 to promote the UK's entry to the European Economic Community (now the European Union), CEG is affiliated to the Conservative Party and is part of Conservative Mainstream, along with the Tory Reform Group. CEG was launched in May 1969 as the European Forum, with David Baker as the founding chairman. The previous month had seen the resignation from the French presidency of Charles De Gaulle, who had been the major opponent of UK entry in to the European Community, and the European Forum was launched by Conservative MPs who favoured British membership. CGE provided the infrastructure for the operation run by Norman St John-Stevas MP to muster support among Conservative MPs, resulting eventually in the United Kingdom’s entry to the European Community on 1st January 1973. [2]
It has a youth wing, Young Conservative Europe Group, chaired by Matthew Lewis, which is a member of both the European Democrat Students, and the Nordic Conservative Student Union. [3][4][5]
References
- ^ http://www.conservativeeuropegroup.org.uk/newsshow.aspx?id=5&ref=2
- ^ http://www.conservativeeuropegroup.org.uk/text.aspx?id=29
- ^ http://www.conservativeeuropegroup.org.uk/text.aspx?id=7
- ^ http://www.edsnet.eu/index.php/about-us/members/full/246-yceg
- ^ http://www.nksu.eu/index.php?id=172
External links
See also
- List of organisations associated with the Conservative Party (UK)
Categories:- Politics of the United Kingdom
- United Kingdom politics stubs
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