European Foundation (think tank)

The European Foundation is a leading Eurosceptic think tank based in the United Kingdom. It is chaired by Bill Cash, a British Conservative MP. The organisation produces the European Journal.

The Great College Street Group was formed in October 1992 in order to oppose the Maastricht Treaty. The Group, consisting of politicians, academics, businessmen, lawyers, and economists, provided comprehensive briefs in the campaign to win the arguments both in Parliament and in the country. The European Foundation was created out of Great College Street by Bill Cash after the Maastricht debates. It exists to conduct a vigorous campaign in the UK and across Europe to reform the EC/EU into a community of free-trading, sovereign states. The Foundation continues to establish links with like-minded organisations across Europe and the world.

The Foundation believes that greater democracy can only be achieved among the various peoples of Europe by the fundamental renegotiation of the treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. The Foundation does not advocate withdrawal from the European Union, rather its thorough reform. It advocates "yes to European trade, no to European government".

It was revealed in 1996 that the European Foundation was being funded by Sir James Goldsmith the then leader of the British Referendum Party. Because there was an approaching election at which Conservative and Referendum candidates would be contesting the same seats, Cash was forced to sever the link. The shortfall in funding was plugged by Margaret Thatcher, who has since become the European Foundation's Patron.

Office Holders

*Patron: The Rt Hon the Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven LG OM FRS
*Chairman: Bill Cash MP
*International Director: Andrew Rosindell MP
*European Director: Dr John Laughland
*Editor of the European Journal: James McConalogue
*Head of Research: Margarida Vasconcelos

UK Advisory Board

*John Bercow MP
*Robin Birley
*Angela Browning MP
*David Caldow
*The Rt Hon David Davis MP
*Jessica Douglas-Home
*The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
*Howard Flight
*Frederick Forsyth CBE
*Zac Goldsmith
*John Grimley
*Robin Harris
*The Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory MP
*Roger Helmer MEP
*Martin Howe QC
*The Hon Bernard Jenkin MP
*The Rt Hon Lord Kilclooney of Armagh MLA
*Richard King
*Barry Legg
*The Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP
*Russell Lewis
*Lord McAlpine of West Green Bt
*Professor Kenneth Minogue
*Austin Mitchell MP
*Jeremy Nieboer
*Owen Paterson MP
*Lord Pearson of Rannoch
*Richard Shepherd MP
*Richard Smith
*Professor Norman Stone
*Sir Peter Tapsell MP
*John Tate
*The Hon. W Denis Walker
*John Whittingdale OBE MP
*Sir Oliver Wright GCMG GCVO DSC

International Advisory Board

*Georges Berthu (France)
*Jens-Peter Bonde MEP (Denmark)
*Claus Bunk Pedersen (Denmark)
*Clement Brown (USA)
*Anthony Coughlan (Ireland)
*Frank Dahlgaard MP (Denmark)
*Margit Gennser (Sweden)
*Wilhelm Hankel (Germany)
*Ulla Klotzer (Finland)
*Keith Marsden (Switzerland)
*Professor Roberto de Mattei (Italy)
*Paulo Portas (Portugal)
*Professor Ivar Raig (Estonia)
*Viscount Philippe de Villiers MP MEP (France)
*Jan Zahradil MP

External links

* [http://www.europeanfoundation.org Official site]