Renegotiation goals: a flexible EU
Jonathan Lindsell, 2 September 2013
Civitas has taken up the challenge of David Cameron’s proposed EU renegotiation. In a detailed study out today, Glyn Gaskarth examines the breadth of Union powers and describes what the UK should reclaim, and how.
He shows that we have ‘considerable diplomatic assets’ as a contributor to the EU budget with a ‘net trade deficit’ with the continent. This leverage could let member states repatriate powers in agriculture, fisheries, finance and migration, giving individual countries the right to tailor their arrangements.
Britain can be assertive and optimistic in the upcoming renegotiation of EU membership, working with other non-Eurozone states to form a more competitive arrangement, Gaskarth argues in Fighting for a Flexible Union. The government has failed to set out its own ambitions for such a move, but plans must be made to show European allies that Westminster is serious.
Civitas director David Green notes in his foreword that:
‘Our main aim should be the full return of our powers of self-government… Nevertheless we should enter into the negotiations in good faith … [Gaskarth] has produced a very worthwhile list of recommendations and, even if the negotiations draw a blank, his proposals serve as useful reminder of the vast powers that we have given up.’
The study discusses Union history and examines the current state of different EU ‘competences’. There is careful evaluation of proposals from other forward-thinking European researchers along with innovations from the author.
Flexibility is the study’s cornerstone. It argues that Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments should be given to individual governments to spend at their discretion, rather than by a ‘one size fits all’ rule. This would allow the UK to ‘invest more in crop development, diversifying rural incomes and building a more productive agricultural sector’.
This recommendation could lower food prices for consumers and make farming a fairer industry, limiting payments to inactive landowners.This approach is constructive, as it would not threaten other member states’ CAP funding – the likes of France should have no opposition.
One key idea is to safeguard ‘opt outs’ in perpetuity, so a member state never loses the right to avoid EU control – for example in labour law or justice cooperation. This would create a multi-level union, which Mr Gaskarth would augment by allowing groups of states to negotiate free trade deals.
Multiple fisheries options are discussed, ranging from demands for a fairer quota system, to a full repatriation of British waters. Gaskarth’s other recommendations include an end to punitive City regulation, as well as ‘the right to restrict welfare payments to prevent nationals from (Bulgaria and Romania) accessing them until they have a record of UK tax contributions.’
‘Fighting for a Flexible Union’ can be read in full here. Other Civitas research on the European Union can be accessed here.