EU: UK Membership

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord McNally, has done this House an immense service by raising, and speaking so effectively on, this issue. Too often Europe is unfairly disparaged. Sometimes it makes mistakes, but we all do. Being a European Commissioner was undoubtedly a highly salient feature of my life. I had the good fortune to serve in an excellent Commission, headed by Jacques Delors, who in my view was one of the best presidents of the European Union. It is a great pity that the then Prime Minister did so much to distance herself from the work of the Commission. I do not think that she carried all her Ministers with her in that destructive effort. Nevertheless, if Britain had been more positive, the whole history of Europe and of our country could have been much better and very different. The European Union and the legal texts on which it is based have much changed, particularly in recent times. There are now 27 members, whereas there were only 12 in my day. We witnessed the end of the Cold War. We have seen Europe look increasingly outward and actively involve itself in the process of globalisation. The prosperity of all its members has undoubtedly increased and with it democracy has thrived. This has meant that human rights have been more widely respected and, with that, the internal market has developed. The EU’s ability to participate ever more effectively in the global debate on climate change and generally speak more authoritatively in international fora has followed. We have perceived, particularly in recent times, a disparity between these radical changes and, I believe, a waning public support in some instances for the European Union. Some have been malicious about that but there is undoubtedly real concern as well. This is based on a misunderstanding and a failure on the part of those charged to explain the great advantages which the European Union has bestowed. Perhaps we should begin to listen more than we do. How effectively have the rigours of examining the credentials of the new members and the benefits that will accrue to all of us been explained to the public? There can be little doubt that enlargement has been a dramatic benefit for the European Union, particularly for this country. As the Government have pointed out, trade from the United Kingdom in merchandises has increased with the new member states by some 392 per cent from 1992 to 2005—nearly 10 times as fast as with the rest of the world. That is an achievement that we should trumpet. It has been of immense benefit to us, and we do not say enough about it. Investment in new and candidate states has also radically increased, especially from the United Kingdom. A similar picture can be painted for employment growth. There has been a dramatic increase in output and jobs in the United Kingdom, which has played a vital role. That has been done in no small measure due to the expansion of the single market. I am very sorry that the late Lord Cockfield is not here, because he did so much in that first Delors Commission to advance the case of the single market. Fighting international crime of all sorts has been an important by-product of the international co-operation of which I have spoken, as has been the protection of the environment, which was one of the jobs that I had at the Commission from 1985 to 1989. The European Commission faces huge challenges, as the noble Lord, Lord McNally, said. The Lords European Union Committee has, very properly, come to the conclusion that those challenges cannot be met unless it is provided with institutional change and enlarged decision-making procedures. The Government say that they cannot achieve that on their own. Both views are right. But it is for the House of Lords to recommend how it considers that policy can be enacted more effectively and efficiently, while it is for the Government to face situations as they are. The European Union has to deal with the vexed question of the admission of Croatia and Turkey. The Union would be immeasurably strengthened if both could become members, but in neither case will admission be easy. Croatia will unquestionably benefit from the Central European Free Trade Agreement, like all western Balkan countries. Already substantial progress has been achieved, and I welcome the expression of support for Croatia’s accession on the part of the Government. Some institutional adjustments might have to be made. We should certainly not stand in the way. I am happy that the Government support Turkey’s accession as soon as possible. I am delighted that the death penalty has disappeared and the rights of women and minority groups have improved, but the Government are right to stress that a great deal more needs to be done, not least in doing what Turkey can to make real progress over Cyprus. I am delighted that some of my colleagues who followed me in the Commission are speaking in this debate, particularly the noble Lord, Lord Brittan, who I had the great pleasure of meeting on several occasions before he took office. He is not the only one. We owe an enormous debt to the noble Lord, Lord Williamson. He was a great ambassador for this country in the job he fulfilled. The progress which the European Union was able to make was undoubtedly due to him—as well as Jacques Delors—and I pay tribute to the noble Lord today.