(Version Française plus bas)

Ahead of the EU Referendum of June 23rd there are two main pro-Remain groups in the UK: Britain Stronger in Europe and British Influence, both are predominately business oriented groups suggesting that the reason for remaining in the EU is purely an economic one. We do, of course, support their logical arguments but we think that talking about economic benefits is NOT ENOUGH.

“The European Union is a political project and British people should first of all vote about their willingness to cooperate with other fellow Europeans to defend our shared interests and deal with our common challenges together, as Europeans. That is what the EU is about!” noted Pietro De Matteis, president of the European Federalist Party.

On June 23^rd our British members will be voting to REMAIN within the EU but they want to make it understood that there is a substantial section of British society (especially youth) who not only want to remain within the EU, but want the UK to lead the process of European integration. They (and we too) want the EU to be a fully democratic federation able to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. We do not want the EU to be a mere trading partnership.

Some of the problems that the EU has encountered so far have not been properly tackled: think of the eurocrisis or migration. That was primarily due to the selfish approach taken by the European Council (which is made up of National Leaders and often decide by unanimity). Our leaders, while defending their countries’ national interest have often acted against the interest of European citizens!

This is why we advocate for a Federal Reform for the European Union, to build a Europe even more democratic and transparent, closer to the people and better able to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

This is why we will vote #REMAINplus on June 23rd!

“Standardised rules and regulations across Europe coupled with the Freedom of movement for goods and services is if course a significant success, and withdrawing from that market and those rules will be detrimental to the UK Economy, there is no doubt of that. But for many of us Europeans there are many other benefits to being in the EU which are of a higher priority” noted Stuart Clark, leader of the British section of the EFP (Federalist Party of the United Kingdom).

“We are talking about workers’ rights, Children’s rights, women’s rights, disability rights and animal rights. Over the years Britain has lead the way in establishing many of these rights and it would be disastrous to lose them!” Stuart concluded.

Follow our campaign on:

– Our British page: https://www.facebook.com/ukfederalists/

– Our European page: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanFederalistParty

About the European Federalist Party

The European Federalist Party (EFP) is the only, truly pan-European political party campaigning for a more democratic and federal Europe. The EFP was founded in 2011 by citizens from all over Europe and has since developed into a cross-border movement that ran for the last European Parliament elections in six countries defending the same pan-European programme voted by its members at the 2013 EFP Federal Convention. The EFP contributed to the introduction of several pieces of European legislation including the European Citizens’ Initiative and the EU roaming regulation.

For more information on this Press Release or to arrange an interview with the President, please contact Michel Caillouët, by email: EFP.Press@federalistparty.eu or by mobile: +33 679 563 854. For urgent media intervention, please copy in your email also the President of the European Federalist Party by writing at: Pietro.DeMatteis@federalistparty.eu.

(Version Française)

Pour la campagne du référendum du 23 Juin UE, deux principaux groupes partisans du maintien dans l’UE se présentent « Britain Stronger in Europe » et « Britain influence », les deux réunissent essentiellement des groupes à dominante économique, suggérant que le Royaume-Uni doit rester dans l’UE pour des raisons essentiellement d’ordre économique. Nous soutenons bien cette argumentation tout à fait valable, mais nous estimons que parler uniquement des avantages économiques ne suffit pas.

“L’Union européenne est un projet politique et le peuple britannique doit d’abord voter sur son souhait de coopérer avec les autres citoyens européens afin de défendre nos intérêts communs et faire face, ensemble, aux défis auxquels les Européens sont confrontés. C’est la quintessence même de l’UE !” déclare Pietro De Matteis, président du Parti fédéraliste européen.

Le 23 Juin les militants britanniques du European Federalist Party voteront pour le maintien dans l’UE, mais ils insistent aussi sur le fait qu’une partie importante de la société britannique (surtout des jeunes) veulent non seulement rester au sein de l’UE, mais veulent que le Royaume-Uni soit très actif pour faire avancer le processus d’intégration européenne.

Ils (et nous aussi) veulent que l’UE devienne une fédération totalement démocratique capable de relever les défis d’aujourd’hui et de demain. Nous ne voulons pas que l’UE ne soit qu’un simple partenaire commercial.

De nombreux problèmes que l’UE a rencontrées jusqu’à présent n’ont pas été correctement abordés : la crise de l’euro ou le défi migratoire. C’est le résultat de l’attitude égoïste et rétrograde du Conseil européen (composé de dirigeants nationaux et doivent trop souvent décider à l’unanimité). Nos dirigeants, tout en défendant l’intérêt national de leur pays, ont trop souvent agi contre l’intérêt des citoyens européens !

Voilà pourquoi nous préconisons une réforme fédérale de l’Union européenne, afin de construire une Europe plus démocratique, plus transparente, plus proche des populations et mieux à même de relever les défis d’aujourd’hui et de demain.

Voilà pourquoi nous appelons à voter #REMAINplus!

•