North East for Europe

News:

Let's celebrate Europe Day

Europe Day is held on 9 May every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historical 'Schuman declaration'. At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the then French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable.

His vision was to create a European institution that would pool and manage coal and steel production. A treaty creating such a body was signed just under a year later. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.

Whatever anyone thinks about the European Union, it is clear that Brexit is not turning out to be so simple as some of its advocates claimed two years ago. The claims of the "easiest negotiation ever" and "trade will not be affected", not to mention "£350 million a week more for the NHS" are all proving false.

Meanwhile the benefits of the European Union - the world's largest single market for goods and services, a customs union that is vital to much of our manufacturing industry, a force for democracy and peace in Europe and beyond, a driver for better environmental and social standards, and a forum for Europe wide co-operation on issues from air transport and mobile phone tariffs to medicine and movement of nuclear materials - are being made clearer as Brexit gets more complex.

North East for Europe is joining with other groups across the country to call for a People's vote on the final Brexit Deal - if it doesn't match up to what was promised in the referendum, we the people should have the right to reject it.

This weekend, North East for Europe are marking Europe Day with a picnic on Sunday. email us for more details if you wish to join us.

We want a country that works for everyone, and one that is open, tolerant and part of the European Union, with all the rights and benefits that has brought us.

In the referendum vote on 23rd June 2016 Newcastle was one of the places where the majority of voters were for "Remain". The North East as a region voted to leave, but as the region with strongest manufacturing trade with Europe we are a region where Brexit puts many people's jobs at risk.

Whatever one thinks of the referendum campaigns and result, we still live in a democracy, we have a right to continue to say why we think the whole country is better remaining in the European Union, and we plan to continue to do this.

North East for Europe believes that Britain is better off (economically, socially and culturally)as part of the European Union and we think that as the implications of Brexit (and especially, a hard Brexit) become clearer, the case for remaining in the EU will become stronger and more popular.

Throughout the Brexit negotiations and the twists and turns of politics at Westminster, we will continue to argue and campaign in favour of EU membership and against Brexit. We will work with people from all parties and none where we can work together to oppose Brexit and to maintain the strongest possible relationship with the European Union.

If you haven't yet signed up to be kept in touch with North East for Europe by email, you can do that here

Do you like this page?