In The Press
EU and Protectionism (Letter to the Editor of The Telegraph)
8 December 2008
Sir - As business leaders who see the need for positive relations with the rest of Europe, we are attending the European business summit in London today. We write in a personal capacity to emphasise that the summit shows the key role of the European Union in the credit crunch.The primary actors in responding to …
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Viewpoint: WHY THE EUROPEAN UNION’S INSTITUTIONS NEED BEEFING UP (in City AM)
26 November 2008
TODAY the EU announces a package of measures designed to combat the economic downturn. The past few months have seen an unprecedented programme of government activity at national and international level. Nationalisation, which many considered a moribund idea, has returned. The EU has been centre stage in attempting to coordinate monetary policy and other policies. …
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Proof that Doha is not dead (Letter to the Editor of The Times)
19 November 2008
The best response to the economic crisis is to redouble the efforts to advance the benefits of free trade. Sir - We welcome the sentiment expressed in the G20 for countries to work together to mitigate the negative effects of the economic downturn. The representatives at the summit account for 85 per cent of the …
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Slump in sterling means we should think again about joining the euro (in the Evening Standard)
14 November 2008
In the run-up to the 1997 general election, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were asked at a meeting of business leaders whether they would make the Bank of England independent and whether Britain would join the euro. Tony Blair replied that a Labour Government would do one or the other. Gordon Brown added that they …
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Obama and Europe will find many mutual benefits (in The Guardian)
6 November 2008
Obama and Europe will find many mutual benefits, especially by furthering trade links and holding climate talks The election of president-in-waiting Obama has captured the imagination of the world, and in particular reignited hopes for a fresh chapter in European-US relations. Certainly Europe was overwhelmingly supportive of Obama. The polls showed that if Europe were …
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US and Europe on the Same Planet (in The Independent)
6 November 2008
The election of President Obama heralds a new opportunity in US-European relations (Mary Dejevsky, "Will Europe get the America it wants?", 3 November). Whereas once critics were able to claim that "Americans are from Mars, Europeans from Venus", the two continents are now unquestionably occupying the same planet. President-elect Obama has stated that "the United …
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West must look beyond its borders to solve crisis (in the Daily Mail)
3 November 2008
This coming Saturday, leaders of the G20 will gather in Washington to talk about constructing a new international regulatory order for the world's financial system. China, as the factory of the world's economy, must be at the heart of these global discussions. Despite some protectionist noises, the Chinese economy is increasingly integrated into the global …
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Letter to the Editor of The Guardian
11 October 2008
The publication of the principles for sovereign wealth funds at the IMF meeting comes at a timely moment (IMF prepares $200bn fund to shore up stricken states, October 10). The global financial instability has reminded us of the need to explore alternative forms of investment. With an estimated $3tn in assets under management - a …
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European co-operation will lead us to safety (in The Telegraph)
3 October 2008
Financial Crisis: European co-operation will lead us to safety When European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso gave a major speech on global warming in London in January, the venue was Lehman Brothers' glittering offices in Canary Wharf. While the subject of his speech was climate change, little could he have known that his hosts would …
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Acting in Concert (in The Guardian)
3 September 2008
The EU summit held in Brussels on Monday was never going to solve the Russia-Georgia conflict, but it was a step in the right direction. By getting its 27 members round a table, the EU showed its resolve to deal with Russia as a bloc. There is a spectrum of opinion about how to deal …
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Letter to the Editor of The Telegraph
30 August 2008
Sir – In their strongly argued piece (Comment, August 26), David Cameron and Mirek Topolánek stress the importance of European unity in response to the Georgian crisis, in particular with regards to energy policy. Of course Russia is a large supplier of energy to the EU. But this relationship works two ways. The sheer volume …
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EU Making Progress (in The Daily Telegraph)
31 July 2008
Sir – The collapse of the Doha trade talks is a setback for the global economy, but the EU's positive role should indeed be noted (Comment, July 31). It is a mark of the steps forward the Union has made. Once seen as synonymous with protectionism, the EU has made huge progress in liberalising markets …
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Letter to the Editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe
1 July 2008
Regarding your July 1 editorial, "French Priorities at the EU": The French presidency of the European Union promises to be a busy one, and we hope that there is a focus on Europe's competitive position. One decision which the French government has already taken is to open its labor market to workers from Central and …
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We continue to believe Lisbon is positive for UK (in The Financial Times)
18 June 2008
Sir, While the outcome of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty must be respected and taken into account in European Union-wide discussions, in Britain the House of Commons has already ratified the treaty and we write in continued support of the parliamentary ratification in the Lords. We continue to believe that the treaty is …
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Disappearing Poles (in The Daily Telegraph)
5 June 2008
Sir - Your report (June 3) that the exodus of many eastern Europeans from Britain has led to a rise in the cost of DIY is hardly surprising. The migration of the so-called "Polish plumbers" and others from the new EU-member states in 2004 was beneficial for not only the migrants, but also the receiving …
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Revolving Immigration (in the Wall Street Journal)
3 June 2008
When Nicolas Sarkozy visited the U.K. in March, he noted that London is now the seventh-largest French city. The British economy benefits greatly from the presence of 300,000 Frenchmen, including some of the best brains from the grandes écoles, and is now reaping the rewards of the recent arrivals from further east. Perhaps inspired by …
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Free movement of labor (in the International Herald Tribune)
2 June 2008
We applaud the decision of President Nicolas Sarkozy to open the French labor market to all people across the EU ("France to welcome east EU labor," May 29). This decision is consistent with the free movement of labor that lies at the heart of the European Union. It also adheres to the principle that all …
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UK Business backs EU expansion (in The Sunday Telegraph)
25 May 2008
Some of Britain's biggest companies are backing the enlargement of the European Union, arguing that the economies of Eastern Europe provide lucrative growth opportunities. Key City figures, including chief executives from advertising giant WPP, life assurer Aviva and steel group Corus supported the principle, arguing that the British economy stands to benefit. New research from …
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European Voice
22 May 2008
Alistair Darling, the UK finance minister, turned his attention to a familiar theme last week, that of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In a letter to fellow EU finance ministers, Darling attacks the CAP for its harmful effects on farmers in the developing world, as well as for pushing up prices for consumers …
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The Lisbon treaty is nothing to be scared of - we should support it (in The Times)
1 April 2008
Today the Bill ratifying the Lisbon treaty comes before the House of Lords, having comfortably surmounted all its hurdles in the Commons. The Lords will have to consider whether to approve the treaty and whether to support the demand for a referendum before it can be ratified. The two issues are separate, although closely related, …
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Letter to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph
29 March 2008
France and the EU marketSir - Following Nicolas Sarkozy's uplifting state visit, amid the talk of defence co-operation and the new Entente Amicale, there is no more imperative issue than Britain and France working together to promote economic dynamism.France is the third largest market for British exporters, with exports of about £20 billion a year, …
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Letter to the Editor of The Guardian
28 March 2008
Timothy Garton Ash points to the potential of Franco-British cooperation (A historic compromise with France is exactly what Britain needs, March 27) and a large part of this should focus on economic policy. There are already extensive investment, trading and people ties between the French and British economies. As President Sarkozy pointed out, London is …
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Letter to the Editor of The Independent
14 March 2008
Sir: Stephen Hale is right to point to the importance of European action on climate change (Opinion, 12 March). Given the cross-border nature of global warming, the problem demands an international response. The EU has taken a lead in establishing targets for reducing emissions and in establishing a market for carbon through the Emissions Trading …
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EU is good for Britain (in the Daily Telegraph)
21 January 2008
Sir - Today's start of the second reading of the Bill to ratify the EU Reform Treaty opens a debate that will highlight Britain's relationship with Europe. The business community should not be silent.Thousands of British companies do business with the rest of Europe. Over half of our trade is with the continent. Many British …
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Business leaders in EU call ( in The Sunday Times)
20 January 2008
A GROUP of business leaders is today calling for further economic reform and moves towards an effective single market across the European Union. In an open letter, 35 senior figures say the single market reaches 500m people. “It is now the largest market in the world. The UK’s attractiveness as a place to do business …
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