In The Press
BNE in Die Welt - “Nicht ohne die Briten - Not without the Brits”
21 December 2011
By Michael Stürmer, Chief Correspondent, Die Welt Seit dem Brüsseler Gipfel geht die Insel wieder auf Distanz zum Kontinent. Das ist gefährlich. Denn wenn Großbritannien draußen bleibt, gibt es kein im Weltmaßstab handlungsfähiges Europa Brüssel vor elf Tagen: Es sollte der Krisengipfel sein, der alle Krisengipfel beendet. Stattdessen sieht es so aus, als koste der …
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BNE in the Daily Mail - “3m jobs at risk if Britain does not stay at the heart of Europe”
20 December 2011
By Kerry McQueeney Twenty leading businessmen today warned that if Britain does not stay at the heart of Europe, three million jobs could be lost. Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and British Telecom chairman Sir Mike Rake were among the leading business figures who urged the Government to seize opportunities to 're-engage in the decision-making …
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BNE in the Daily Telegraph - “Staying outside EU risks millions of jobs, warn 20 UK businessmen”
20 December 2011
By Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, 20 businessmen say it is "imperative" that Britain has a place on the negotiating table when major decisions about Europe are taken. Signatories including Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin tycoon, and Sir Mike Rake, the chairman of British Telecom, …
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BNE Letter in the Daily Telegraph - “It is vital that the Government remains at the heart of Europe”
20 December 2011
SIR – We welcome the Government’s decision to take part, albeit as an observer, in the new EU treaty negotiations, following the agreement on December 9. It is imperative that we are not outside when important decisions are taken, and as opportunities arise over the coming months for Britain to re-engage in the decision-making process …
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BNE Chairman in the Times - “What’s it like out in the cold? Just ask Norway.”
19 December 2011
Norway has many qualities to commend it, including a beautiful rugged coastline and telemark skiing. But its relationship with the European Union is not one of them. A growing clamour in Britain says that we should be more like Norway by enjoying the benefits of the single market but without Brussels diktats. Sadly, the attractions …
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BNE Chairman in City A.M. - “London needs EU strategy that does not lead to it being sidelined”
19 December 2011
Fear is stalking parts of the city that Brussels is determined to undermine its competitiveness. But ask any senior banker or businessman what particular measure it is that Britain needs saving from, they draw a blank. The implementation of a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) in the EU alone, and not on a global level, would …
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BNE in The Independent - “Coalition partners put a brave face on their battered relationship”
15 December 2011
After a torrid few days, Nick Clegg began yesterday among friends. He arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London's Knightsbridge at 7.45am and had time, appropriately, for croissants and coffee as he prepared to address the Business for New Europe group. Like him, the organisation is for the European Union and against David …
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Roland Rudd in The Independent - “UK still has a role in the EU, says Angela Merkel”
14 December 2011
Suggestions that David Cameron has left Britain isolated in Europe by deploying his veto were downplayed today by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who insisted the UK will continue to play an important role in the EU. Mr Cameron told the House of Commons he would "make no apology for standing up for Britain" by blocking …
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BNE in the Daily Telegraph - “Nick Clegg says UK will face ‘intemperate’ Europe with calm”
14 December 2011
The Deputy Prime Minister has promised Britain will negotiate with Europe in a "calm and reasoned" manner in the face of "intemperate remarks" from Brussels yesterday. Nick Clegg told business leaders that he was "absolutely determined" to re-engage with Europe, as British jobs depend on the single market. The Deputy Prime Minister said he spoke …
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BNE in the Daily Mail - ‘We need to re-engage with Europe,’ declares Clegg ahead of PMQs in Commons”
14 December 2011
The Government is 'absolutely determined' to ensure that Britain remains at the heart of the European single market, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today. Despite the deep differences on Europe between the coalition parties exposed by David Cameron's decision to deploy the UK veto to block a new EU treaty last week, Mr Clegg …
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BNE on BBC News - “We will re-engage with Europe, says deputy PM Clegg”
14 December 2011
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said ministers are "absolutely determined to re-engage with our European partners" following David Cameron's EU veto. He was addressing a meeting of Liberal Democrats and business leaders, and said he was speaking on behalf of the "whole government". Mr Clegg has called the veto "bad for Britain". But the …
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BNE in the Press Association - “Clegg: We must re-engage with EU”
14 December 2011
The Government is "absolutely determined" to ensure that Britain remains at the heart of the European single market, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said. Despite the deep differences on Europe between the coalition parties exposed by David Cameron's decision to deploy the UK veto to block a new EU treaty last week, Mr Clegg …
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Phillip Souta in Le Figaro - “The City is concerned”
13 December 2011
British Prime Minister raises doubts growing among the first representatives of the European financial marketplace. David Cameron has wielded its veto in Brussels Friday in the interests of the City. Monday defended by Prime Minister at Westminster, the stunt has caused sharp criticism from the opposition. It also raises growing doubts among the first representatives of the European …
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BNE in The Independent - “City warns Cameron veto may come back to haunt it”
10 December 2011
By David Prosser Britain's decision to veto a European Union-wide treaty on the single currency in order to safeguard the interests of the City of London could backfire, senior members of the country's crucial financial sector warned yesterday. David Cameron's refusal to sign any treaty that did not build in new safeguards for the …
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Phillip Souta in Financial Times - “Business worries at lack of resolution”
9 December 2011
By Brian Groom, FT Business and Employment Editor Fear that the summit outcome would fail to resolve the eurozone crisis was a bigger immediate worry for many UK businesses than concern about isolation as a result of David Cameron’s veto of a European Union-wide treaty change. “The most important thing for UK manufacturers was a resolution of the eurozone …
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Roland Rudd on BBC Radio 4 - “Is the EU Undemocratic?”
11 November 2011
As Greece and Italy prepare to swear in new, unelected, prime ministers, has the eurozone democratic dream been forgotten? "There is a strong indication that the ball game has changed" in European politics, eurosceptic Conservative MP Bill Cash told John Humphrys, with Germany starting to flex it's political muscles. There had been a "conglomeration of power" …
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3 November - Letter in The Times
3 November 2011
Sir, As the eurozone moves towards a solution to the sovereign debt crisis, it looks increasingly likely that treaty change may be required. Some on the fringes in the UK see that as an opportunity for wholesale repatriation of social and employment powers from the European Union. Such a strategy would fail. Stability of the …
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Letter in The Evening Standard - Roland Rudd on why Parliament rightly voted against EU referendum
27 October 2011
David Cameron was right to firmly face down eurosceptics on whether there should a referendum on our EU membership. Parliament, rightly, voted overwhelmingly against the motion as wrong both in principle and a distraction. The Government must not shift from the path of engaging in Europe. In a reported clash with President Sarkozy, the PM …
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Letter in The Telegraph - BNE Chairman, Roland Rudd, on why an EU referendum would be wrong
25 October 2011
SIR – Yesterday's motion on a referendum on membership of the EU was quite rightly never going to succeed. There are two particular reasons why it would be wrong to have such a referendum. First, it would be a distraction. Europe is in the midst of a dire economic crisis. The Government should be focusing …
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BNE Director Letter to City A.M. calling for 10 per cent cut in EU budget
11 October 2011
The EU has an opportunity to wrong foot its detractors with its next seven-year budget, which is starting to be negotiated. The signs, however, are not good. The European Commission and Parliament have proposed increases for 2012, of 4.9 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively. The debate needs to change – it is not …
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BNE Director quoted in CNBC article - Can the UK Stay Clear of the Euro Zone’s Problems?
7 October 2011
By Catherine Boyle Staff Writer, CNBC.com The UK has had an often fractious relationship with the rest of the European Union since it joined in 1973, with Euroscepticism sometimes one of the best tactics for aspiring politicians to get to the top. Now, with almost every day marking a new milestone in the euro …
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Roland Rudd on Bloomberg TV
20 September 2011
BNE Chairman, Roland Rudd, discusses the eurozone with Bloomberg's Maryaman Nemazee and emphasizes the importance of the UK's role in stabilising the euro. Greece leaving the euro would be catastrophic and with close economic ties, it would be impossible to shield the UK from the impact this would cause. http://www.bnegroup.org/video/#roland-rudd-on-bloomberg-with-maryam-nemazee
Rapid Response in City A.M. - ‘Save the Euro’
19 September 2011
'Politicians can and will sort out the euro crisis. Why? They have no alternative. A breakup would send Germany, Greece and every country in between into a grinding recession. The cost of the solutions - euro bonds, empowering the European Central Bank to stand behind Eurozone debt - is a bargain compared to that. Europe's …
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Comment in the Independent - The high price of playing politics with stability
12 September 2011
We should focus on strengthening the hand of liberals. Ultimately this is a crisis of competitiveness and the EU will only get out of it through growth, says Roland Rudd, Chairman of BNE. Up to 100 Conservative MPs are meeting today under the banner of reversing integration in the European Union. Share prices may have plunged …
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Letter in the Times - UK must lead the debate in Europe
28 July 2011
Sir, The eurozone crisis is not the time for the UK to step back from decisions being taken in the EU (Rachel Sylvester, Opinion, July 26). Some are saying that the price of the UK agreeing to reform of the eurozone should be a renegotiation of our membership. That would be bad diplomacy and wrong …
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Letter in the Daily Telegraph - Competitiveness
17 June 2011
SIR – The headlines say Europe is in a state of crisis and the euro close to collapse. There is, indeed, a crisis, but the more dire predictions are wide of the mark and ignore the important underlying story of the battle in European capitals over how to set the European Union on the path …
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Letter in The Telegraph - Libya: enter the EU
28 February 2011
SIR – As events in North Africa unfold, the European Union has been woefully inadequate in its response. We seriously need to raise our game. The EU’s first and rather ignoble concern was voiced by Roberto Moroni, Italy’s Interior Minister. He spoke of “an exodus of biblical proportions” that threatens to engulf Italy and bring …
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