In The Press
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 in Europe, we must seize them.
Writing in a personal capacity, we therefore urge the Government to continue to engage in the EU at every level for two simple reasons.
First, it is in Britain’s interest that the euro survives and we therefore should do everything we can to ensure the necessary steps are taken to guarantee its viability.
Secondly, the EU’s single market, while not complete, is of great importance to Britain. It accounts for over half our trade, but we must deepen and widen it, and push for reform in services, telecoms, the digital arena and energy. The Government estimates that three million British jobs rely on exports to our European partners. The EU’s institutions exist mainly to safeguard the single market’s level playing field.
Protecting the single market has to be the bedrock of our re-engagement with Europe. We are more likely to achieve this by remaining closely involved in the EU decision-making process.
Roland Rudd
Chairman, Business for New Europe
Sir Richard Branson
Chairman, Virgin Group
Lord Brittan of Spennithorne
European Commissioner for Trade (1993-1999)
Sir Andrew Cahn
Vice-Chairman, Nomura
Tim Clark
Deputy Chairman, Good Governance Group
Guy Dawson
Vice-Chairman, Nomura
Lord Jay of Ewelme
Non-Executive Director, Candover Investments
Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
Deputy Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell
Paul Marshall
Chairman, Marshall Wace
Ian Manocha
Managing Director, SAS UK & Ireland
Dr Isabella Moore
Managing Director, Comtec Translations, and former President of the British Chambers of Commerce
Vijay Patel
CEO, Waymade Healthcare
Nicolas Petrovic
CEO, Eurostar
Jan du Plessis
Chairman, Rio Tinto
Sir Mike Rake
Chairman, BT
Anthony Salz
Executive Vice-Chairman, N M Rothschild & Sons
Sir Martin Sorrell
CEO, WPP
Malcolm Sweeting
Senior Partner, Clifford Chance
Sir Stephen Wall
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Europe (2000-2004)
Bill Winters
Partner, Renshaw Bay