BNE Praises “Historic” Deal on Climate Change

Following the meeting of the European Council in Brussels, BNE has welcomed the agreement on climate change.

Chairman of BNE Roland Rudd said:

“This deal is a crucial and historic step. It illustrates what Europe can achieve with a positive and constructive attitude. It shows the EU taking leadership on what is probably the Number one issue for the public, as well as the business community. People increasingly recognise that climate change is an area that can most effectively be tackled by European rather than national action. The EU has shown how relevant it can be.”

Lord Michael Jay, Vice-Chair of Business for New Europe said:

“This will provide real momentum towards the broader international agreement which is so badly needed. This shows the importance of the EU playing a role on matters that affect us all.”

ENDS

1. BNE’s aim is to support the UK’s active engagement in Europe, and a reformed, enlarged and free-market EU.

2 . BNE’s principles are as follows:

• We support the UK’s membership of the EU and oppose withdrawal to the margins; we support positive and constructive engagement with the EU as the only sensible approach and as vital to our national interests.

• We support a vision of a prosperous free-market Europe able to compete in a globalised world.
• We support economic liberalisation and oppose excessive EU regulation, centralisation and red tape.
• We support institutional reform, further cooperation between EU member states where it is in Britain's interests and oppose old-fashioned federalism.  

• We support the enlargement of the EU including Turkey, and recognise the benefits that the recent wave of enlargement have brought.  

3. The above statement is issued from the BNE Executive.

4. For further information about Business for New Europe, see www.bnegroup.org or contact +44 (0) 207 256 6575, +44 (0) 7787 513 864 press@bnegroup.org