Jon Danzig's World: In the EU, we gain sovereignty

Next year, the UK will be the only EU member ever to leave. No other countries are leaving. On the contrary, more countries are queuing to join.

In the EU, Britain and Britons have a say and a vote on the running and the future direction of our continent. Every five years, we’ve been able to vote for 73 UK MEPs to represent us in the European Parliament, which debates and democratically passes EU laws.

The European Union has been a reforming organisation since its inception in the 1950s. Every single treaty has been fully debated and passed by our Parliament in Westminster.

Not once were any changes to our membership imposed on us, and neither could they be, as the EU is a democracy.

Furthermore, every new member that’s joined the EU has required the unanimous consent of all the Parliaments of every EU country, including the UK.

New members must adhere to strict joining requirements, including a commitment to EU values and principles.

These EU values include, "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.”

Before becoming a member, a country has to demonstrate that it has a stable government guaranteeing, “democracy, the rule of law, human rights, respect for and protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy, and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union.”

The EU Council, comprising the elected leaders of every EU country, discusses and democratically agrees the agenda and future direction of the EU.

The European Commission is the servant of the EU, and not its master. The European Parliament elects the Commission President; has to approve each of the Commissioners, and has the democratic power to dismiss the entire Commission.

Outside the EU, Britain will only be able to look on as EU laws are decided without us, even though those laws will affect us just as much, whether we’re a member or not.

In the EU, we don’t lose sovereignty, we gain it. In the EU, we not only have a say and vote on the running of our country, but also our continent.

When Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, first applied for Britain to join the European Community back in 1961, he told the country it would involve some ‘pooling of sovereignty’ with other members.

But he eloquently explained that in renouncing some of our sovereignty, we receive in return a share of the sovereignty renounced by other members.

In urging Britain to accept that we will be stronger and more prosperous as a member of the Community, Mr Macmillan asked:

“Are we now to isolate ourselves from Europe, at a time when our own strength is no longer self-sufficient and when the leading European countries are joining together to build a future of peace and progress, instead of wasting themselves in war?”

Sadly, almost 60 years later, the answer is yes. Britain is now planning to isolate itself from the affairs and organisation of the mainland of our continent.

For a good reason? None that anyone has been able to explain or demonstrate.

But it’s not too late for Britain to do a U-turn on Brexit, if that’s what Britain wants. Reasons2Remain is campaigning for a democratic reversal of Brexit.

Please support our efforts by sharing all our videos and articles widely. The link to our portfolio is at Reasons2Remain.co.uk

Tuesday 20 February 2018

In the EU, we gain sovereignty