A 'leading role' in the EU?

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday that Britain would play a 'leading role' in the EU in his speech to the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall. Hague has made no secret of his deep-rooted Euro-scepticism in the past, but perhaps he is coming round to the idea that, though useful as a populist rallying cry in the safe haven of opposition, distancing Britain from the EU would be a risky strategy in government.

So, if the Conservatives really do wish to play a 'leading role' in the EU, how would their recent policies stack up with EU members? Campaigning for a ‘no’ vote on a UK referendum of the Lisbon Treaty would have incurred the wrath of some European leaders. Leaving the European People’s Party, by far the biggest party in the European Parliament, has left them with far less influence over policy areas decided by simple majority (Ordinary Legislative Procedure), from the single market to fisheries. Instead they have allied themselves with small fringe parties which have little credibility in the Parliament. Meanwhile the Tories’ plan to introduce a UK Parliamentary Sovereignty Bill would have no real impact aside from giving the rest of Europe (and of course the UK public) the perception that the Conservatives are not invested in the European project.

In fact, the pressure of the anti-EU Tory backbench and the perception of an anti-EU public sentiment have infiltrated virtually all Conservative policies and conversations with regard to Europe. So much so, that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will tomorrow warn Cameron to engage over the future of Europe, or risk French non-cooperation in key areas of policy. This is not the first time France has criticised Conservative policy on Europe.

If a Conservative government is going to play a leading role in Europe it will need to mend some fences with European allies as the idea that their political movements have gone unnoticed in Europe is clearly not the case.

Ellen Bloomer, intern, ippr