Local Conservative MEP labels Lib Dem's plan for an EU super state as "scary"
- Created on Monday, 24 October 2011 13:37
- Written by Martin Callanan
The brochure, published yesterday by Andrew Duff, who is MEP for East of England and President of the Union of European Federalists, outlines his Lib-Dem vision for a European super-state. He suggests the creation of what he calls "formal second-class membership" for the UK and any other country which wishes to abstain from federalist goals in the EU's 'core' member states.
He calls for shifting decision-making to new European institutions through the creation a bigger European budget, an EU treasury, a European Monetary Fund and sanctions for countries lacking budget discipline.
Mr Callanan, who represents the North-East of England, said there might for once be a grain of sense in what Mr Duff said about the UK's options - "But his choice of language betrays the intolerance, narrowness and inflexibility of his rabidly federalist agenda.
"His tone is fanatical to the point of being scary."
"We should not be talking about second-class EU membership, but flexible membership that is right for Britain. And that would make first-class common sense.
He questioned how much it would cost British taxpayers to fund Mr Duff's grandiose plan for a bloated budget and an ever-growing machinery of state in Brussels.
"We already pay nine billion pounds a year for the privilege of EU membership. How much more to fund this latest Duff idea from the Lib-Dems?" he asked.
He went on: "It may well be the right thing for the Eurozone countries to pursue fiscal union - and if they wanted to fly a federal banner over that it would be their choice.
"But the UK should quite rightly reserve the right to renegotiate repatriation of key powers in any such fundamental change to our existing treaties."
Duff's pamphlet: