The Bruges Group spearheads the intellectual battle against the notion of "ever–closer Union" in Europe and, above all, against British involvement in a single European state.
Latest Bruges Group Publication
Cool Thinking on Climate Change
Immigration and the European Union
Wednesday, 20th May 2009 - reminder
euro Vice
Wednesday, 17th June 2009
COOL THINKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Why the EU’s climate alarmism is both mistaken and dangerous
Latest Bruges Group Publication
In Cool Thinking on Climate Change Roger Helmer, backed up by substantial evidence, shows that the EU’s climate alarmism is both mistaken and dangerous.
Evidence is quite clearly emerging that man is not having the impact on the climate that the EU climate alarmists claim. They have failed to note that throughout Earth’s history temperatures have exceeded today’s levels. There have been warm periods followed by cyclical cooling, as there will be again.
Ignoring the doubts, the European Commission proposes to forge ahead with eyewateringly expensive initiatives designed to mitigate climate change. Key elements of this package include the extension of the Emissions Trading System (known internationally as “Cap’n’Trade”); the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM, an international extension of ETS); a framework for carbon capture and storage (which is not yet operational on an industrial scale); strict renewables targets; and a directive on CO2 emissions from cars.
The estimated cost of these programmes is €73 billion a year across the EU by 2020. In the UK, it will cost £9 billion a year by 2020. It is expected to force a million more households into fuel poverty. These polices are likely to raise average domestic fuel bills by up to £200 a year, while the total economic cost would average around £600 per family.
So why is the EU pursuing the climate issue with such vigour? Partly it is being used to win support from the ‘green’ lobby as part of the EU’s civil society initiatives to try and gain legitimacy via its favoured NGOs rather than through democratic means such as referenda.
Climate alarmism is also an excuse for yet more power-grabs. The whole issue is being used by the EU to take more power, not only over the environment and energy, but also over other areas ranging from immigration to foreign policy.
The simple truth is that the back-bone of Britain’s energy policy needs to be coal and nuclear energy, not the fantasy of renewable energy as pushed for by the European Union. Otherwise Britain will face an energy crisis with the very real prospect of the lights going out.
Click here to read the full publication online
To purchase a published copy of this paper, please call Robert Oulds on 020 7287 4414
or reply to this e-mail
Members of the Bruges Group shall receive this booklet for free
Click here to join the Bruges Group
MEETING REMINDER
Immigration and the European Union
Wednesday, 20th May - 6.45pm for 7.00pm
THE SPEAKERS
SIR ANDREW GREEN KCMG
Chairman of MigrationWatch UK
&
RICHARD SHEPHERD MP
Champion for more open and transparent government
SIR ANDREW GREEN KCMG
Sir Andrew Green was a professional diplomat for 35 years. He is the Chairman of MigrationWatch UK. Asked how he came to be involved in migration issues, Sir Andrews said that he first became aware of the problem when he was the Foreign Secretary’s principal adviser on the Middle East in the mid-90s. At that time he spent two years trying, on the Prime Minister instructions, to remove from Britain Islamic extremists who were claiming asylum but was frustrated by the British courts.
MigrationWatch UK was founded in 2001 by Sir Andrew after he decided that immigration was a matter which should be brought to the attention of the public. MigrationWatch UK is an independent organisation; who believe that the public are entitled to know the facts about the numbers coming into Britain.
Sir Andrew shall be launching at this meeting MigrationWatch’s report on how the European Union is affecting immigration into Britain. And shall be discussing;
is membership of the EU compatible with immigration control?
RICHARD SHEPHERD MP
Richard Shepherd is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Aldridge Brownhills. He has been a champion for more open and transparent government and is known and respected for the long campaign he fought for freedom of information. Richard Shepherd is also a campaigner against compulsory metrication.
He has had a distinguished Parliamentary career. Previously he has been a winner of both the Spectator's Award as Backbencher of the Year and Parliamentarian of the Year. Richard Shepherd was also a Maastricht Rebel and fought for a referendum on that Treaty. He lost the Whip in November 1994 after voting against the European Communities (Finance) Bill, but had it returned four months later.
ADMISSION: £10 payable on the door or in advance
Including wine, orange juice, mineral water and nibbles
LOCATION: Foreign Press Association
11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ
AGENDA:
Lectures: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Discussion: 8.00pm – 8.30pm
Wine and refreshments: 8.30pm – 10.00pm
FORTHCOMING MEETING
euro Vice
How EU corruption, the euro and the Lisbon Treaty are putting the squeeze on Europe
Wednesday, 17th June 2009
6.45pm for 7.00pm
THE SPEAKERS
Dr Anthony Coughlan & Edward Leigh MP
Dr ANTHONY COUGHLAN
Dr Anthony Coughlan, a Senior Lecturer Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin, is one of the Republic of Ireland's leading EU-critics. And is Director of The National Platform EU Research and Information Centre. This is a think-tank which produces documentation critical of closer European integration on democratic grounds for use by ‘No’ campaigners in the Republic's periodic European referendums.
He regards the growth of EU-critical opinion in the Republic of Ireland to be part of a growing international movement throughout Europe in defence of national democracy and the Nation State and subscribes to the dictum of the late President Charles De Gaulle that, "Europe is a Europe of the nations and the states or it is nothing."
Tony Coughlan was responsible for initiating the 1986/7 Crotty case before the Irish Supreme Court. This judgement laid down that a popular referendum was necessary before there could be a surrender of sovereignty to supranational European institutions, as the people are the repositories of sovereignty under the Irish Constitution, so only they can surrender it. It is because of this judgment that Ireland is required to hold a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon before it can be ratified.
He is also involved in a number of cases before the Irish Supreme Court to try and ensure that the forthcoming Lisbon II referendum is fair and not distorted by the Irish Government.
EDWARD LEIGH MP
Edward Leigh is the Chairman of the Cornerstone Group of Conservative MPs. He has had a distinguished Parliamentary career serving on many committees scrutinising legislation and the government. Since 2001, he has been Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Leigh worked in the private office of Mrs Thatcher from 1976 - 77 as her Private Secretary. From 1990 - 1993 Mr Leigh was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department of Trade and Industry; prior to that he was a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Home Office.
His political interests are; families, foreign affairs, agriculture and defence. Edward Leigh was Chairman of the National Council for Civil Defence and was Director of the Coalition For Peace Through Security.
ADMISSION: £10 payable on the door or in advance
Including wine, orange juice, mineral water and nibbles
Click here for a form to book your place
LOCATION: Foreign Press Association
11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ
AGENDA:
Lectures: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Discussion: 8.00pm – 8.30pm
Wine and refreshments: 8.30pm – 10.00pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honorary President: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG, OM, FRS
Vice-President: The Rt Hon. the Lord Lamont of Lerwick, Co-Chairmen: Dr Brian Hindley & Barry Legg
Director: Robert Oulds MA, Head of Research: Dr Helen Szamuely
Washington D.C. Representative: John O'Sullivan, CBE
Founder Chairman: Lord Harris of High Cross, Former Chairmen: Dr Martin Holmes & Professor Kenneth Minogue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further information contact:
Robert Oulds
Director
The Bruges Group
227 Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London W1B 5TB
UK
Tel: +44(0) 20 7287 4414
Mobile: 07740 029787
E-mail: info@brugesgroup.com
Posts
