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LATEST RESEARCH ...And... Webcast and Forthcoming Meetings

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. If you do not wish to receive these news-bulletins please send an e-mail to: unsubscribe@brugesgroup.com Please write unsubscribe in the subject heading On the Wrong Track The impact of European Union legislation on Britain’s railways As reported at length in The Daily Telegraph on Friday 18th September 2009 Our Fight for Democracy The United Kingdom and the European Union euro Vice Watch the highlights of the last meeting online Are the political parties failing the voters of Britain? Monday, 5th October 2009 Bruges Group Annual Conference Saturday, 21st November 2009 ON THE WRONG TRACK The impact of European Union legislation on Britain’s railways As reported at length in The Daily Telegraph on Friday 18th September 2009, Britain has consistently been ahead of the game where EU railway legislation is concerned. We broke up a monolithic network, ran private trains and encouraged competition long before the EU told us to. However, as Britain’s horizontally fragmented network - the uniquely British franchise system - is in tune with Brussels’ thinking, if we wanted to revert to either a nationalised railway or vertical integration along the lines of the pre-nationalisation era, we could not actually do so while a member of the EU. And even with the current convergence between Britain and Brussels on many railway matters, European legislation has caused far more problems for our railway network than would be expected, due to Brussels’ obsession with breaking down national barriers. Having eliminated border crossings in the Schengen Area, the EU is determined to create a harmonised pan-European rail network similarly free from national boundaries. From the UK’s perspective, even though several aspects of the proposals are modelled on Britain’s rail privatisation, the European Union’s increasing interference is likely to be detrimental to rail operation in this country in several areas.For example:- The one trial implementation of the European Rail Traffic Management System on a single route in Wales has still not been completed, in spite of costing £59 million – over 10% of the cost of implementing Train Protection Warning System over the entire network. A European Commission proposal on giving priority to international freight trains on a busy UK trunk route, which if implemented could add 25 minutes onto passenger journey times only a few years after a £9 billion upgrade to speed them up. The possible costs of the planned extension of the Interoperability Directive to cover domestic train services will be expensive. Bearing in mind an earlier directive cost the UK over £80 million in implementation costs just for the very limited number of international trains that run here. The longer Britain remains in the EU the longer we will be locked into its thinking on railways. Even as things stand, with so few international trains ever likely to run in Britain compared with other member states, the benefits of regaining control of our railways are obvious. Surely the nation that gave railways to the world deserves the freedom to determine the direction that its own network should take. Click here to read the full research online OUR FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY The United Kingdom and the European Union This paper charts how Britain became entangled in the anti-democratic European Union. And outlines the damage this has caused to our own self-government; including how the European Union dominates legislation in the United Kingdom. On the most conservative estimate over 65% of new legislation emanates from the EU. This study also looks at how the European elites are in danger of creating a profound moral and institutional crisis in Europe – a crisis of democracy. Those in the Brussels elite who have power have not been elected, and those who have been elected have no power. The European project was designed to take over the governance of the nation states and to create an unaccountable self-perpetuating oligarchy to rule without the inconvenience of democracy. It gave itself a façade of legitimacy by creating the European Parliament, but this Parliament is a sham. The European arena continues to be largely the domain of self-selecting political and commercial elites. The fundamental democratic flaws in the European Union are now so deep, and history shows that the Union exhibits no sign of wanting to change them. Perhaps the only solution if we wish to live in a democracy is for the United Kingdom to withdraw from this wholly undemocratic body. It is time for the people to decide. Click here to read the full research online EURO VICE WEBCAST Watch the highlights of the last meeting online How EU corruption, the euro and the Lisbon Treaty are putting the squeeze on Europe Dr Anthony Coughlan, one of the Republic of Ireland’s leading EU-critics, discussed the forthcoming EU summit on the Lisbon Treaty, the Lisbon II referendum in Ireland and the damage that the euro is having on the Irish economy. Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, spoke on fraud and corruption in the European Union. Click here to listen online to Dr Anthony Coughlan PODCASTS Click here to listen online to Edward Leigh MP Click here to watch the highlights of the meeting online CONSERVATIVE PARTY FRINGE MEETING Are the political parties failing the voters of Britain? Monday, 5th October 2009 From 2.30pm ADMISSION FREE AND OPEN TO ALL WITH SPEAKERS SIMON HEFFER Simon Heffer is a well known broadcaster and columnist with The Daily Telegraph where he is also Associate Editor. Formerly, he was the Deputy Editor of The Spectator and also wrote for The Daily Mail. He is known and respected for his cogent views on the EU, political correctness and the Conservative Party. Simon Heffer’s publications include Like the Roman: the life of Enoch Powell and Nor Shall my Sword: the reinvention of England. PETER HITCHENS Peter Hitchens is a political columnist, author and broadcaster. He is noted for his traditional conservative stance. Peter Hitchens is the author of the notable books The Abolition of Britain and The Broken Compass: How British Politics Lost its Way. Peter Hitchens is also a columnist for the Mail on Sunday. He also frequently comments on British politics on both television and the radio. LOCATION: The Radisson Edwardian Hotel (Free Trade Hall) Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GP AGENDA: Lectures: 2.30pm – 3.30pm Discussion: From 3.30pm BRUGES GROUP ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Future of the EU... Can it Survive? Saturday, 21st November 2009 ADMISSION: £20 payable on the door or in advance Including lunch, coffee, wine, orange juice, mineral water, tea and cheese and biscuits Click here for a form to book your place LOCATION: The Great Hall, King's College London, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS AGENDA: Registration and Coffee: 10.30am Morning Session: 11am – 1pm Lunch: 1pm – 2pm Afternoon Session: 2pm – 4pm Refreshments: 4pm - 4.15pm Evening Session: 4.15pm – 6.15pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------