Westminster Diary - 11th January 2007

Thursday, 11th January 2007

On 1st January, the European Union acquired two more Member States – Romania and Bulgaria. The arguments over the accession of these countries have been dominated by concerns over the likely influx of new European Union citizens from them to wealthier, more established EU states like Britain, and those concerns are justified. We saw what happened when other Eastern European states joined the EU Britain, in contrast to most of the existing Member States, imposed no transitional controls to limit the number of those permitted to come and work here from the new member states, with the result that hundreds of thousands more than the government was expecting arrived. This was eminently foreseeable (if other countries have restrictions and we do not, where did the government think immigrants were going to go?) and avoidable. I am glad that the government has at least learned this lesson and imposed transitional controls in relation to Bulgaria and Romania.

What we have discussed rather less are the wider benefits of EU enlargement. I am in favour of enlargement for 2 principal reasons. First, I believe a wider Europe is more likely to be the kind of Europe I wish to see. I am in favour of a flexible union consisting of independent Member States which co-operate in areas of policy where it is in their mutual interest to do so. I have no wish to see a European superstate, with responsibility for every aspect of our government. I do not see ever closer union as a worthwhile end in itself. It seems to me that a wider Europe is unlikely to be a deeper Europe, and I prefer the former. The more we admit countries which are diverse economically and culturally, the looser the European Union must be. The converse is true – the homogeneity of the original European Community states made close integration much more feasible than the variety of today’s Member States can. A closer union would be exclusive as well as inclusive – excluding new and different members. Picture the European flag – a circle of yellow stars, representing the Member States. The closer the stars draw together, the more they begin to form a solid ring into which no new star can enter, that is not the Europe I want to be part of.

Which brings me on to the second reason I am in favour of EU enlargement. If we pursue a wider, not deeper Europe we can widen its boundaries geographically. In the short term, I am thinking of course primarily about Turkey. I believe that the admission of Turkey as an EU Member State, though not without considerable difficulties, would be beneficial for Turkey and for the rest of the EU. The moderating and economically beneficial effects of EU membership are likely to make Turkey richer and to keep it as a functioning secular democracy. The latter is very much in all our interests, but there are other benefits too. A glance at the map underlines the significance of Turkey’s location – between Europe and some of the least stable parts of the world. Strengthening Turkey strengthens Europe as a whole.

So EU enlargement brings a wider Europe and can, in my view, bring a better Europe. I look forward to the next steps beyond Bulgaria and Romania.

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Updated on Thursday, 11th January 2007