Tony Bennett

Apologies if the full text of the controversial 'Bucharest Declaration' has been posted elsewhere on the Forum, but I've only just received this.

It seems broadly in line with the Conservative Party's policy on the European Union.

I've opened a new thread as the previous one on the 'Sunday Times' news article has gone off at a few tangents:

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Joint Declaration of The Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament (IND/DEM Group) and The National Initiative Party (NIP)

- Having regard to their respective political programmes;

- Having regard to the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights;

- Having regard to the wishes, interests and concerns of the people we represent as political parties and movements;

Agree to combine their efforts and resources in campaigning:

1) Against the ratification of the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe;

2) For a referendum in each European Union’s Member State on any new Treaty drawing on the original text of the so-called Constitution for Europe;

3) For a real subsidiarity principle to be respected as the indispensable condition of sound democratic decision-making in the European Union;

4) For transparency and accountability in the management of European Union’s own resources – the money of citizens and taxpayers of the European Union’s Member States;

5) For equal treatment of all citizens of European Union’s Member States and against discrimination of new Member States;

6) For reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in the interest of taxpayers, consumers, farmers, and the farming communities;

7) For the respect of specific national cultures, languages, and traditions that convey European heritage to future generations and the whole World;

Eight) For the right of European Union’s Member States to remain sovereign in fiscal matters [er, what about other matters? - T.B.] and to subject introduction of the common currency Euro to a national referendum;

9) For free access to information on any European Union’s funded activity and run information campaigns in Member States and outside of the Union;

10) For balanced representation of proponents and opponents of European federalist integration process at Union’s funded conferences, seminars, and any other debates about the future institutional setting of the Union and its policies;

Signed on behalf of the IND/DEM Group by:

Mr Jens-Peter BONDE, Co-President;
Mrs Kathy SINNOTT, Vice-President;
Mr Nils LUNDGREN, Vice-President;
Mrs Hélène GOUDIN, Member;
Mr Patrick LOUIS, Member;
Mr Derek R. CLARK, Member;

Signed on behalf of the NIP by:
Mr Cozmin GUSA, President;
Mrs Lavinia SANDRU, Vice-President;

Bucharest, April 17th, 2007.

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