European Movement UK
Encyclopedia
The European Movement UK is an independent pressure group in the United Kingdom
which campaigns in support of greater European integration
and for reform of the European Union
. It is part of the European Movement International.
The current President of the European Movement UK is the Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP
and the current chairman is Peter Luff
. The organisation promotes a 'more democratic, effective and accountable' EU.
gathered in The Hague
in May 1948, under the chairmanship of Sir Winston Churchill
, to create a new international movement to promote European unity and prevent further wars between its members. The British section of the European Movement was founded a year later.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the European Movement put forward the arguments for the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community
, and campaigned in support of membership in the 1970s. During the UK's European Communities membership referendum in 1975, the organisation was involved within the 'Yes' campaign.
Other campaigns since then have included pressing for direct elections to the European Parliament
in the 1970s and promoting the benefits of the single market
in the run-up to 1992.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which campaigns in support of greater European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
and for reform of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. It is part of the European Movement International.
The current President of the European Movement UK is the Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
and the current chairman is Peter Luff
Peter Luff (campaigner)
Peter John Roussel Luff, Chairman of the European Movement UK, and director of Action for a Global Climate Community; formerly Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society ; Director of The European Movement UK and Vice Chair, The International European Movement Funding and Marketing Director of...
. The organisation promotes a 'more democratic, effective and accountable' EU.
History
The origins of the European Movement lie in the aftermath of the Second World War. More than eight hundred delegates from across EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
gathered in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in May 1948, under the chairmanship of Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, to create a new international movement to promote European unity and prevent further wars between its members. The British section of the European Movement was founded a year later.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the European Movement put forward the arguments for the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
, and campaigned in support of membership in the 1970s. During the UK's European Communities membership referendum in 1975, the organisation was involved within the 'Yes' campaign.
Other campaigns since then have included pressing for direct elections to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in the 1970s and promoting the benefits of the single market
Single market
A single market is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of the factors of production and of enterprise and services. The goal is that the movement of capital, labour, goods, and services between the members...
in the run-up to 1992.