The speech: Britain and Europe

As you can imagine, I have spent much of the past month discussing David Cameron’s speech with contacts here in Belgium; listening and talking to businesses, to Belgian politicians and officials, to members of the British community, and even on one great occasion last month to 200 schoolchildren in Sint Truiden.

So, much as I love giving these columns a seasonal theme, I should say something about the political discussions we are involved in (rather than waxing lyrical about Saint Valentine). And if readers can bear it, I’d like to share the kind of things I say and hear in my job.

The thing I say most often about the PM’s speech? “Read it.” I’ve met loads of people who have read the speech. I have also met loads who have heard of it, read about it, have an opinion but haven’t got round to reading it yet.

My job as ambassador is to encourage people to engage with what British ministers are saying, so the arguments of those elected by the British people are properly listened to. The whole speech is here. Better to click on the link than read on.

My second most common remark? (This is definitely for people who haven’t read it.) This was not a speech about leaving the EU. The speech was a firm commitment to keeping the UK in the EU, at the heart of the single market, but also leading EU action on energy, climate change, development, foreign policy and other global challenges. As Belgian EU commissioner for trade Karel De Gucht put it, “It was the speech of someone who wants to explain to his people that he wants to stay.” 

Third, this is also the speech of someone who wants to change the EU, so it works better for everyone. So the British can feel more comfortable with it.  

David Cameron has made it clear that to secure public support for the UK’s long-term role at the heart of the world’s greatest trading bloc, we must address the gap between the EU and its citizens by proving we are acting effectively in areas where people want action, like delivering economic growth, giving value for money and not legislating for the sake of it.

The budget negotiations showed that other countries share our desire to secure a fair deal for all European taxpayers. The response to the speech has shown how many of our partners want the UK to stay.

Some commentators criticised the prime minister’s desire for more flexibility in Europe, suggesting that increased centralisation was the only answer to Europe’s problems. But flexibility is already the reality of Europe: 10 EU member states are not in the eurozone, some are not in Schengen, while the UK and countries like Belgium are more committed than others in foreign and security policy, as shown in recent British and Belgian action in Mali.

One-size-fits-all is not the case now, and it should not be the case in the future. We need to embrace the diversity of the EU. We need to recognise the different strengths each country – like the UK – brings to the Union. 

Finally, one or two critics have asked me what Britain ever did for the EU anyway. This feels a bit like that moment in Monty Python when someone asks “What have the Romans ever done for us?” In the single market, in enlargement, in defence and external policy, in tackling climate change, the UK is actively engaged in Europe. It has brought a British culture of openness, humour and frank debate to Brussels (where would Brussels be without a certain pink British newspaper?).

That brings me to my last local point, which I made in a speech to a British school last week. We should be proud of what the UK brings to Europe and the EU. And that goes for many British institutions here – from the schools to the Chamber of Commerce to the sports clubs – which are increasingly multinational while being based on British values.

People want to get involved with many British organisations here because the UK for any number of reasons – openness, English language, playing by the rules – is active and attractive.  We shouldn’t forget that.