Should the EU be more business friendly?

 

 

These were questions posed at the Chamber Big Debate on Friday 15th January. The debate, chaired by Frank Le Duc, saw Brighton Pavilion MP, Caroline Lucas and Tory MEP, Daniel Hannan, go head to head over Britain’s interests in Brussels.

 

 

Daniel Hannan launched straight into the dangers that arise when large corporations have too much interest in Brussels. The regulations imposed by the EU create barriers for the competition - big businesses, who can afford to have lobbyists at the European parliament, win out over start-ups and SMEs.

 

 

Laws that position the interests of large corporations above small and medium-sized businesses are made by an unaccountable European Commission, Mr Hannan said, adding: “It’s only when you’ve been thrown out by your voters that you’re invited to become a member of the Commission.”

 

Mr Hannan also argued that, as long as the UK is tied into a stagnant union, businesses won’t be able to grow effectively. The EU hampers the ability to trade with the BRICK economies, which are growing at a much faster rate than European economies. 

 

Mr Hannan urged the audience to “have the confidence to look beyond our doorstep and see the opportunities across the ocean.” He pointed out that Britain has the fifth largest economy in the world with the widest spoken language and said, “I think we might just do ok on our own.”

 

After thanking the audience for paying his salary, Mr Hannan invited them to stop paying his salary – by voting to leave the EU.

 

Caroline Lucas agreed that big businesses have too much influence in the European parliament but reminded that this is also the case in Whitehall. Corporations are not only lobbying in the British parliament, she said, they’ve gone one step further, they are the ones writing the policies.

 

 

“What has the EU ever done for us?” Ms Lucas asked. She answered by citing financially beneficial common standards, a whopping export market and improved consumer and workers’ rights.

 

She noted the impact EU membership and the 4.9 billion rebate have on charities such as Oxfam and Action Aid and the 3 million jobs linked to the EU. This raised the question from the audience, “what will happen to all the British people living and working in other European countries?” To which, Ms Lucas answered, we simply don’t know.

 

Ms Lucas accepted that, like the UK and the UN, the EU needs some reform, but we should work together to make this happen, rather than turn our back on the alliance completely. 

 

At the end of the debate, the majority still favoured staying in the EU, with several still to make up their minds.