European Reform Forum. First plenary session, London, 14 July 2005. Oral evidence on democracy and accountability in the European Union since 1945

The European Reform Forum has been established by a cross-section of senior UK parliamentarians, economists, businessmen and commentators and is chaired by the former Home Secretary, Lord Waddington.

It has been created to conduct an evidence-based inquiry in public into the operation of the existing EU Treaties. It will do this in the manner of a parliamentary select committee, cross-examining witnesses from (amongst others) politicians, businessmen, economists, lawyers, historians, academics and administrators from all sides of the debate in the UK, in Europe and internationally.

The remit of the ERF’s inquiry can be summarised as examining the case for maintaining the existing EU Treaties, and to test the Prime Minister Tony Blair’s assertion that it is possible to promote competitiveness in the UK and Europe while also supporting the EU ‘social model’ and not renegotiating the Treaties.

A full report and conclusions was issued in December 2005. All transcripts, press releases and reports are available on the ERF website.

European Reform Forum http://www.european-reform.org/

---