European Movement UK

Pro-Europe pressure group

European Movement UK

Formation| 1949
Type| Pressure group
Headquarters| Millbank Tower, 30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DU
Location|

* United Kingdom

Membership

| 22,000+

Official language

| English

CEO

| Nick Harvey

Chairman

| Mike Galsworthy

President

| Lord Heseltine

Vice President

| Sir Vince Cable

Staff

| 20
Website| europeanmovement.co.uk
Part of a series of articles on

Brexit

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union

* * *

Glossary of terms

Background

* European Communities Act
* 1975 EC membership referendum
* UK rebate
* Bruges speech
* No. No. No.
* Maastricht Rebels
* Black Wednesday
* European Union (Amendment) Act 2008
* European Union Act 2011
* UK opt-outs from EU legislation
* Euroscepticism in the UK
* UK opinion polling on EU membership
* Campaigns for a referendum
* People's Pledge
* Labour for a Referendum
* Bloomberg speech
* In or Out
* 2013–14 EU (Referendum) Bill (unsuccessful)
* 2014 European Parliament election
* 2014 UK Parliament by-elections
* Clacton
* Heywood and Middleton
* Rochester and Strood
* 2015 UK general election
* 2015–16 EU membership renegotiation

2016 EU referendum

* EU Referendum Act (Gibraltar)
* EU Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations
* EU Referendum (Conduct) Regulations
* Issues
* Endorsements
* Opinion polling
* UK Government pro-EU leaflet

* * *

Campaigns

Leave campaigns

* Vote Leave (official)
* Business for Britain
* Conservatives for Britain
* BeLeave
* Leave.EU
* Bpoplive
* The Freedom Association
* Better Off Out
* Grassroots Out
* Labour Leave
* Get Britain Out
* Bruges Group
* Campaign for an Independent Britain
* Brexit: The Movie

Remain campaigns

* Britain Stronger in Europe (official)
* Labour In for Britain
* European Movement UK
* Britain in Europe
* British Influence
* Business for New Europe
* Nucleus
* Project Fear

* * *

Outcome

* Results
* Causes for result
* International reactions
* Immediate aftermath
* 2016 Conservative Party election
* 2016 Labour Party election
* 2016 UKIP election
* Department for Exiting the EU
* Department for International Trade
* Allegations of unlawful campaigning
* Alleged Russian interference

Notice of withdrawal

* Article 50 process
* Miller case (Article 50)
* EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017
* Brexit plan
* Repeal Bill plan
* 2017 UK general election

Negotiations

* Negotiation positions
* EU negotiation mandate
* Chequers agreement
* Timeline: 2017, 2018, 2019
* 2019 European Parliament election
* 2019 UK general election

Withdrawal agreement

* Brexit divorce bill
* Fish for finance
* Irish backstop
* No-deal Brexit
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
* Windsor Framework

Legislation

* Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar)
* Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
* Cooper–Letwin Act
* Benn Act
* 2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs
* Public Vote Bill (not passed)
* Terms of Withdrawal Bills (not passed)
* Scottish EU Continuity Bill (blocked)
* Withdrawal Agreement Act (Gibraltar)
* Scottish EU Continuity Act
* Internal Market Act
* EU (Future Relationship) Act
* Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

Impact

* Impact on the Irish border
* Good Friday Agreement
* Impact on the EU
* Economic effects
* Effects on Gibraltar
* Scientific cooperation
* Retained EU law
* 2021 Jersey dispute

EU–UK relations

* Relations pre- and post-Brexit
* EU–UK trade negotiation
* EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
* Partnership Council
* Partnership Assembly

* * *

Relations with EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Ireland–UK border
* British–Irish Council
* North/South Ministerial Council
* Italy
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Spain
* Status of Gibraltar
* Gibraltar–Spain border
* Sweden

* * *

* Conjectured EEA membership

Opposition

* Post-referendum opinion polling
* New initiatives
* Change Britain
* More United
* Open Britain
* The New European
* Unite to Remain
* Led By Donkeys
* Revoke Article 50 petition
* Postcards from the 48%
* Proposed second Scottish independence referendum

* * *

Calls for a second referendum

* People's Vote
* Britain for Europe
* European Movement UK
* For our Future's Sake
* Healthier IN the EU
* InFacts
* Open Britain
* Our Future Our Choice
* Scientists for EU
* Other organisations
* Best for Britain
* Bollocks to Brexit
* Change UK
* Liberal Democrats
* Right to Vote

Timeline

|  Bloomberg speech|  Jan 2013

|

Referendum Bill blocked| Jan 2014
European Parliament election|  May 2014
2015 general election|  May 2015
Renegotiation begins|  Jun 2015
Referendum Act passed|  Dec 2015
Renegotiation concluded|  Feb 2016
Referendum held|  Jun 2016
David Cameron resigns as PM|  Jul 2016
Theresa May becomes PM|  Jul 2016
Article 50 judgement|  Jan 2017
Brexit plan presented| Feb 2017
Notification Act passed|  Mar 2017
Article 50 invoked|  Mar 2017
Repeal Bill plan presented| Mar 2017
2017 general election|  Jun 2017
Brexit negotiations begin|  Jun 2017
Withdrawal Act passed| Jun 2018
Chequers plan presented|  Jul 2018
Withdrawal agreement plan presented|  July 2018
Withdrawal agreement released|  Nov 2018
Scottish Continuity Bill blocked| Dec 2018
Meaningful votes|  Jan–Mar 2019
Brexit delayed until 12 April|  Mar 2019
Cooper–Letwin Act passed|  Apr 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 October|  Apr 2019
European Parliament election|  May 2019
Theresa May resigns as PM|  Jul 2019
Boris Johnson becomes PM|  Jul 2019
Prorogation and annulment|  Aug–Sep 2019
Benn Act passed|  Sep 2019
Withdrawal agreement revised|  Oct 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 January|  Oct 2019
2019 general election|  Dec 2019
Agreement Act passed|  Jan 2020
UK leaves the European Union|  Jan 2020
Implementation period begins|  Jan 2020
UK–EU trade deal agreed|  Dec 2020
Future Relationship Act passed|  Dec 2020
Scottish Continuity Act passed|  Dec 2020
Implementation period ends|  Dec 2020
New EU–UK relationship begins|  Jan 2021
UK–EU trade deal ratified|  Apr 2021
Windsor Framework released|  Feb 2023
Windsor framework adopted|  Mar 2023

* EU portal
* UK portal

* v
* t
* e

The European Movement UK is an independent all-party pressure group in the United Kingdom which campaigns for a close relationship with the European Union, and to ensure that European values, standards, and rights are upheld in British law post-Brexit. It is part of the European Movement International which pushes for a "democratic, federal, enlarged European Union". It is the most prominent pro-Europe group in Britain.[1]

The Honorary President was Lord Ashdown until his death in December 2018. Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine was appointed as president in May 2019.[2] In December 2022, Lord Adonis stood down as chairman having been in the position since March 2021. Prior to him, the chairman was Stephen Dorrell. Following an election in March 2023, members of the movement voted for Mike Galsworthy to become the new chairman.

## History

[edit]

### The creation of the United Europe Movement and the Congress of Europe

[edit]

The origins of the European Movement lie in the aftermath of the Second World War. Following a speech by Sir Winston Churchill in Zurich in 1946, his son-in-law, Duncan Sandys, organised the launch of the United Europe Movement in 1947. A 'provisional committee to further the cause of a United Europe' met on 16 January 1947 to bring together a wide coalition of supporters of European Unity from the federalists in Federal Union, a campaigning organisation set up in 1939, to supporters of intergovernmental European cooperation. This United Europe Committee was formally launched on 14 May 1947 as the 'United Europe Movement' (UEM).[3][4]

Under the leadership of Sandys and Joseph Retinger, organiser of the European League for Economic Cooperation (ELEC), a committee was established to bring together several organisations working towards European Unity, including the UEM, ELEC, the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales, the European Parliamentary Union, and the European Union of Federalists. In Paris on 20 July 1947 ELEC, the UEM, the EPU and the EUF agreed to establish the Committee for the Co-ordination of the International Movements for European Unity. The EPU did not however subsequently ratify its participation in the Committee but the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales agreed to join. In December 1947, the Committee was renamed the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity and Sandys was elected its Chairman and Retinger its Honorary Secretary.[5]

The Committee organised the Congress of Europe in the Hague in May 1948. More than eight hundred delegates from across Europe gathered, under the chairmanship of Sir Winston Churchill, to create a new international movement to promote European unity and prevent further wars between its European countries. The British section of the European Movement was founded a year later.[6] It was also supported by Clement Attlee, the British Prime Minister.[7] Churchill consistently made clear that he saw any 'united Europe' rooted in 'a partnership between France and Germany'. "In all this urgent work" as he put it, "France and Germany must take the lead together. Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of Nations, mighty America, and I trust, Soviet Russia....must be the friends and Sponsors of the new Europe, and must champion its right to live."

### Campaigning activity 1970s to date

[edit]

The British European Movement, mostly working through its Campaign Group based in Chandos House, London, worked closely with the Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath in the early 1970s when Heath applied to join the European Union.[7]

During the UK's European Communities membership referendum in 1975, the organisation campaigned strongly within the 'Yes' campaign[1] and worked with the Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson.[7]

Other campaigns since then have included pressing for direct elections to the European Parliament in the 1970s[8] and promoting the benefits of the single market in the run-up to 1992.

In 1997 the British European Movement promoted heavily its Europe 97 campaign (ninety-seven reasons for the UK to be in the European Union).[7]

It campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum[9] and continued to oppose Brexit in collaboration with other major pro-European campaign groups such as Open Britain and Britain for Europe.[10]

In February 2018 George Soros's Open Society Foundations donated £500,000 to a number of groups opposing Brexit including £182,000 to European Movement UK.[11] In April the same year the group joined the People's Vote to campaign for a second vote.[12][13]

### Chairs

[edit]

The current chair of the UK European Movement is Mike Galsworthy, who was elected to the position in 2023.[14] The previous Chair was former Labour minister The Lord Adonis. Prior to that, chairs included former Conservative ministers Ian Taylor and Stephen Dorrell, Labour MEP Richard Corbett, Conservative MP Laura Sandys and Labour Peer Giles Radice.

### Scotland

[edit]

In Scotland (with devolved political institutions) the European Movement is represented by the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) - partner organisation of the European Movement UK, with reciprocal membership.

## See also

[edit]

* British Influence
* Federalisation of the European Union
* Open Britain

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John (2000). Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century. UK: A&C Black. pp. 392–393. ISBN 9780826458148.
2. ^ Mason, Rowena (2019-05-29). "Heseltine warns Tories: don't follow 'poisonous politics of Nigel Farage'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
3. ^ Mayne, Richard (1990). Federal Union : the pioneers : a history of Federal Union. John Pinder, John C. de V. Roberts. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-41995-2. OCLC 26163180.
4. ^ Lipgens, Walter (1982). A History of European Integration 1945-1947. Oxford University Clarendon Press. pp. 323–334. ISBN 0198225873.
5. ^ Lipgens, Walter (1982). A History of European Integration 1945-47. Clarendon Press Oxford. pp. 657–664. ISBN 0198225873.
6. ^ Jones, Alistair (2016). Britain and the European Union. Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press. p. 202\. ISBN 9781474411790.
7. ^ a b c d Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John; Tyldesley, Mike (2000). Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups ... UK: A&C Black. pp. 133–134. ISBN 9780826458148.
8. ^ Catterall, Peter (2000). Reforming the Constitution: Debates in Twentieth-century Britain. Psychology Press. p. 145\. ISBN 9780714650562.
9. ^ Staff (2016-06-13). "The people hoping to persuade UK to vote to stay in the EU". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
10. ^ Fletcher, Martin (2018-05-30). "Inside the headquarters of Britain's anti-Brexit brigade". The New Statesman. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
11. ^ Elgot, Jessica (11 February 2018). "George Soros raises donation to anti-Brexit Best for Britain group". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
12. ^ Porritt, Richard (15 April 2018). "Campaign launched to push for People's Vote". The New European. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
13. ^ Staff writer (15 April 2018). "Launch of the new national People's Vote campaign". open-britain.co.uk. Open Britain. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
14. ^ "European Movement announces new Chair".

## External links

[edit]

* European Movement UK
* European Movement in Scotland (EMiS)

* v
* t
* e

People's Vote

Member organisations|

* Britain for Europe
* European Movement UK
* For our Future's Sake (FFS)
* Healthier IN the EU
* InFacts
* Open Britain
* Our Future Our Choice (OFOC)
* Scientists for EU
* Wales for Europe

People|

| Politicians|

* Lord Adonis
* Catherine Bearder
* Vince Cable
* Menzies Campbell
* Nick Clegg
* Gavin Esler
* David Lammy
* Caroline Lucas
* Layla Moran
* Anna Soubry
* Wes Streeting
* Chuka Umunna

|

Other|

* Rory Bremner
* Brian Cox
* Julian Dunkerton
* Mike Galsworthy
* Armando Iannucci
* Gary Lineker
* Andy Parsons
* Tony Robinson
* Patrick Stewart
* Anne Weyman

Related|

* Best for Britain
* The Independent
* Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement

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