PRESS RELEASE – March 2018
Ref: Seua15
Tim Verboven: ‘The European Movement is the oldest pro-European organisation in the country. With its roots in the Congress of Europe, in The Hague in 1948, and presided by Winston Churchill, it has been campaigning to give Britain a central space within the European project. It campaigned for the UK to join the EEC and it played an important role in the YES campaign in 1975. We campaigned very hard during the 2016 referendum.
‘Since the referendum, the European Movement has grown significantly. We have been joined by thousands of passionate pro-Europeans. The history of the European Movement and its message of being part of a European family of nations working together to foster peace on this continent is suddenly resonating with a lot of people. There are many reasons for this. People are worried about the NHS, about their jobs and the future of their children. And many of them have set up new European Movement branches across the country to campaign in their communities. Many other local groups have joined us as well. Our movement is growing.
‘One criticism that we often have heard is that the there are too many organisations and they need to work together. We have worked hard to create good working relationships. At the beginning of last year we signed an affiliation agreement with Britain for Europe, who, like the European Movement, also continued to campaign for Britain’s place in Europe. Later we signed coordination agreements with Scientists for EU and Healthier in the EU.
‘And what is really exciting is that recently, European Movement, Open Britain, Britain for Europe, Healthier in the EU, Scientists for EU and InFacts all moved in the same shared office in Millbank which enables us to work together in a way unseen even in the referendum. With a very strong grassroots activist base with local groups from European Movement, Open Britain and Britain for Europe, we can organise activities in many communities across the country. With the media strengths of Open Britain, InFacts, Scientists for EU and Healthier in the EU, our message can reach the whole country.
‘I would therefore like to ask you, do you want to help us? If you feel so strongly about it, help us. Watch this space, because we haven’t left yet, and we are working together like never before. This is not over yet!’
(Ends)
(391 words)
Further information: Tim Verboven, European Movement UK, tim.verboven@europeanmovement.co.uk
Press relations contact: Richard Hare,