LDEG Questions to Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne

11.46.00am GMT Wed 28th Nov 2007

We asked Nick and Chris two questions about Europe. 1 How do you think the Liberal Democrats under your leadership can identify opportunities to promote a positive message about the benefits of EU? 2 Environmental concerns now run through just about all Liberal Democrat policy. If you become leader how will you ensure that the European dimension similarly becomes a common thread throughout our policy? See how they answered below -

Nick Clegg answered -

"Let me assure you that under my leadership the Liberal Democrats would find opportunities to promote a positive message about the benefits of the European Union. I've been doing it already: I wrote an article in the Financial Times on 4 November, where I spelt out exactly why it is vital for Britain to commit to involvement in Europe. It's available at http://tinyurl.com/39y6gm. I also promoted the cause of Europe in a keynote speech on the economy at the North East Economic Forum. My speech is available in the policy section of my website www.nickclegg.com.

"Your second question is how we can make Europe a common thread that runs through our policies across the board. I agree with you that this is vital. The EU may have been founded to deliver peace in the aftermath of World War Two, but it has transformed itself into one of the most sophisticated responses to globalisation the world has ever seen. It transcends policy arenas, and we must show how our membership benefits us in every arena, rather than dealing with "European policy" in its own silo.

"Again, I believe I'm already doing that. I'm campaigning for Europe on the basis of what it brings us in economic benefits, in protection from terrorism, and cross-border crime, in environmental protection and more. I hope to continue to do this as leader. I will also ensure that all parliamentary teams in Westminster include the relevant MEPs, as corresponding members at least, so that all parts of our party can be coherently tied together."

And Chris writes -

"On the first, I will continue to be a champion of a liberal Europe that serves the interests of Britain and our European neighbours. That doesn't mean blanket acceptance of the status quo. It means being clear that we have a positive vision for what the European Union can be, and pursuing it. It means demolishing the myths and addressing the genuine faults. Ultimately, it means showing the economic benefits of the European Union, and the potential for further cooperation between its nation states.

"The second of your questions is obviously one close to your heart, and one on which I've previously spoken at LDEG fringe events. The key role for Europe is to help enforce world agreements on climate change as much as it is to lobby for new ones. The European Union must hold other nations to their commitments and act as a united bloc in the search for global agreements on environmental issues. This is true of biodiversity agreements as much as climate change.

"But most of all, Britain must take up its role as a European member in meeting all the environmental agreements that the Union has undertaken. It is shameful, in 2007, that Britain still plays laggard in implementing decisions for a greener Europe. Here, the fault clearly lies in London with our Labour government.

"As leader I would put forward a vision of a new Europe. Not the negative, divisive fantasy Europe peddled by the Daily Mail. But a positive, dynamic Europe that can become a reality; a Europe that leads the world in climate change and enhances the prosperity of all its members. That, for me, and for our party, is a liberal Europe."