13. Europe
Britain should play a leading role in an enlarged European Union, but that no further powers should be transferred to Brussels without a referendum. This approach balances constructive engagement with the EU to deal with the issues that affect us all and protecting our national sovereignty.

The Government believes that Britain should play a leading role in an enlarged European Union, but that no further powers should be transferred to Brussels without a referendum. This approach strikes the right balance between constructive engagement with the EU to deal with the issues that affect us all, and protecting our national sovereignty.

• We will ensure that the British Government is a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners, with the goal of ensuring that all the nations of Europe are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century: global competitiveness, global warming and global poverty.

• We will ensure that there is no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament. We will examine the balance of the EU’s existing competences and will, in particular, work to limit the application of the Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom.

• We will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that any proposed future treaty that transferred areas of power, or competences, would be subject to a referendum on that treaty – a ‘referendum lock’. We will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that the use of any passerelle would require primary legislation.

• We will examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority remains with Parliament.

• We will ensure that Britain does not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament.

• We will strongly defend the UK’s national interests in the forthcoming EU budget negotiations and agree that the EU budget should only focus on those areas where the EU can add value.

• We will press for the European Parliament to have only one seat, in Brussels.

• We will approach forthcoming legislation in the area of criminal justice on a case-by-case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s security, protecting Britain’s civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system. Britain will not participate in the establishment of any European Public Prosecutor.

• We support the further enlargement of the EU.

Immediately related elementsHow this works
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The Coalition: Our programme for government »The Coalition: Our programme for government
International »International
13. Europe
A positive participant in the European Union »A positive participant in the European Union
A referendum lock on the 1972 European Communities Act  »A referendum lock on the 1972 European Communities Act
Approach EU criminal justice legislation on a case by case basis »Approach EU criminal justice legislation on a case by case basis
Britain will not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament »Britain will not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament
Defend UK national interests in EU budget negotiations  »Defend UK national interests in EU budget negotiations
Examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill »Examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill
No further transfer of sovereignty or powers over next Parliament »No further transfer of sovereignty or powers over next Parliament
Press for the European Parliament to have only one seat, in Brussels »Press for the European Parliament to have only one seat, in Brussels
Support the further enlargement of the EU »Support the further enlargement of the EU
European Communities (Amendment) Referendum Lock Bill »European Communities (Amendment) Referendum Lock Bill
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