LETTERS: EU's future: Labour's view

From Mr Giles Radice, MP

Sir: The National Executive Committee's report The Future of the European Union, which is to be debated at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday morning, is undoubtedly the most pro-European document ever to be published by the party. It proposes a European Recovery Fund to tackle unemployment, more qualified majority voting and greater powers for the European Parliament.

Its positive tone is in marked contrast to the disappointing Chatham House speech of the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind. Mr Rifkind's new European doctrine that "it may be appropriate to accept a loss of influence if that is the only way to protect our interests" may please the Tory Euro-sceptics. But, if carried into operation, it would lead yet again to impotent isolation - a state which would be very much against our interests.

Economic and monetary union and a single European currency raise the issue of British interests in a highly controversial and far-reaching way, so much so that, as your leading article today points out ("Valencia's message to Brighton"), many people wish they would simply go away. It is, of course, quite possible that the project may not get off the ground. But the successful meeting of European finance ministers in Valencia is an indication that British politicians would be unwise to bank on it. It is still quite conceivable that, if not by 1999, then soon afterwards, Germany, France and some other countries will have introduced a single currency.

The Chancellor, Kenneth Clarke, is right to keep open the option of British participation and to prepare for it, just as the Labour Party is right, in opposition, to declare its support in principle, provided that our economy is in good enough shape by then. Sensible British Europeans understand that, if Emu does go ahead, this country would almost certainly benefit more from being inside rather than outside.

Yours,

Giles Radice

MP for Durham North (Lab)

Brighton

2 October