A series of ambitious proposals from Emmanuel Macron has exploded the Brexiter myth that the EU is stagnant and destined to fall behind. The French president is kicking off a debate which embraces Europe’s desire to meet the trials and opportunities of the 21st century.
In a world of tech giants, malign foreign influence and an embattled environment, the UK is stronger inside the EU club. We can help build the bloc for the future, defend our shared values and together tackle the problems which made people vote for Brexit in the first place.
A better deal for workers
Despite a lack of strong evidence, it is undeniable that fears of unscrupulous employers undercutting British wages with cheaper EU workers had a big impact on voters in 2016. Macron has already helped push through reforms addressing this issue since the referendum. Now he is proposing a more extensive “social shield for all workers” which guarantees the same pay for the same work.
Jobs of the future
Macron suggests a new “European Innovation Council” to help finance EU firms working on technological breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence. It’s a forward-looking approach to job creation across the bloc. And the expertise which already exists in the UK could put us at the vanguard of a European tech revolution.
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Repairing our environment
This is one the UK simply cannot do alone. And with climate change sceptics now in power in the US and Brazil, we need to work together with our EU allies to push for a greener future on the global stage. Macron suggests EU targets of zero carbon by 2050 and pesticides halved by 2025, with a “European Climate Bank” to finance our transition to a greener economy and “European food safety force” to improve food controls and counter the influence of powerful international lobbyists.
Defence in a dangerous world
Macron stresses the need for a better-coordinated European defence capability, including a specific defence treaty, increased spending and a new “European security council”. Eurosceptics will scream “EU Army”. But the reality is that the UK is a European country – Brexit or not, we must be involved in our continent’s defence in a dangerous world. This goes beyond just defence, requiring a powerful joined-up European foreign policy which helps project our values and – hopefully – avoids any defensive measures needing to be used. The UK has been a world leader in diplomacy and security, and we’re far better placed to do so in future if we’re at the EU’s top table.
A level playing field for our companies
The French president calls for reform of competition policy, penalising corporations whose behaviour harms EU companies. That means if US tech giants adopt unfair tax practices or Chinese manufacturers pollute their environment, our firms won’t wind up at a disadvantage. The UK is much less able to stand up to huge global corporations on its own rather than as part of a European marketplace of half a billion people. “Who can claim to be sovereign, on their own, in the face of the digital giants?” Macron asks.
UK can take control of its future
The French president’s vision – published in 28 newspapers across the EU – is just the beginning of a conversation on reform and advancement across Europe. The UK can be part of this conversation if it chooses to stay inside the EU.
As a leading European nation – and one with painful experience of what public perceptions of a failing EU can cause – we can push our own agenda, as Macron is doing now. That might include more accountable or democratic EU institutions, better management of free movement, or striking high-quality trade deals with the US and China. Surely that is better than Brexit, with a future as a junior trading partner being force fed chlorinated chicken by Trump’s America?
Now we know what Brexit looks like, and the opportunities a future inside the EU can bring, it would be unreasonable – and unfair – to push through Brexit without first putting it to the people.