In an Op Ed piece in the Irish Independent today, Brendan Halligan comments on how Ireland “must fight to keep Britain in the EU” in the country’s Interest.
The article co-incides with the launch today of a new book by the IIEA, Britain and Europe: The Endgame – An Irish Perspective.
“It was David Cameron himself who described what is happening to Britain’s relationship with Europe as “sleepwalking towards the exit”. That’s a pretty accurate description of developments since he became prime minister. Having started out as someone who was fed up with his party banging on about Europe, as he called it, he has finished up as the man who intends to put Britain’s EU membership on the line.
He recently explained why he took the decision to hold a referendum: it was untenable to keep dodging the question he said. The reason for that, as we know, is the rise of Ukip, which wants Britain out of the EU and which is eating into the Conservative Party’s support. Some two-thirds of the Conservative membership also want Britain to leave and it is this combination of forces which is pushing Britain towards the exit, with its eyes shut” … (more…)
Tomorrow, just six weeks ahead of the UK general election, the IIEA will be launching a major new book entitled Britain and Europe: The Endgame – An Irish Perspective.
The study examines the future of Britain’s role in the EU, focusing on the potential dangers of a UK exit from the union. Its contributors include Tom Arnold, John Bradley, Tony Brown, Brendan Halligan, Blair Horan, James Kilcourse, John McGrane and Edgar Morgenroth.
Four possible scenarios are explored, particularly within political and economic contexts and considering the implications for Ireland and the effects such a strategy might have on Northern Ireland and Irish-British relations. The book is edited by Daithí O’Ceallaigh, former Irish Ambassador to Britain, and Paul Gillespie, Irish Times columnist and former Foreign Editor.
At a launch event scheduled for Thursday 26 March, speakers will include IIEA Chairman Brendan Halligan, Paul Gillespie of the Irish Times and John McGrane, co-founder of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. The evening will be moderated by Daithí O’Ceallaigh. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Brendan Halligan recently gave a lecture on A Small State in a Large Union: The Irish Experience to the Europa Institute at the University of Edinburgh on 1 September 2014.
It focuses on the political strategy employed by Ireland throughout its membership of the European Union and analyses the principles upon which it is based.
While the experience of each state is unique to itself it is suggested that lessons applicable to small states in general can be drawn from the Irish experience. The evolution of the European Economic Community into the European Union over the forty-year period from 1973 is traced for its impact on Irish strategy.
The emergence of a “Core Europe”, consisting of the Eurozone, and the emergence of the “Union Method” of decision-making are both examined for their long run implications for the Union as a whole and for small Member States in particular.
