Speech: Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Justice Commissioner on Mackenzie Stuart Lecture at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law.
Cambridge, 17 February 2014
Context: The Mackenzie Stuart Lecture is an annual public lecture in honour of Lord Mackenzie-Stuart, the first British Judge to be President of the Court of Justice. The lecture is hosted at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law, by the Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS). Among the eminent scholars of European legal studies invited to give the lecture are Professor Joseph Weiler, former Judge David Edwards of the European Court of Justice, and Advocate-General Francis Jacobs of the European Court of Justice.
Main Messages
The UK in the EU
“I believe that the United Kingdom should be a central part of the European Union.”
“I would argue that the EU is stronger with the UK in it.”
“The truth is, outside the EU, the UK would lose influence. If the UK were to leave the EU, it would no longer be able to influence EU regulation. It would have to live with the rules decided on by the other EU countries.”
“To get access to the Single Market, you have to apply its rules. Just ask the Norwegians. It’s difficult to see why the other Member States would grant the UK unfettered access to their markets without requiring it to apply the EU’s rules.”
“All that talk about opt-outs, renegotiations and referenda distracts from the real issue. Finding more solutions like the ones [found for the banking and financial sector] is what we should all be focusing our energy and creativity on.”
Future of Europe
“In my personal view, the Eurozone should become the United States of Europe. Like Winston Churchill, I believe that the UK will not be part of this, but it should remain a close ally with the federated Eurozone, with which it would continue to share a common market, a common trade policy and hopefully a common security agenda.”
“[I]f this country decides one day to be part of a stronger integration, you know where to find us. The door is open, and there is a seat at the table for you. “
