European Foundation

The European Foundation is the leading British Eurosceptic think tank.

Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives listed below are summed up in The Foundation's overall policy of 'yes to European trade, no to European government'. We believe that greater democracy can only be achieved among the various peoples of Europe by the fundamental renegotiation of the treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. The Foundation does not advocate withdrawal from the European Union, rather its thoroughgoing reform.

• To further prosperity and democracy in Europe
• To renegotiate the treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice and prevent the ratification of the European Constitution
• To reform and scale down the acquis communautaire
• To ensure that future member states get a fair deal from EC/EU membership
• To halt the continuing arrogation of power by the EC/EU
• To prevent the UK from adopting the euro
• To contribute as actively as possible to an informed public debate about the future of Europe
• To liaise with like-minded organisations all over the world
• To liaise with organisations affected by EC/EU action and policy

History

Its website states, "On 7 February 1992, under John Major's conservative government, the Maastricht Treaty was signed – a major European treaty pressing the European member-states towards a deeply troubling political, legal and economic unification. In effect, the European Union (EU) was born. By October 1992, in strong opposition to the Maastricht Treaty, a group known as The Great College Street Group – consisting of MPs, academics, businessmen, lawyers, and economists – was formed. The Group provided comprehensive briefs in the campaign to win the arguments both in Parliament and throughout the UK. Shortly after the Maastricht debates the European Foundation was created by Bill Cash MP, a member of the Great College Street Group, who had helped to bolster a significant parliamentary opposition inside the Commons throughout the Maastricht Rebellion crisis period."

Personnel

• Patron: Thatcher of Kesteven
• Chairman: Bill Cash MP
• International Director: Andrew Rosindell MP
• European Director: John Laughland
• Editor, European Journal: James McConalogue
• Head of Research: Margarida Vasconcelos
• Office Manager Sara Rainwater

Former:

• Editor, European Journal: Annunziata Rees-Mogg
• Head of Research: Dirk van Heck

UK Advisory Board

• John Bercow, MP
• Robin Birley
• Angela Browning, MP
• David Caldow
• The Rt.Hon. David Davis, MP
• Jessica Douglas-Home
• Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith, MP
• Howard Flight, MP
• Fredrick Forsyth
• Zac Goldsmith
• John Grimley
• Lord Harris of High Cross
• Robin Harris
• Rt.Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory, MP
• Roger Helmer, MEP
• Martin Howe, QC
• Hon. Bernard Jenkin, MP
• Richard King
• Barry Legg
• Oliver Letwin , MP
• Russell Lewis
• Lord McAlpine of West Green
• Professor Kenneth Minogue
• Austin Mitchell, MP
• Jeremy Nieboer
• Owen Paterson, MP
• Lord Pearson of Rannoch
• Richard Shepherd, MP
• Richard Smith
• Professor Norman Stone
• Sir Peter Tapsell, MP
• John Tate
• Rt.Hon. John Taylor, MP
• The Hon. Denis Walker
• Sir Oliver Wright, GCMG, GCVO, DSC

International Advisory Board

• Georges Berthu, MEP ([[France)
• Jens-Peter Bonde, MEP (Denmark)
• Clement Brown (United States)
• Anthony Coughlan (Ireland)
• Frank Dahlgaard, MP (Denmark)
• Margit Gennser (Sweden)
• Wilhelm Hankel (Germany)
• Ulla Klotzer (Finland)
• Roberto de Mattei (Italy)
• Keith Marsden (Switzerland)
• Claus Bunk Pedersen (Denmark)
• Paulo Portas (Portugal)
• Philippe de Villiers, MP (France)
• Jan Zahradil, MP (Czech Republic)

Contact details

The European Foundation
Queen Anne's Business Centre
28 Broadway
St. James's Park
London
SW1V 1EJ
Phone: 020 7340 9631
Web: http://www.europeanfoundation.org