This upcoming Leeds seminar , in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK and the University of Leeds, aims to examine the key details around the proposed renegotiation of competences, the options for reform of how the European Union operates and the planned 2017 EU membership referendum. The seminar will assess the objectives of different political and societal stakeholders as well as explore the key drivers of public sentiment. It will examine what reforms the EU is being asked to undertake by key business, NGO and union stakeholders on a regular basis through the development of ordinary EU legislation and where extra political impetus outside business as usual would be required to achieve key objectives. The seminar would explore the areas of EU competence that different stakeholders would like to see addressed as part of any UK renegotiation initiative. It will also review how such renegotiation proposals and the wider UK debate is regarded in other member states and how EU partners plan to respond to British requests.
Speakers:
- Philip Davies MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Shipley
- Rebecca Taylor MEP, Liberal Democrats
- Dr Richard Corbett, Member of the Cabinet of President Van Rompuy and Labour MEP Candidate
- Dr Richard Hayton, Lecturer in Politics, University of Leeds
- Further panellists to be confirmed shortly