Responding to David Cameron’s speech on the EU this morning, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said: 

“The euro crisis has brought an end to the notion of business as usual in the EU where the only direction of travel is ‘ever-closer union’. The European Union has undergone a significant evolution since I was first elected to the European Parliament in 1989.  I have seen the Union grow not only in size from 12 to 27 Member States, but also in strength as more and more policy areas have been brought into the competence of the European Union with the numerous revisions of the governing Treaties. I do however want to see the EU become a more competitive and flexible organisation that respects the diversity of the Continent. 

“Therefore I welcome David Cameron’s vision for a positive, practical and deliverable agenda for a more flexible and outward-looking EU. The EU needs fundamental change based on new principles that enable it to compete in a fierce global environment. 

“Of course, European federalists will scream that David Cameron’s agenda is undeliverable and will undermine the Single Market. This is complete nonsense. The only thing the Prime Minister wants to undermine is the outdated principle that only one-size-fits-all is the way forward for the EU. 

“As parts of the EU continue to integrate then the likelihood of the UK leaving will only increase, unless we can forge a new flexible alliance that allows national governments to ask at which level powers are best exercised. 

“People in Northern Ireland and across the UK should have the opportunity to finally have their say.

I believe a focused and comprehensive debate concerning the on-going relationship between the UK and the EU is essential. This must be an informed debate based on the facts.  A debate that clearly outlines the impact of all aspects of EU membership both positive and negative including our financial contributions and gains, the impact of the single market on jobs and trade, European funding and the costs and benefits derived from European legislation.

"With the continued economic and financial instability within the Eurozone our position outside of the single currency remains important. Despite the economic concerns in the UK we can at least say that we retain the power to control our own monetary policy, something the pro-euro SDLP and Alliance would have signed away.”