9 A STRONGER ECONOMY AT HOME 9 RENEWED RESPECT ABROAD 9 REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 2 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE REAL CHANGE WE HAVE DELIVERED:

9 The fi rst-ever EU budget cut, saving British taxpayers £8.15 billion 9 Taken Britain out of Eurozone bail-outs 9 Vetoed a treaty that would have damaged Britain’s interests 9 Reduced red tape for British business 9 Taken action to fi x our immigration system and limit migrants’ access to benefi ts

REAL CHANGE WE WILL DELIVER:

z An in-out referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU

z More powers back to Britain

z A better deal for British taxpayers

z Continued control of our borders and a crackdown on benefi t tourism

z More control of justice and home affairs

z More trade and continued economic independence – by saying no to the Euro and ‘ever closer union’

A STRONGER ECONOMY AT HOME, RENEWED RESPECT ABROAD, REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE.

ONLY WITH THE CONSERVATIVES

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 3 DAVIV D CAMMERON MPP PrP ime Ministter andd Leader of the Conseervative Party

4 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE FOR REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE, VOTE CONSERVATIVE

We have a very clear message in these European elections: if you want real change in Europe, vote Conservative.

The Conservatives are the only Ultimately, reform of the EU is – promising more wealth and more party with a track record of not about new agreements and work here in the UK. The prizes are delivering change in Europe – and communiqués, but new jobs and huge, if only the EU is dynamic and the only party that can and will new opportunities – new hope. It’s fl exible enough to go for them. hold an in-out referendum on about more young people knowing Britain’s membership of the EU. the purpose and pride of going out And now that we have a stronger to work in the morning and getting economy at home, we have Europe needs real change on in life. renewed respect abroad – to fi ght for real change in Europe. Many people in Britain – including To regain people’s trust, the EU me – feel strongly that the must demonstrably help people A record of delivering change European Union must change. prosper. We know the changes we are I hear time and again from people Our long-term economic plan seeking. And unlike any other party about their frustrations with the standing in these elections, we EU: it is too bureaucratic and too Changing Europe in this way is vital don’t just talk about “real change” undemocratic. It interferes too to Britain’s long-term economic – we have delivered it. much in our daily lives, and the plan. The Government I lead is scale of EU migration triggered implementing a clear plan to turn I vetoed a treaty that was not in by new members joining in recent our economy around and give all Britain’s interests. We cut the years has had a huge impact on our people the best chance of EU budget for the fi rst time in its local communities. success. It is a plan to create more history, saving British taxpayers jobs, give more hope to young billions of pounds. Where Labour For young people who need people and to give families across weakly signed us up for Eurozone it to generate more jobs, for Britain more fi nancial security and bail-outs, we got Britain out. We communities facing pressures on peace of mind. stood up to Europe on a fi nancial public services and housing, and transactions tax that would have for businesses struggling with red Already the plan is working. Our hurt our economy. We protected our tape, the need for real change in defi cit is down, our economy is rebate – whereas Labour gave £7 Europe is urgent. growing, 1.3 million more people billion away. are in work – that is 1.3 million I completely understand and people who go to sleep at night None of these things were share these concerns. So do with the peace of mind of a regular inevitable. They happened because many across Europe. We know wage. We are one of the fastest Conservatives in Europe fi ght hard that if we are to succeed in an growing economies in Europe. for Britain’s interests. And that is intensely competitive world, where exactly what we will keep on doing countries in the South and East But we want to go further, create in the months and years to come. are steadily growing in economic more jobs and more opportunities power, the EU must become much – and there is no doubt that a Only Conservatives will more competitive, or at least not reformed European Union can help deliver an in-out referendum prevent Britain from becoming us with that. The EU’s own market more competitive. It is not ‘ever is the biggest and wealthiest on The EU now plays a major role in closer union’ and ever more red the planet. We have 500 million all our lives. That role has changed tape we need, but ever more consumers on our doorstep. The dramatically since the 1975 ways of creating new businesses, EU is currently trying to open up referendum on our membership of trading and doing deals. trade with North America and Asia what was then just the Common

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 5 Market, the last time the British the end of 2017, and respect the Only the Conservatives can deliver people were given a say. It is a decision. real change in Europe – and only fundamental principle for me that the Conservatives can and will membership of the European Union In contrast, Labour and the Liberal deliver that in-out referendum. depends on the consent of the Democrats won’t stand up for sovereign British people – and in Britain and they refuse to give recent years that has worn wafer-thin. people a choice in a referendum. UKIP offer no serious plan and That’s why, if I am Prime Minister simply can’t deliver on anything after the election, I will negotiate they promise. a new settlement for Britain in Europe, and then ask the British So the choice at these elections people: do you wish to stay in the is clear: Labour and the Liberal DAVID CAMERON MP EU on this basis, or leave? I will Democrats won’t give people a say. Prime Minister and Leader hold that in-out referendum before UKIP can’t give people a say. of the Conservative Party

6 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE CONSERVATIVE PRIORITIES FOR EUROPE

Here are some of the key changes we will fi ght for:

● Powers fl owing away from Brussels, not to it, and cutting the cost of EU administration.

● National parliaments able to work together to block unwanted European legislation.

● Businesses liberated from red tape and benefi ting from the strength of the EU’s own market – the biggest and wealthiest on the planet – to open up greater free trade with North America and Asia.

● Our police forces and justice systems able to protect British citizens, unencumbered by unnecessary interference from the European institutions, including the European Court of Human Rights.

● Free movement to take up work, not a freedom to move just for more generous benefi ts.

● Support for the continued enlargement of the EU to new members, but with new mechanisms in place to prevent vast migrations across the continent.

● End our commitment to an ‘ever closer union,’ as enshrined in the Treaty, to which every EU country has to sign up. It may appeal to some countries. But it is not right for Britain, and we must ensure we are no longer subject to it.

In other words, yes to the Single No to ‘ever closer union’. No to a Sovereignty must remain with the Market. Yes to turbo-charging free constant fl ow of power to Brussels. British people through our own trade. Yes to working together No to unnecessary interference. democratic institutions. where we are stronger together And no, of course, to the Euro, to than alone, as we are doing today participation in Eurozone bail-outs The more Conservative MEPs on Ukraine. Yes to a family of or notions like a European Army. elected in May, the harder we will nations, all part of a European be able to campaign for – and Union – but whose interests, Crucially, the British people will deliver – our plan for change. crucially, are guaranteed whether have a clear choice: to remain in inside the Euro or out. the European Union or to leave it.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 7 SYS EDD KAMALL MEM P Leeada err of tht e Consnservav tiiveves in theh Euru oppeae n Parlr iament

8 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE FOREWORD FROM THE LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVES IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The British people want a better deal in the European Union and they want the right to decide whether to stay in the EU or leave altogether. Our Prime Minister, David Cameron, has made that clear, and set out a plan to make it happen. It is a plan that Conservative MEPs will do everything they can to deliver.

We have to face facts. Because forefront of the effort to conclude Conservatives have a plan: reform of the Treaties Labour signed free trade deals with South Korea, of the way the European Union when they were in Government – Canada and Singapore, and are works, renegotiation to bring Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon – the working towards deals with India, powers back to Britain and then a European Parliament today has real Japan and the United States. We historic referendum in which the power. It now jointly makes most EU have led a programme to cut EU red British people have their say for the laws with the governments of the tape and meddling in people’s lives. fi rst time since 1975. I am asking 28 countries that are members of for your vote so we can put this the EU. The Conservatives are the So the people you elect on 22nd plan into action. only party with a plan, who will turn May will make a difference. up and fi ght for Britain’s interests. Britain needs people on the ground If you want more EU red tape, fi ghting our corner in Brussels. Conservatives have a track record more interference from Brussels, David Cameron has set out a clear that proves we can deliver for a bigger EU budget and no plan, and has behind him a strong Britain. People said we could never referendum – vote Labour. They are team of people who will work to cut the EU budget, but we did. the ones who signed away power deliver it. If you want real change People said that we would never after power to the EU and refused in Europe, MEPs who stand up get out of bailing out Eurozone to give the British people a vote, for Britain’s interests, and the countries, but we did. People said and they are the ones who opened right to decide on Britain’s future the EU could never change, that the door for uncontrolled migration. in Europe in a referendum – vote we were stuck with the disastrous Both Labour and the Liberal Conservative. Common Fisheries Policy and its Democrats oppose our plan, won’t shameful practice of discarding stand up for Britain and refuse to perfectly edible fi sh, but we give the British people a say. reformed it. UKIP MEPs are happy to take the Our reforms are opening up huge salary and the expenses, but they SYED KAMALL MEP new opportunities for British won’t turn up to vote to defend Leader of the Conservatives business. We have been at the Britain’s interests. in the European Parliament

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 9 REAL CHANGE: DELIVERING AN IN-OUT REFERENDUM ON BRITAIN’S MEMBERSHIP OF THE EU AND A NEW SETTLEMENT IN EUROPE

The British people now have a very and delivery in Europe that no previous relationship with the EU. If we win the clear choice: if you want a referendum Government has matched. We cut the next general election, we will give the on whether Britain should stay in the budget, reducing the cost of Europe to British people an in-out referendum on EU or leave, only the Conservative British taxpayers. We vetoed a treaty Europe by the end of 2017. Party can and will hold one. Labour that was not in our national interest. and the Liberal Democrats don’t want We withdrew British taxpayers from Labour and the Liberal Democrats want change and refuse to give people a obligations to bail out the Euro. to deny the British people their right to say, while UKIP simply cannot deliver. a referendum, while UKIP don’t have Conservatives now want to go the power to deliver one. It is only the We have a track record of real change even further by negotiating a better Conservatives who can deliver real change.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: We are the only one of the three main parties ● Hold an in-out referendum on Britain’s EU 9 to have committed formally to holding an in-out membership by the end of 2017, the fi rst time the referendum in the next Parliament. British people will have had a say since 1975.

We have cut the EU budget for the fi rst time, while ● End Britain’s commitment to ‘ever closer union.’ It is 9 protecting Britain’s rebate, saving British taxpayers a political project that is not right for Britain, and we £8.15 billion. must ensure we are no longer part of it.

We stopped British involvement in Eurozone ● Make decisions for ourselves, working with our 9 bailouts, thus securing the fi rst ever return of power European partners where it makes sense to do so from Brussels. and support the establishment of a new principle in the EU: ‘Europe if necessary, national when possible.’ We vetoed a treaty that wasn’t in Britain’s interests. 9 ● Ensure a bigger role for national governments in We ensured that key decisions on banking setting the EU’s agenda. 9 union require Britain’s consent, protecting our position in the single market and maintaining the ● Preserve the integrity of the Single Market by competitiveness of our world-leading fi nancial insisting on protections for those countries that have services industry. kept their own currencies.

Britain has taken the lead in exercising ‘yellow card’ ● Keep up the pressure for a single location for the 9 powers, which bring back democratic accountability European Parliament, so that your taxes are not over EU decisions by enabling national parliaments wasted on maintaining two costly sets of offi cial to force the European Commission to reconsider buildings. proposed new EU laws. ● Continue the downward pressure on expenditure and As pledged, the Conservative Party formed a new tougher scrutiny of the EU budget and accounts. 9 group in the European Parliament – the European Conservatives and Reformists – this means that for ● Strengthen the ‘yellow card’ power for national the fi rst time the European Parliament now has a parliaments and introduce a system of ‘red cards’ so mainstream group dedicated to a Europe of nation that national parliaments can group together to block states, not a federal Europe. legislation that need not be agreed at the European level and bring back democratic accountability over EU decisions. We also support the Dutch Parliament’s proposals for further increased national Parliamentary control over EU legislation.

10 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE We will give the British people an in-out referendum on Europe by the end of 2017

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 11 REAL CHANGE: DELIVERING OUR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PLAN IN EUROPE

The Conservatives are the only party Capping welfare and reducing thousands of families who now have with a long-term economic plan to immigration so our economy delivers decent jobs, better prospects, and secure Britain’s future: for people who want to work hard and more security and peace of mind about play by the rules. their children’s future. Reducing the defi cit so we deal with our debts, safeguard our economy for the Delivering the best schools and To keep on with this plan, and keep long-term and keep mortgage rates low. skills for young people so the on delivering for the British people, we next generation can succeed in a need real change in Brussels. We need Cutting income tax and freezing fuel competitive world. real change to reward those who work duty to help hardworking people be hard and play by the rules; to back our more fi nancially secure. This plan is already working. Our businesses and create more decent economy is growing. The defi cit is set well-paying jobs; to get real value for Creating more jobs by backing small to halve. Debt is lower. More than 1.7 every single taxpayer’s penny that goes business and enterprise with better million private sector jobs have been to Europe. It is only the Conservatives infrastructure and lower jobs taxes. created since 2010. Hundreds of who can deliver that change.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: We have cut the EU budget, for the fi rst time in ● Continue to keep up the pressure for lower EU 9 history, and pushed for better value for money for spending, further reform the Common Agricultural British taxpayers in all spending. Policy and the EU’s Structural Funds and focus EU spending on growth and jobs to get better value for We have taken the lead in protecting small and money for British taxpayers. 9 medium-sized fi rms by ensuring they will no longer be subject to a raft of EU-wide legislation. ● Further expand the Single Market both by breaking down remaining barriers and ensuring that new We have championed a European patent system sectors are opened up to British fi rms. 9 and secured a London-based European Patent Court, which will generate up to £200 million a year ● Take further steps to reduce the burden of excessive for the British economy. red tape on businesses by simplifying or withdrawing more EU rules wherever possible, just as we have We have stopped Britain being subject to an EU-wide done at home with our Red Tape Challenge and one- 9 Financial Transactions Tax, which would have hurt in-two-out programme. savings and pensions and lost British and European jobs to the United States and Asia, and opposed ● Deal with the damaging effects of the Working Time one size fi ts all European taxation. Directive, in particular on our public services.

We have increased transparency in the bidding for ● Drive forward the efforts to fi nalise ambitious free 9 European research funds, ensuring that Britain’s trade deals with the United States, Japan and India fi rst-class research institutions benefi t by competing – which can win millions of jobs – and push for EU- on a level playing fi eld. ASEAN and Mexico free trade agreements and an investment deal with China. We have prevented a European ban on stem cell 9 research, which would have undermined our ability ● Create a real Digital Single Market so Britain’s to fi nd cures to the most terrible diseases and technology entrepreneurs in Tech City and beyond damaged Britain’s life sciences industry. can sell their market-beating products and services across Europe. We have been at the forefront of the effort to 9 conclude free trade deals with South Korea, Canada ● Ensure that new rules target unscrupulous behaviour and Singapore, which have opened up valuable in the fi nancial services industry, while safeguarding markets for British exporters. Britain as a global centre of excellence in banking, and fend off attempts to restrict legitimate fi nancial We have led the charge on tax reform, tax transparency services activities. 9 and tax evasion around the world. We put it at the heart of the G8 agenda and ensured that 44 countries have ● Enable more British students to benefi t from the now committed to early implementation of automatic popular Erasmus programme that allows students information exchange on tax matters. to spend time at EU universities, at no extra cost to them.

12 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE OUR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PLAN 1 Reducing the defi cit 2 Cutting income tax and freezing fuel duty 3 Creating more jobs 4 Capping welfare and reducing immigration 5 Delivering the best schools and skills for young people

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 13 REAL CHANGE: ON IMMIGRATION The Conservative Party has always cities the size of Birmingham. We support free movement for workers believed in maintaining tight control in Europe, which allows Britons to seek of Britain’s borders. Immigration has In government since 2010, we have jobs and gain customers across the contributed a great deal to Britain’s built an immigration system that continent, but we need to stop benefi t society, economy and culture. But works in the national interest. Our tourism and abuse. One and a half uncontrolled immigration – such as we reforms have cut non-EU migration million British citizens live in other saw under the last Labour Government to its lowest level since 1998. While EU countries, working there, living in – makes it diffi cult to maintain social other countries have thrown open retirement or studying. And while we cohesion, puts pressure on public their borders, the Conservative Party welcome hardworking people from other services, such as housing, and has kept Britain out of the Schengen European countries, we will not accept can affect wages for people on low open borders area. At the same time, abuses of free movement, particularly incomes. We are clear that, under we are making sure that those who do in the form of benefi t tourism by people Labour, immigration was far too high. come here are the brightest and the who have no intention of working or Net migration more than quadrupled best, those who have the skills and making a contribution to society. Other between 1997 and 2010, totalling entrepreneurial talent to help create EU countries are already taking steps to 2.2 million people – equivalent to two jobs and growth. deal with these issues.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: Kept out of the Schengen open borders area, ● Press for a return to free movement of workers; free 9 which allows citizens in mainland European Union movement is a central principle of the EU, but it nations to travel across borders without having their cannot be a freedom to move just for more generous passports checked. benefi ts.

We have toughened up rules on access to benefi ts ● Push for an end to a system where immigrants can 9 for people from other EU countries, clamping down claim welfare payments for their relatives abroad; on benefi t tourism and making it easier to expel free movement of workers should not be about people who are not here to work and who cannot exporting child benefi t, and we will work with our support themselves. European partners to address this.

We have further tightened up rules so that no one ● Change how free movement comes in for countries 9 can come to this country and expect to get out-of- joining the EU in the future so we do not see the level work benefi ts immediately. of migrations we have had in the past: for example, by requiring a new country to reach a certain income We will not pay out of work benefi ts at all for the or economic output per head before allowing full free 9 fi rst three months and only then after English- movement. language assessments. ● Remain open to the best and brightest students from We no longer pay benefi ts indefi nitely to EU around the world, but continue to remove licences 9 migrants; we changed the rules this year so we will from bogus colleges, on top of the 700 already taken now be cutting benefi ts off after six months unless away since 2011. migrants have a real prospect of employment. ● Continue to prevent extremists and preachers of hate We are toughening up the test which migrants from coming to Britain and spreading radicalism and 9 who want to claim benefi ts must undergo – and if community discord. they don’t pass that test, we will cut off access to benefi ts. In addition, newly arrived EU jobseekers will not be able to claim housing benefi t. We will defend this in the courts against Brussels. We are cracking down on businesses which exploit 9 migrant workers by paying them less than the minimum wage – fi ning them up to £20,000 for every underpaid employee; more than four times the previous fi ne. If people are not here to work, but begging or 9 sleeping rough, they will be deported and barred from re-entry for 12 months, unless they can prove they have a job.

14 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE We will maintain tight control of Britain’s borders, and not accept abuses of free movement

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 15 REAL CHANGE: ON JUSTICE The Conservative Party is the party of those laws, and police forces deciding practical co-operation at the law and order. We want to maintain how best to deal with crime. That’s European level. In an age when British control of our justice system. why we exercised the UK’s opt-out crime is increasingly mobile – when We want to ensure that people feel from pre-Lisbon Treaty police and gangs can operate across borders safe as they walk the streets and criminal justice measures in Europe – keeping our people safe must safe in their homes at night – and few and have made clear that we would mean working with other nations, things are more important than that. join in no EU police or criminal and whether that is identifying criminals at justice legislation without appropriate border crossings or deporting illegal We in the Conservative Party are Parliamentary scrutiny. immigrants. We do not want an EU clear: we want the British Parliament criminal justice code; but we do want and devolved legislatures drawing Of course, there are some areas practical co-operation that protects up our laws, British courts applying where it makes sense to maintain our people from harm.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: We opted out of European control of large parts ● Undertake radical reform of human rights laws and 9 of our justice system where it was unnecessarily publish a detailed plan for reform that a Conservative interfering in our national rules with little tangible government would implement immediately: we will benefi t for our citizens. scrap Labour’s Human Rights Act, curtail the role of the European Court of Human Rights in the UK We have acted to address the fl aws in the European and make certain that the UK’s Supreme Court is in 9 Arrest Warrant that the Labour Government ignored. Britain and not in Strasbourg. Our major reforms to how it works will make it a proportionate and effective tool in fi ghting crime and ● Press for further practical co-operation on tackling bringing those criminals to justice. terrorism, crime and illegal immigration.

Implemented the European Prisoner Transfer ● Step up European co-operation in the fi ght against 9 Agreement, enabling the UK to send European modern slavery, female genital mutilation and forced criminals back to their own country to serve out marriage. their prison sentence. ● If we opt back into the European Arrest Warrant, we Improved how information is exchanged between will build on our reforms to make sure that it is not 9 police forces and national border controls, making applicable for minor crimes; that alternatives can be it easier to prevent criminals and illegal immigrants used where possible; that lengthy pre-trial detention entering the UK. can be avoided; and that people are not extradited for doing things that are not illegal in the UK. 9 Helped introduce a European Protection Order so that partners – usually women – who have suffered ● Keep the UK out of harmonising measures on domestic violence can rely on a restraining order criminal law, asylum, immigration and border control obtained in their home country, wherever they are in that offer no benefi t to Britain – including saying no to the EU. a European Public Prosecutor’s Offi ce. Used the UK’s opt out to keep Britain out of greater 9 EU control over asylum and immigration policy.

16 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE We want to maintain British control of our justice system, but with practical co-operation that protects our people from harm

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 17 REAL CHANGE: ON ENERGY The UK faces real and signifi cant In meeting these challenges, the EU But it is also vital that we maintain challenges in the coming years, has some important roles to play. For our energy sovereignty. For families not least on energy. We need to instance, we support EU countries and businesses across Britain, energy secure energy at an affordable agreeing an over-arching climate goal, bills are a big slice of their budget – price, cut carbon in order to help and using the Emissions Trading and, in order to help drive down this prevent dangerous climate change, Scheme to drive these reductions cost, we must have control of our own and reduce our reliance on any one across Europe at the lowest possible energy mix. A secure supply of energy technology or source of supply. Indeed, cost. That is in all our interests – and is a fundamental duty of national developments in Ukraine have woken in the interests of generations to government and this should not be Europe up to the importance of come. jeopardised by EU agreements or diversifying its energy sources. actions.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: Underpinned Europe’s climate ambitions by cutting ● Ensure the EU completes the creation of a single 9 carbon at home. UK greenhouse gas emissions energy market across Europe, in order to ensure in 2012 were 25% lower than in 1990 thanks to greater energy security and lower prices for UK Government action to decarbonise our power supply. consumers.

Unlocked new sources of low-carbon energy by: ● Ensure that the EU Commission’s strategic review 9 of European energy security for the next 25 years is – setting up a £3.5 billion Green Investment Bank; implemented; this will further help us plan for the UK’s energy future. – putting in place a framework that has made the UK the world’s most attractive market for offshore ● Work with European partners such as Poland to wind and secured the fi rst new nuclear power develop fully Europe’s shale gas resource. We have station for a generation at Hinkley Point; and commissioned a joint taskforce which will report at the end of the year. – investing £1 billion capital spend on carbon, capture and storage, which could save the UK ● Support an ambitious and equitable international more than £30 billion a year by 2050. deal on climate change, including campaigning for EU countries to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2030. 9 Improved our energy security by unlocking investment in the UK North Sea, and by developing ● Support and further reform the EU Emissions Trading UK shale gas. Scheme as the most cost-effective means for EU countries to cut emissions. 9 Further enhanced our energy security by committing to interconnecting the UK power network with ● Ensure that the proposed 2030 renewable energy neighbouring countries. target is non-binding on individual EU countries. In order to cut carbon as cost-effectively as possible, Stopped EU attempts to ban further offshore oil and nuclear, carbon capture and renewables technologies 9 gas drilling, following Commission proposals to over- should be allowed to compete on a level playing fi eld. regulate this industry. ● Work with European partners to ensure that each Stopped EU attempts to over-regulate the UK’s country should have the right to choose their energy 9 emerging shale gas industry, which we have mix. supported by putting in place the most competitive tax regime in Europe and a comprehensive package for local communities – worth £1 million a year for a typical site. Helped hardworking people by cutting energy bills 9 by an average of £50 and legislated to force energy companies to put people onto their lowest tariff that meets their preference.

18 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE We will maintain our energy sovereignty: a secure supply of energy is a fundamental duty of national government

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 19 REAL CHANGE: FOR FARMERS, FISHING COMMUNITIES AND OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Britain’s farmers and fi shing drink abroad. That’s why Conservatives by the recent extreme weather. We have communities play a vital role in our in Government have prioritised opening also made it our mission to complete national life and help sustain a rural up new markets to British producers. the roll-out of superfast broadband, a economy that is worth £211 billion a technology that can truly bridge the gap year. These activities put food on our Too often the Common Agricultural between urban and rural. tables, nurture our countryside and Policy (CAP) puts British farms at a form the heart of many communities. disadvantage, burdening them with The Common Fisheries Policy used For years, they were disadvantaged unnecessary expense and red tape. to be a disaster. We fought hard by European policy – and for years We are passionately committed to for wholesale reform – and won. Conservatives have fought to change reforming the CAP further, getting Today, the micro-management from that. a better deal for our farmers, and Brussels is being reversed; the allowing them to sell their top quality appalling practice of edible fi sh British farming has a well-deserved produce all around the world. being thrown back into the sea to and world-wide reputation for its top meet a bureaucratic requirement is quality produce, robust traceability We support rural communities. That’s being abolished; and we now have and rigorous production standards. why we have made spending on fl ood a legally binding commitment to fi sh As the world’s population continues defences a major priority for this at sustainable levels. All this means to grow and tastes and diets develop, Government, as well as creating a that today, fi shing communities from we believe that there are phenomenal special £10 million Farming Flood the Highlands to Cornwall have more opportunities to sell British food and Recovery Fund to help those affected security and peace of mind.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: Opened up 112 markets for animals and animal ● Push for continuing reform of the CAP so that it costs 9 products in the last year alone. For example, we less and offers better value for money. have: ● Ensure that the new CAP reforms are implemented – signed a deal on pork with the Chinese that has and adhered to by all EU countries, so our farmers contributed to £9 million of growth in the pork are not unfairly disadvantaged. market, in addition to £12 million of growth in hides and skins; ● Secure further export opportunities for British farmers both in the EU and globally, and fi ght – secured a deal on beef to Singapore worth up to to ensure that farming is included in free trade £10 million a year; and agreements such as that with the USA.

– agreed a deal on animal genetic material with ● Cut red tape to reduce the costs to all businesses by China, which alongside live pig exports, is worth at least £1 billion by 2019. up to £45 million over fi ve years. ● Ensure the ban on discarding perfectly edible Helped British fi shermen manage their own fi sh, along with the wider fi sheries reforms are 9 businesses by stripping away the ineffective micro- implemented fully. management by Brussels, allowing us to work with our closest neighbours instead. ● Build on this success to secure further reform and give local people a bigger say in the future of the Pushed for radical reforms to the Common Fisheries fi shing industry. 9 Policy, fought for tougher science-based targets to ensure sustainable fi shing and ended the shameful ● Work to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated policy of throwing back perfectly edible fi sh. fi shing.

Reformed the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund ● Support the introduction of food labelling to give 9 which supports British fi shing communities, while at consumers more information about where and how the same time ending subsidies that fund destructive our food is produced, while avoiding burdensome fi shing practices. rules for small fi rms.

We continue to champion the highest standards of ● Actively work to improve animal welfare standards 9 animal welfare and in Europe we have led the way by and ensure that rules are properly enforced pushing for tough legal action against countries who throughout the EU. have failed to adhere to the phased bans on battery cages for chickens and sow stalls for pigs throughout the EU.

20 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE We are fi ghting to give Britain’s farmers and fi shing communities security and peace of mind

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 21 WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: continued WHAT WE WILL DO: continued

Improved the terms of the CAP and gained powers ● The historic six-year capital settlement secured from 9 for the countries of the EU on how to implement it, 2015/16 to 2020/21 means we will be investing a leaving our farmers in a better position to compete further £2.3 billion in UK fl ood defences. in the global marketplace. ● Invest £10 million in an innovative technology Fought for a science-based Genetic Modifi cation market fund to test how superfast broadband can be 9 policy in the EU to keep British farmers competitive, extended to the fi nal 5% of the most rural areas. get better value for British consumers and further bolster the British biotechnology and life sciences industries’ world-leading position. Given our farmers the support they need to 9 compete:

– reduced the burden of form-fi lling on farmers, with two domestic regulations being removed for every one introduced and 8,000 fewer dairy inspections a year since 2011;

– put in place the fi rst Government Buying Standards for food and catering services, which ensure that government departments and agencies buy more sustainable food and give small and local producers fair access to public contracts worth up to £2.1 billion a year;

– backed the Red Tractor scheme, which gives consumers confi dence in the food they buy and which boosts British farming;

– taken steps to address weaknesses in our food system revealed by the horsemeat scandal, including by asking Professor Chris Elliott to lead a rigorous, independent review;

– promoted the use of protected food names which showcase British farming excellence, like Anglesey Sea Salt, West Country Beef and Lamb, Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese and Traditional Farmed Gloucestershire Old Spots Pork;

– spent over £2.4 billion on fl ood defence infrastructure in the fi rst four years of this Parliament, compared to the £2.2 billion spent in the fi nal four years of the last Parliament; and

– invested £790 million to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017. This will be match-funded by local authorities. Set up the UK’s fi rst Marine Protected Zones, 9 protecting 27 areas, covering over 9,000 square kilometres, with a commitment to designate up to 100 further Zones over the next Parliament. 10% of UK seas are now protected, and a quarter of English inshore waters. Launched a national tree planting campaign – The 9 Big Tree Plant – which has already seen 100,000 trees planted, and will plant a million by 2015.

22 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 23 REAL CHANGE: FOR A SECURE BRITAIN

Britain’s fortunes are tied to the wider can be an important means of back. We will support them in their world. Terrorist plots hatched thousands advancing our national interest by efforts to build a true democracy in of miles away can threaten our streets. shaping a more stable and prosperous which the law is applied fairly and fully Deals done in China or India can create world. Together we have the clout to to all. The EU also has a crucial role thousands of jobs back home. Confl ict infl uence our wider neighbourhood, to play. We will continue to work with in far-off countries can lead to mass whether that is supporting economic our European partners so that the migration here. So tackling global development in the South of Europe, EU works with the Ukrainian people poverty, resolving confl ict and spreading or helping countries to the East of the towards these goals. democracy – in short, engaging with EU – such as the Ukraine, Moldova the world – are resolutely in Britain’s and Georgia – onto a more open, Developments in Ukraine have been national interest. democratic path. clear proof of the risks of excessive European energy dependence on EU policy must never be a replacement We will continue to stand up robustly Russia. A long term goal for all for national decision-making and for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial European countries should now be national defence policy, and neither integrity and the international rule of greater energy independence and should it duplicate or undermine the law. We want to see a Ukraine that has security: that must be one of the long work of NATO, which must remain the good relations with Russia but we also term costs to the Russian Government bedrock of our security. Where EU believe it has as much right as any of its behaviour toward Ukraine. policy confl icts with our interests, or other European country to determine undermines national sovereignty, we its own future. For Conservatives in Brussels, Britain’s act – as we did when we vetoed the national interest is always our fi rst creation of an EU military headquarters. The Ukrainian people have shown that priority: the safety of our citizens, and they have had enough of the pervasive the jobs and opportunities created The EU’s foreign and security policy corruption that has held their country back home.

WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: WHAT WE WILL DO: Maintained Britain’s right to make its own decisions. ● Continue to stand up robustly for Ukraine’s 9 sovereignty and territorial integrity and the Protected NATO as the cornerstone of our security international rule of law. 9 and blocked attempts to duplicate defence structures. ● Ensure the rights of Gibraltarians are fully respected, particularly regarding free movement, aviation and Led efforts for co-ordinated action at the European maritime policy. 9 level through co-operation between sovereign states on the most serious international issues: ● Ensure defence policy remains fi rmly under British national control, maintaining NATO and the – standing up to Russia over Ukraine; transatlantic relationship as the cornerstones of our defence and security policy. – secured the toughest ever EU sanctions on Iran, which has brought the Iranian government to the ● Push for open markets to the benefi t of British negotiating table on its nuclear programme, the defence industries, contributing to further economic best hope for peace in the region; growth and jobs at home.

– successfully used EU sanctions to incentivise ● Continue to drive up the effectiveness of the EU’s the Burmese government to turn towards the efforts to tackle poverty in the world’s poorest greater freedom and openness we now see in the countries, and ensure that the EU plays its part in country; responding to humanitarian emergencies around the world. – provided the headquarters for the EU anti-piracy mission off Somalia that has helped see attacks ● Continue to push at the EU level David Cameron’s on shipping plummet; work through the UK G8 Presidency to clamp down on tax avoidance, promote transparency in company – in Mali, we and our allies are helping to support ownership, and root out corruption in extractive the establishment of an effective government in a industries. country that almost fell to terrorism; and

– we successfully championed greater EU trade access for Pakistan, including lower tariffs which provide crucial help for their economy.

24 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE Britain’s national interest is always our fi rst priority: the safety of our citizens, and the jobs and opportunities created back home

CONSERVATIVE PARTY EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2014 | 25 WHAT WE HAVE DELIVERED: continued WHAT WE WILL DO: continued

We have strengthened our alliance with France by ● Increase opportunities for the poorest countries 9 signing the historic Lancaster House Treaties to to trade with the EU and each other by further improve defence cooperation, including the creation opening EU markets, reducing EU export subsidies of a combined expeditionary force to carry out and negotiating generous Economic Partnership joint operations, closer cooperation on equipment Agreements. procurement, and joint facilities to support our independent nuclear deterrents. ● Work for a greener environment, including steps to cut carbon emissions across Europe and efforts to Played a leading role in international efforts to limit global warming to 2 degrees. 9 remove the scourge of anti-personnel landmines. In Libya, the United Kingdom led the international 9 diplomatic and military effort that prevented Gaddafi ’s regime from massacring his own people. We have been the world’s second largest donor of 9 international aid to help the Syrian people in their hour of need and we have played a leading role in efforts to fi nd a peaceful solution to this appalling confl ict. In Sri Lanka, thanks to a UK-sponsored resolution 9 at the UN, for which we won the support of EU and many other countries, we have successfully secured an independent international investigation into allegations of war crimes. That will be the best possible basis for proper reconciliation and a better future for the Sri Lankan people.

26 | REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE Promoted by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 4 Matthew Parker Street, London, SW1H 9HQ Printed by St Ives plc., One Tudor Street, London EC4Y 0AH CONSERVATIVE PARTY MANIFESTO 2014 ELECTION EUROPEAN CROWN COPYRIGHT |

27 9 If you want to keep the cost of Europe down Vote Conservative 9 If you want Europe to work for British business Vote Conservative 9 If you want to keep the Pound and Britain out of the Euro Vote Conservative 9 If you want our country to keep control of its own borders Vote Conservative 9 If you want to keep Britain out of Eurozone bailouts Vote Conservative 9 If you want to take back control of criminal justice Vote Conservative 9 If you want an in-out referendum on whether to stay in the EU Vote Conservative

A STRONGER ECONOMY AT HOME, RENEWED RESPECT ABROAD, REAL CHANGE IN EUROPE.

ONLY WITH THE CONSERVATIVES