Regional Events
Recent Speak Out! debates in the UK
Cardiff - Temple of Peace, Cathays Park
Friday 13th December 2002
3.30 - 6 pm
Chaired by Louise Boyle and Toby Richards - Caerphilly Youth Forum.
Panellists:
Helen Conway - Chief Executive, Cardiff Chamber of Commerce
Jonathan Evans MEP (Conservative).
Eluned Morgan MEP (Labour)
Dafydd Trystan - Chief Executive, Plaid Cymru
The audience and the panel at this event engaged in a lively debate about the enlargement of the EU, the single currency and the opportunities and threats posed by the EU for Wales. The discussion also broadened into how to get young people more engaged in political issues, and rid politics and politicians of their boring and stuffy image. No conclusions were reached, but it was clear that the participants are very interested in European issues and politics in general, and welcome opportunities to be listened to by politicians.
Edinburgh - City Chambers, High Street
Friday 7th February 2003
3.30 - 6 pm
Lynn Dobson, Lecturer in EU and International Politics,
Edinburgh University
Bill Furness, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
Bill Miller MEP (Labour)
Lloyd Quinan MSP (Scottish National Party)
This discussion was on the Future of Europe and touched upon EU enlargement, reform of the European Union, the Single Currency, and Scotland's role in Europe. With conflict in Iraq looming, the audience was concerned with whether war would distract the Government’s attention from moves towards holding a referendum about the single currency. The subject of how the European Union was failing to engage with young people was raised, with one member of the audience pointing out that the websites that they visit all the time are used by companies to target young people, but not by the EU. Another, more general question, about human rights, was asked, in relation to an incident the preceding week when marchers in Scotland had been prevented from exercising their rights by police.
Liverpool - Hope at Everton, Liverpool Hope University
Friday 28th February 2003
1.30 - 4.30 pm
The event was chaired by Professor Bill Chambers, Dean of Hope in the Community at Liverpool Hope University, and the panellists were:
Chris Davies MEP (Liberal Democrat)
Dr Robert Geyer, Lecturer, School of Politics and Communication Studies, Liverpool University
Sara Williams, Policy Executive, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
The audience at this event seemed to be particularly well informed about European affairs. The discussion started off as a broad overview about the workings of the EU, the debate about the single currency, and EU enlargement, before quickly becoming focused on quite specific areas, such as the perception that the EU is undemocratic due to the Council of Ministers meeting behind closed doors, and the economic implications of enlargement for Liverpool, with regard to the change in Objective One funding.
Belfast - Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont
Friday 7th March 2003
1.30 - 4 pm
Danny Kennedy MLA (Ulster Unionist) hosted this event in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Eddie McVeigh, Head of Office, European Commission Representation in Belfast, chaired the panel which included James Nicholson MEP (Ulster Unionist), Alban Magginness MLA (SDLP) and Sam Porter, Policy Advisor to Sinn Fein. Rev. Ian Paisley MEP (Democratic Unionist) made an introductory speech at the event.
The focus of the event was on how Europe affects Northern Ireland, and how future changes will have an impact. There was often broad agreement across the political spectrum on issues such as the benefits of EU enlargement. The war in Iraq was again a topic which excited much interest.
London – Imperial College, South Kensington
Friday 21st March 2003
1.15 – 4 pm
This event was chaired by David Dimbleby, President of the Institute for Citizenship. The panel featured:
Adam Afriyie, London Chair, Business for Sterling
Nick Clegg MEP (Liberal Democrat)
Julia Gash, Chair, Yorkshire and Humber Britain in Europe
Bashir Khanbhai MEP (Conservative)
Neil Kinnock, Vice President of the European Commission
Caroline Lucas MEP (Green)
The specific focus of this debate was the Euro, and whether the UK should join. This event coincided with the EU-wide Spring Day in Europe, an initative that aimed to bring young people together with MEPs to debate the Future of Europe. The debate was attended by almost 300 students from schools across London who engaged enthusiastically in an animated debate. The students really seemed to enjoy the event, and asked questions and made comments on all aspects of the debate around the Euro, such as the economic implications of giving up control of interest rates to the European Central Bank, how the City of London would be affected, how the recent divisions that have emerged in Europe over the war in Iraq might have repercussions on the UK’s plans for joining the Euro, and the political and economic costs of the UK staying outside the eurozone.
Every student voted at the end of the debate on the question: "If a referendum on the Euro is called, how would you vote?" The results were 59% against joining and 39% for, with 2% spoilt papers.
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