SOUTH West Conservative MEP Caroline Jackson was the main speaker at a well-attended meeting in Tavistock Methodist Hall focusing on the Future of Europe. Dr Jackson dealt with three issues currently facing the European Union, including the partial revival of the rejected European constitution in the more acceptable form of an organisational treaty when Germany takes over the EU presidency next year. She also spoke of the expansion of EU membership, making the point that the new states must be accepted by the other members. She said there were concerns over Turkey joining the EU with all the problems the membership of a relatively poor country of 68 million could pose, its human rights record and opposition of certain member states. In conclusion Dr Jackson spoke of what Europe symbolised for a new generation which had not known world wars and therefore could not relate to the fact that the EU had ensured a lasting peace. In a world where problems such as global warning, the environment, energy, immigration and terrorism were trans-national and where we were dominated by existing (USA) and up and coming super powers (energy-rich Russia, China, India and Brazil) it was clear that an independent UK made no sense, said Dr Jackson. She added that the future role of the EU was well defined by President Barroso who recently stated that the EU?s task was to help Europe prosper in a globalised world. A lively debate followed the speaker?s comments, under the chairmanship of Graham Facks-Martin. RIGHT: Caroline Jackson MEP and meeting chairman Graham Facks-Martin pictured with Michael Horrell, director of Lynher Dairies, and Alain Sibiril, honorary French consul and managing director of Mesgven Transport in the UK.
