I WISH to respond to the letter (February 12, European Movement is a voluntary body not a political party).

Mr Denne stated 'The European Movement is a voluntary organisation which is funded by its members and supporters. It is not a political party. It includes members of all the main political parties represented at Westminster. Its purpose is to encourage the spread of knowledge about the European Union and Britain's place in it.'

Whilst I accept that the European Movement is not a political party, I think there is room for a little balance to be injected.

Open Europe produced a research document concerning the EU's propaganda budget, compiled directly from the EU's published accounts. I present a snapshot of this document here and I quote: Groups paid to promote the EU: The European Movement

The EU's funding of the European Movement is one of the most blatant examples of the outsourced propaganda effort.

The most recent available figures show that the European Movement received more than €2.5-million in EU funds between January 2005 and October 2007. For instance it received a €56,359 grant under the 'Europe for Citizens' project 2007-2013.

The organisation exists to promote the idea of an ever closer union, and is very open about this.

Its website states: Since 1948, the European Movement has played an essential role in the process of European integration by exercising its influence on European and national institutions. It fought in favour of direct election of the European Parliament by all European citizens, in favour of the Treaty on the European Union and also for a European Constitution. Its objective was to transform the relations between the European states and its citizens into a Federal European Union.

Its website also states: European integration is necessary to enable effective solutions to be applied to common problems . . . A politically united Europe is needed to sweep aside the petty tribalism that has historically, been an obstacle to progress or, at its worst, has led to bitter conflict and catastrophic loss of human life. Europe must be united as a region of law, justice and democracy, equipped with institutions capable of achieving these ends.

The research document is entitled: The hard sell: EU communication policy and the campaign for hearts and minds Dec 2008. It can be read at: http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/hardsell.pdf">www.openeurope.org.uk/research/hardsell.pdf

M G Hall

The Freedom Association

Tavistock

Address supplied