Being in the EU helps us make a global difference

Former Simon Langton schoolboy Daniel Hamilton, 29, works as a consultant for international businesses, political movements and governments. Here, he explains why he feels the UK is better IN the European Union.

To protect, promote and reinforce Britain’s standing in the world, I’m “in”.

I’ll never forget the biting cold of the 2014 Ukrainian winter.

The memories of standing in the centre of Independence Square in Kiev in support of the Euromaidan movement, cocooned in a thick winter jacket and surrounded by howls of protest and the distant sound of gunfire, will never go away.

The intoxication of those weeks was real; not only from the acrid smoke of burning tyres or the sting of home-made vodka passed around the crowds, but from the infectious spirit of a people no longer willing to tolerate autocracy from their own government and intimidation from Russia.

The people of Ukraine won their battle – but not before 17 innocent people lost their lives to a dictator’s bullets.

For the past few years, I have worked for international businesses, political movements and governments; advising them on the best ways to strengthen their democratic processes and economies. My work has taken me from the bitter cold of Kiev to the searing heat of Somaliland and the black mountains of Montenegro.

Wherever I go, people tend to want the same things. Back in 2014, Ukrainians fought the same battle East Germans did in 1990: to live with democracy, dignity and human rights. Working inside the EU, Britain has a crucial role in making that happen.

Many advocates of a remain vote have evoked the horrors of the 20th century’s world wars as an argument for remaining in the EU. While the lessons learned from these conflicts must never be cast asunder, the debate as to whether or not the UK remains in the EU must be about the future, not the past.

From our relative comfort in east Kent, it is occasionally easy to forget what a fractious continent we inhabit.

In Ukraine, Russia has violated any conception of international law through its annexation of Crimea and occupation of Eastern Ukraine. In the Baltics, Russian military drills regularly take place just yards from the borders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

I have stood in the ruins of villages freshly flattened by bombs in Georgia and in the trenches in Nagorno-karabakh, where 500,000 displaced people live as refugees in their own nations.

Security and democracy matter and, however imperfect the EU may be, it enhances both of those prospects for Europe and the surrounding region.

The “carrot and stick” approach, which matches the prospect of EU and Nato membership with internal reform programmes, has transformed former Communist states like Poland and the Czech Republic from poverty to prosperity in just a quarter of the century. And I know we can do so much more.

While Nato must remain the cornerstone of British defence policy, its peacekeeping functions are being increasingly carried out by the EU; whether it be tackling piracy off the Horn of Africa or ensuring Kosovo doesn’t return to ethnic-based violence. British leadership in these forums has been vital in making them a success, just as it will be in ensuring the success of an independent, democratic Ukraine.

If Britain was to walk away from the EU, we would effectively be subjugating British military influence to the will of a more insular, less ambitious Franco-german alliance. Without Britain’s active involvement in EU structures, the transatlantic security partnership Europe has enjoyed with the USA since the Second World War could be undermined by suspicion and distrust of Washington. The only winner would be Vladimir Putin.

From Wilberforce leading the global charge to abolish slavery to sacrificing so much to defeat Hitler, the UK has never been a country that walks by on the other side – and must never be.

Away from security concerns, supporters of Brexit have put forward a number of exciting narratives for the future of Britain. Who could fail to be enthused by the idea of the UK as a “new Hong Kong”; trading freely with the world and fostering an investment Mecca for hungry entrepreneurs? Would it not be a tremendous boost to British business to be free from Brussels bureaucracy and Strasbourg-devised red tape? Isn’t it time government was run for the benefit of the British people, not those outside our borders?

Regrettably, the Leave cam- paign has yet to communicate a single, uniting narrative for a post-eu United Kingdom. There’s no “package” to buy; just a list of unanswered questions the length of the River Stour.

As attractive as the concept of free trade deals with India, China and Brazil sound, none of these parties has indicated any interest in pursuing a serious deal with the 500 million-strong, 28-country EU. What makes them so sure the UK would be different?

50% of British foreign trade is currently with other EU states, amounting to £230 billion a year. While this would no doubt continue in a post-brexit world, nonEU countries like Norway continue to implement 75% of EU

‘Britain, its people and its businesses have a place at the negotiating table’

laws and pay around 80% per capita of the net contribution into EU coffers as Brits do. The only difference, of course, is that Britain, its people and its businesses have a place at the negotiating table and a vote on key laws, while the Norwegians are shut out.

To those with valid concerns about the levels of unchecked EU migration into the UK in recent years, an Australianstyle points system for immigration may sound compelling – if it were not for the fact Australia admits more than twice as many migrants per capita as Britain does at present. It’s no quick fix.

The Leave campaign has also called for reinforced alliances with the Commonwealth, yet each and every Commonwealth leader – from Sri Lanka to Canada – has urged the UK to remain in the EU. The USA, with whom we are currently negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership that will boost average British family incomes by up to £400 a year, has been similarly unequivocal. Our friends and allies have been clear; and we should listen.

While the Prime Minister’s renegotiation deal was much maligned, it was a step in the right direction. He was right to oppose the concept of “ever closer union”, to reinforce Britain’s permanent opt-out from the euro and to ensure that not a penny of our taxpayers’ money can ever be used to bail out the Eurozone.

A vote to remain in the EU shouldn’t be seen as full-throated endorsement of membership. I see myself as a Eurosceptic who believes the EU has grown too bloated, too bureaucratic and out of touch with the British people.

If the EU is to have any future, it must reform; starting with the abolition of wasteful talking shops like the Committee of the Regions and Economic and Social Committee that cost more than 200 million euros a year yet have never helped a business, created a job or scrapped a draconian regulation.

The vote I will cast on June 23 isn’t cast out of enthusiasm for the European Union. It’s for Britain. I’ll be voting to protect, promote and reinforce Britain’s standing in the world – and to ensure the aspirations I heard on that cold Kiev square become a reality for everyone in Europe.

Daniel Hamilton