New Statesman - EU Reform Treaty ' good for Britain' - by Jim Murphy

For the complete report from the New Statesman click on this linkEU Reform Treaty ' good for Britain' - by Jim Murphy

Gordon Brown and David Miliband are taking part in a European Council meeting in Lisbon, where the Portuguese Presidency will lead a discussion on the EU Reform Treaty among heads of state, heads of Government and Foreign Ministers from all 27 EU member states. The Reform Treaty is good for Britain and good for Europe. The UK already benefits substantially from its membership of the EU, and will continue to do so under a reformed, re-invigorated EU, able to deliver for citizens across Europe. The EU strengthens the UK's ability to combat climate change and increases our influence in the world, be it in Burma, Iran or Russia. Let's not forget - 57% of total British trade is with the EU. And around three million British jobs are linked (directly and indirectly) to our trade in goods and services with other EU countries.

Each EU country has its own perspective on how things should be done, but every government in the EU agrees on one thing - that we do need the Reform Treaty.