By Martin Banks - 5th March 2007
UK Conservative leader David Cameron will use a visit to Brussels tomorrow to reassert his party’s commitment to Europe.
But Cameron is also expected to pledge to work with like-minded politicians to create a new EU.
Along with the Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek, Cameron will speak at the first conference of the new Movement for European Reform (MER), founded by the Conservatives last year.
Pundits have described Cameron’s speech as one of his most important since becoming Tory leader.
The day-long event will be attended by other leaders, academics, business people and citizens.
According to a party aide, Cameron will say he hopes the conference will mark a new start for all countries and the beginning of a process that will radically change the EU.
In his speech, the Tory leader will pledge to work towards creating a “new union”, one based not on “uniformity and compulsion” but on diversity and voluntary cooperation of independent nation states.
MER was founded when the Tories said they would pull out of the European People’s Party after the next European elections in 2009.
But, according to the aide, the speech will be a clear signal that Cameron will not take his party out of Europe and send a message to supporters who are considering of deserting to UKIP that he will try to change the EU.
“This is a joint initiative with our Czech sister party but, in truth, it is David Cameron’s EU campaign," the aide said.
“He will restate his wish that the party wants to be pointing the way towards where Europe should be going.”
The conference will have three policy sessions: economic competitiveness, climate change and global poverty.
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