The Bruges Group

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Conservative Movement Profile – The Bruges Group

The Bruges Group is a self-described “independent all-party think tank” founded in 1989.  The inspiration for their name and formation came from Lady Margaret Thatcher’s 1988 Bruges speech in which she said, “We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level.”

To this end, The Bruges Group is devoted to critically analyzing the “ever closer union” forming in the European Union, and to guard against further integration and loss of sovereignty.  Through research, publications, and events the Bruges Group seeks to lead the intellectual and political campaign to lessen British involvement with a single European state.

Because of it’s timely defense of British sovereignty in the face of the Lisbon Treaty and it’s continuing principled defense of a controversial position, the Rt. Hon Lord Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, commented, “The Group has become the most authoritative, thoughtful, and occasionally provocative of all the many different groups on European issues. Bruges Group publications are always characterized by clarity, and a willingness to think the unthinkable.”

High profile public meetings, debates, discussions, and conferences are hosted by the Group in order to educate and equip policy makers on the EU. Recent events have included “Europe, America, and Democracy”  featuring John O’Sullivan, founder and Co-Chairman of the New Atlantic Initiative and Executive Editor of Radio Free Europe and “Repealing the Lisbon Treaty and Independence from the EU” which featured Frederick Forsythe CBE and Douglas Carswell, MP.

Beyond hosting events, the Bruges Group also provides a depth of research, articles, polls, and opinion pieces on the status of the European Union all accessed through their website.  Papers include “Are the British a Servile People? Idealism and the EU” by Professor Kenneth Minogue  and  “How Much Does the European Union Cost Britain? 2007” by Gerard Batten, MEP.

For students wanting to participate in the fight against further integration with the EU, the Bruges Group has designed a portion of their website with as a resource center.  They provide tips from how to write to local newspapers and MP’s, as well as how to approach lobbying politicians and policy makers.