Next debate: Thursday 04 August 2011 - Has the EU failed?

DATE: Thursday 04 August
TIME: 7.30pm
VENUE: Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, EC4A 2LT
MOTION: This House Believes the EU has failed

Background

The EU was established on the value of greater stability through Economic, Social and Political union throughout EU member states. Since the Global Financial Crisis of 2007 we have seen a steady decline in the European Economic Area's ability to operate with Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain accepting large austerity packages alongside massive EU bailouts.

Despite this the European project has a great many successes to it's name such as taking the lead on directives for climate change, the development of the single market and even the EU bailouts for member states have been largely organised and funded by the European Central Bank.

With a Greek Default growing ever more likely by the day, can the strained fiscal union of the EU last the distance of the downturn? Has at 27 member states become too big and too bloated? Should we be integrating further and faster, with a common currency, foreign policy and taxation policy? Is the EU good value for money?

Venue

We will be in the Old Bank of England pub this Thursday next to the Royal Courts of Justice on Fleet Street. The debate will take place in the ground floor function room next to the bar. For directions to the pub, see here

Further reading

Background:
1) Q&A on Eurozone bailouts (The Times)
2) How possible or likely is British withdrawal from the EU? (Politics UK)
3)
European leaders move closer to full fiscal union (Euractive)

Has the EU failed?

Yes:
1) Conservatives pledge sovereignty bill to protect supremacy of Parliament over EU (Daily Telegraph)
2) Europe's political classes are to blame for downfall of EU (The American Spectator)
3)
Were the Eurosceptics right? (BBC)

No:
1) The European Union's Fort Sumter Moment (Huffington Post)
2) The benefits of pooling British sovereignty with the EU (European Movement)
3) Why Europe will run the 21st Century? (Centre for European Reform)


Admission:

Admission is, as ever, totally free of charge. All are welcome, so if you know anyone who might be interested in this debate, do feel free to bring them along.

Joining the Central London Debating Society:
Membership of the Debating society is free of charge as is admission to each of our debates. If you would like to join, simply email us at central.debating@gmail.com

Once you're on our mailing list, you'll receive notifications of all upcoming events and will be eligible to speak at a debate or even try your hand at chairing.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter:

Join our facebook group and sign up for all our latest events and news updates. You can also follow us on Twitter to receive new updates and see who else is following us at http://twitter.com/centraldebating