Bruges Group

The Bruges Group is "an independent all-party think tank. Our independence is our strength allowing us to be free to follow our own policy agenda and put the national interest above party political considerations. Set up in February 1989, its aim was to promote the idea of a less centralised European structure than that emerging in Brussels."[1]

Objectives

"The Bruges Group aims to bring together those from across Europe and North America who have an alternative concept to the Federalist model. So that Baroness Thatcher's vision of a freetrading, decentralised, deregulated and democratic Europe of nation-states is realised the Group believes that Federalism is an inappropriate structure for Europe, and that the tide of European integration must be turned," it states on its website.

"Fundamental reform is required of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy, European Court and European Parliament is required in favour of national sovereignty. There has been no popular agreement to the huge transfer of power, which has already taken place from the people of Britain to Brussels. Membership of the Economic and Monetary Union must be ruled out. If such a re-negotiation is proved to be impossible, the Bruges Group advocates withdrawal from the European Union to prevent Britain's incorporation into a European Federal State," it argues.

Funding

Funding for the Bruges Group came from businessmen, including James Hanson, Lord White, James Goldsmith and Patrick Barbour.

Principals

Principals
Margaret Thatcher Hon. President	Norman Lamont Vice-President	Brian Hindley Co-Chairman
Barry Legg Co-Chairman	Robert Oulds Director	Helen Szamuely Head of Research
John O'Sullivan Washington D.C. Representative
Former Chairman
Kenneth Minogue	Lord Harris of High Cross	Martin Holmes
Academic Advisory Council
Tim Congdon	Kenneth Minogue	Christie Davies
Norman Stone	Richard Howarth	Patrick Minford
Ruth Lea	Anew Roberts	Martin HoweQC
Lord Harris of High Cross	John O'Sullivan
Sponsors and Patrons
E P Gardner	Dryden Gilling-Smith	Lord Kalms
David Caldow	Anew Cook	Lord Howard
Brian Kingham	Lord Pearson of Rannoch	Eddie Addison
Ian Butler	Thomas Griffin	Lord Young of Graffham
Michael Fisher	Oliver Marriott	Rocco Forte
Graham Hale	W J Edwards	Michael Freeman
Richard E.L. Smith
Commentators
Martin Ball	Tim Congdon	Christie Davies
Graham Eardley	Margit Gennser	Roger Helmer MEP
Brian Hindley	Martin Holmes	Damon Lambert
Norman Lamont	Sally McNamara	Patrick Minford
Kenneth Minogue	Richard North	Robert Oulds
Leolin Price	Lee Rotherham	Helen Szamuely
Gawain Towler	Marcus Watney

Contact

TEL: +44 (0)20 7287 4414

FAX: +44 (0)20 7287 5522

Website: www.brugesgroup.com