Building a new consensus for Europe

Even with a referendum on the EU constitution deferred, Europe remains centre stage in British politics. On no other issue do the public have to contend with such a weight of misinformation and propaganda from the media and elsewhere. Almost twenty years of anti-European conditioning have secured a fundamental - but ill-conceived and unsoundly-based - change of attitudes.

As the European Movement's section for inner London, Central London Europe Group's task is, within this area and where necessary throughout London, to help unravel that. We are under no illusions as to the size of the complexity of the task!

We hope you will want to join CLEG and contribute to the historic challenge that confronts us.

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Financial turmoil

In our last speaker event of the year, CLEG addresses:

Financial turmoil - is Britian moving closer to the Eurozone?

This event takes place on Wed evening 26th November at Canary Wharf. Details when final will be posted on our Events page.

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Eurocapitales

CLEG continues to support the Eurocapitales network and we hope to attend this year's network meeting in Helsinki on climate change (28th-30th Nov).

We are investigating hosting next year's meeting in London.

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CLEG monthly social

As an experiment and so as to bring members and friends together more informally, CLEG have introduced a monthly social evening - 7pm on the third Thursday of every month other than December.

The date for November will therefore be 20th - and next after that 15th January.

We are testing out locations and shall confirm shortly where the November meeting will be.

Of course we talk about Europe - but other topics are permitted!

Hope to see you there.

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CLEG AGM

Our AGM took place on Monday 12th May at King's College London.

John Preston retired on completing three years as one of our vice-chairmen - but remains a member of the committee. He is succeeded by Petros Fassoulas. Dr Chris Maddox returns to the committee as hon secretary. A new member of the CLEG team is Arjan Geveke.

Peter Luff, chairman of European Movement-UK was our speaker and, as always, provided an encouraging message showing how the Movement and the European cause are regaining momentum and making up for lost time.

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Lisbon treaty

CLEG's programme for 2008 began with an evening conference on the reform treaty - Tuesday 11th March at St Bride's, EC4. Speakers included EM-UK president, Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP. For full details - and recordings of two of the speeches - see Events.

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Speak Up Europe

Last year, CLEG took an active part in the Speak Up Europe campaign, supported by the information network Europe Direct and intended for the public.

Successful events, all at St Bride's EC4, took place on:

• 27th March: Keeping the lights on... (Energy security in Europe);

• 23rd May: China - opportunity or threat - how Europe is or should be contending with the emerging superpower.

• 11th October: What has the EU done for women?

  Please see Events for further details on all these successful past events.