Member Article

Manufacturers say UK must remain in EU

The manufacturers’ organisation, the EEF, says that membership of the EU is central to North West businesses and investment plans in the short and long-term.

Its analysis, entitled ‘Manufacturing: Our Future In Europe’, is based on consultation and research with members ranging from multinational corporate businesses to small and medium sized companies.

More than 85% of members who expressed a view said they would vote now to remain in the EU.

The EEF argues that membership is critical to exports and the economic benefits far outweigh concerns about regulation or the repatriation of powers.

The organisation has sent an open letter to David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, declaring the vital role of Britain’s membership of the EU.

The EEF’s North West region director, Darrell Matthews, said: “Britain must not gamble on its future in Europe. The stakes are enormous.

“It is naïve to think we can simply pull up the drawbridge and carry on as normal. The debate must move on to how we can make Europe work to support jobs, growth and higher living standards.

“We need to focus on the real prize – how we can get Europe to work better supporting companies that are looking to sell into the EU, to export to new markets in the rest of the world and develop new products and services.

“Billions of pounds of trading opportunities are at stake and we must keep the focus – and the wider debate – on these opportunities which will unleash growth in our economy now and in the longer term.

“The clear message from manufacturers, who employ millions in the UK, is that we must lead on this and play an active part in shaping the EU from within.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .