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		Helmer sets out vision for EU future Wednesday, 13th March 2007 Strasbourg – In a packed Strasbourg session of the European Parliament, East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has today criticised the proposed new Berlin Declaration and set out his own vision for the future of the EU. The Berlin Declaration, which is currently being drafted in secret by the German Presidency of the EU, is due to be signed by Heads of State and Government on 25 March to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. While MEPs have yet to see a draft of the declaration, it is widely expected to praise achievements of the past and set out ambitious goals for future political integration. During today’s debate in Strasbourg in which Mr Helmer was the only British Conservative to speak, he said that the Berlin Declaration failed to recognise that the EU was making people poorer, less democratic and less free and agreed with Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson that it was ‘farcical’ that a European Parliament debate on the new Berlin Declaration could be carried out without MEPs being able to see a draft. Now, following a European Parliament Magazine invitation to MEPs to contribute their own ‘Berlin Declaration’ in 150 words, Mr Helmer has written his own blueprint for the future of the EU, which recognises that the existing model has failed and calls for a Europe of free, independent, democratic nations based solely on free trade and voluntary intergovernmental cooperation. Speaking today, Mr Helmer said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity of setting out my vision of Europe after 50 years of the EU and I used my opportunity this morning as the only Conservative speaker in the debate on the proposed Berlin Declaration to draw attention to the EU’s profoundly anti-democratic plans to press ahead with the EU constitution in defiance of recent ‘No’ votes in France and Holland”. Mr Helmer’s Berlin Declaration reads as follows: BERLIN DECLARATION according to ROGER HELMER MEP 1.   We recognise that the European project has failed. The EU is making us poorer, less democratic, and less free. Europe is in long-term relative economic decline compared to other advanced economic regions. 2. We know that the European social model is failing. It is a prime cause of poor economic performance, and has led to historically high levels of unemployment. 3. The CFSP is undermining NATO and the Transatlantic Alliance, so reducing our security in a dangerous and unpredictable world. 4. The EU is anti-democratic: it is an élitist project which rides roughshod over the identities and aspirations of citizens 5. Accordingly, we agree to dismantle the existing treaty structure and to replace it with a new vision of a Europe of free, independent, democratic nations based solely on free trade and voluntary intergovernmental cooperation Read the full text of Roger's speech