Together we have forged a strong and committed grassroots campaigning organisation, one of the most prominent in the UK. Bath for Europe is a non-party-aligned community group affiliated with the European Movement. We believe that Brexit is a profound national mistake, and campaign for the UK to retain strong ties with the European Union, with the aim of rejoining in the future. We are active on Twitter and Facebook and have a programme of events including talks (normally on Zoom) and meetings (in a local park in good weather otherwise on Zoom). All are welcome to attend.
Europe Day Screening Event: Flags in the Wind. A film by the European Movement
Our next live event is at Widcombe Social Club, Bath (very close to the station) on Wednesday, May 14th, 18:30 to 21:00. To mark Europe Day, 80 years since VE Day and to focus on peace in Europe, we’ll be showing a short film made by the European Movement that parallels the struggles of the Ukrainian people with the suffering in WW2. This will be followed by a discussion. There will also be a paid bar so it’s a time to get together with friends old and new. To book tickets follow this link.
New Government
We welcome the new Labour government and the big intake of pro-European MPs. We are encouraged by the early signs of improving relations with the EU and goodwill from many European countries. We can now confidently say – as our Chair said earlier this year – within our government and parliament Europe is no longer a dirty word.
However, many of the objectives of the new government – rebuilding the economy and public services, and re-establishing Britain’s place in Europe after the damage caused by hard Brexit – will require much more than goodwill and some small improvements in EU relations. We believe a deep engagement with our European neighbours will be necessary, at least rejoining the customs union and single market and eventually rejoining the EU. Help us encourage our pro European government and MPs to take the necessary steps back to the heart of Europe.
Europe is no longer a dirty word
It’s now 4 years since the UK left the EU. Much damage has been done and will continue especially after the introduction of further Brexit border controls. But there are signs of hope. As Emma Knaggs, Deputy CEO of the UK European Movement and our Chair, has argued in The New European, Europe is no longer a dirty word and reconciliation is getting closer: “politicians are beginning to catch up with the widely accepted notion that we desperately need to repair our relations with the European Union. Over the past 12 months, substantive progress has been made”
The Windsor Framework for Northern Ireland’s trading and governance arrangements and rejoining the EU’s Horizon research programme are two distinctive signs of progress. We can also add that last year the government said that UK industry can continue using the European CE conformity standard mark and quietly dropped the requirement to use the new UK CA mark. They also quietly dropped the proposal to go back to imperial weights and measures after most respondents to a government survey of over 100,000 people and organisations rejected the idea, though they did loudly say that wine could be sold in pint bottles should anyone wish to do so.
Emma concluded that “While there are still many politicians that speak about ‘Brexit benefits’, and some who fail to discuss the issue at all, it’s promising to see that amongst some key players the tone is finally shifting from ‘let’s go it alone’ to ‘let’s be firm friends’. Our leaders must now match their words with actions. Crucially, those who lead the next government must prioritise the rebuilding of our relationship with Europe.”
National Rejoin March III
The third National Rejoin March took place in London on Saturday 28th September, 2024. It was described as the most positive yet and left everyone with a buzz of enthusiasm and ideas for the next one.
National Rejoin March 2023
A full coach and many others from Bath attended the second National Rejoin March in London on Saturday September 23rd 2023. Tens of thousands from all over the UK marched through London to Parliament to demand the UK rejoins the EU. A third National Rejoin March is expected in Autumn 2024.
Other recent events have included a talk by Dr Milena Romano, Lecturer in European Politics from the University of Bath, on the topic of ‘Europe Today, Society, Challenges and Questions‘ at Widcombe Social Club in September, Georgian themed Day for Rejoin in front of the Royal Crescent on Saturday 25th March 2023.
Bath for Europe 