The European Movement International is embattled in the perspective of the next European elections. “We cannot concede an inch” to the nationalists and euro-skeptics who will try to surf on the financial and economic tsunami said its Irish President, Pat Cox.

Gathered in their Federal Assembly in Brussels on Saturday 13 December, the members of the European Movement heard an authentic rallying call by the former President of the European Parliament. According to Pat Cox, the economic and financial context, with its present and future effects on businesses and households, will be “a perfect opportunity for nationalists and euro-skeptics”.

President Pat Cox said that the new pan European movement “Libertas” wanted to “massively invest” in the electoral campaign for next June, €75 million according to the press. This movement has already played a major role in the “no” victory during the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. At this occasion, it is said to have invested €13 million in the campaign, much more than all the other parties involved in the referendum.

Therefore, President Cox sees the next European vote as a real referendum in favour or against the European Union at the scale of the 27 countries. “The challenge needs to be taken up” he told his troops, asking them to mobilise themselves to prove the citizens that the current situation would be “worse without Europe”. He invited the members of the European Movement to bring this message on the field: “we must reconnect with the Europe of the citizens”

President Pat Cox invited the national sections of the European Movement to work hand in hand with political parties and European institutions to “bring more Europe” in the European poll. He also encourages them, among other things, to turn their speeches into actions and most of all into activities and events which benefit from large media coverage.