Happy Birthday to EU!

2.44.30pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Mar 2007

Happy Birthday EU!

As the 50th anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome is marked, South East Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles, spoke at a conference for the South East in Maidenhead highlighting all the benefits that EU membership has brought the people of Surrey, saying:

"Birthdays are always a reason to celebrate, and 50 years is certainly a landmark for the EU. It marks half a century of peace and prosperity in Europe, the end of the old Cold War divide and the flourishing of democracy in 27 European countries."

"So many improvements in our daily lives are also thanks to Europe. For example, it is in no small part because of Brussels' intervention that we all have a right to four weeks paid holiday each year, paid maternity and paternity leave, free medical help when we're on holiday in other EU countries, cheap flights and international phone calls, pet passports to take our furry friends away with us, clearer food labelling, compensation for flight delays…and the list goes on."

"It is also thanks to the EU that Britain is committed to fighting discrimination on the grounds of age, race, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation!"

"Through the EU Britain also has a stronger voice on the world stage since European countries working together can deal with the US, China and India. EU peacekeepers are also operating across the globe. And, with new targets to cut carbon emissions and our emissions trading scheme, the EU is also leading the international fight against climate change."

"The EU has also brought many positive benefits and this 50th birthday is certainly a reason to celebrate!"

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