#Brexit: A lesson from Donald Tusk on meaningful sovereignty

Sovereignty is something that all free societies cherish. The ability to make your own decisions, for your own people, mandated by a democratic vote. What experience has shown - and in particular, Europe's experience - is that a quaint and puritanical attachment to a pur et dur sovereignty that doesn't recognize the need to pool sovereignty, achieve agreement and work in a common interest is doomed to failure. You will not be a sovereign nation, you will be a pawn in a bigger game, writes Dolly Forbes-Hamilton.

The UK has recently decided to become a pawn in a bigger game. If they wanted 'socialism in one country' à la Corbyn this might make sense, but the UK wants to be a 'Global Britain' in a world where its second greatest trade partner outside the EU, the United States of America, has said that it is will pursue openly protectionist trade policies and will reduce all trade deficits with the rest of the world. Please note UK readers, you are not the 51st state of the United States; your special relationship was essentially severed with the Declaration of Independence.

Note the measured, clear and indisputable words of the House of Lords' EU committee, in their report on trade, post-EU: “The notion that a country can have complete regulatory sovereignty while engaging in comprehensive free trade with partners is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of free trade. Modern Free Trade Agreements involve extensive regulatory harmonisation in order to eliminate non-tariff barriers, and surveillance and dispute resolution arrangements to monitor and enforce implementation. The liberalisation of trade thus requires states to agree to limit the exercise of their sovereignty. The four frameworks considered in this report all require different trade-offs between market access and the exercise of sovereignty. As a general rule, the deeper the trade relationship, the greater the loss of sovereignty.”

This is what European Council President Donald Tusk (pictured) had to say today (30 March) about sovereignty:"We must challenge the populists. We must say loud and clear that nationalisms and separatisms which try to weaken the EU are the opposite of modern patriotism. Those who take aim at European unity, threaten also their own communities, weakening their own state sovereignty.Words such as security, sovereignty, dignity and pride must return to our political dictionary. There is no reason why, in public debate, extremists and populists should have a monopoly on these terms. Today they are efficiently and cynically taking advantage of social fears and uncertainty, building their own model of security on prejudice, authoritarianism and organized hatred.

"Our response must be clear and decisive. Firstly, there is no contradiction between liberal democracy and the need for order and security. Only free and law-abiding societies can truly be safe.Secondly, there is no contradiction between a Europe which is integrated and sovereign in relation to the external world, and the independence of our nations and countries. Quite the opposite: the more Europe is united, the more it is sovereign, and therefore capable of protecting sovereign nations.Thirdly, moderation, common sense and political rationalism do not stand in contradiction to force, courage and determination. People want authority which is wise, moral and strong all at the same time."

Hear, hear!

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