The referendum on the future of the UK’s membership will take place on 23 June. Most of the emphasis is being placed on what happens if we come out and quite frankly no-one, not even the European Commission or the UK Government, really knows. But there are also implications and opportunities if we stay in and these should focus on better engagement.
British companies have for too long treated the EU as somewhere to be tolerated rather than engaged with. Even some of the country’s largest companies have little to do with the EU. There is also a large difference in how officials from the UK and those from other Member States view spending time working in Brussels. For most, it is a valuable part of their career and personal development, but for too many from the UK it is a necessary evil that is only undertaken under some duress.
Whilst there are, of course, differences in how Member States view the EU institutions which have roots in history, culture, politics and, not least, conflicts, the UK has a slightly ‘hands-off’ approach but this needs to change if there is a vote to stay in.
There are few, if any, EU Member States that really want the UK to leave and most will be relieved if the UK decides to stay in.
All organisations, let along businesses, hate risk and there is a massive slice of risk if the UK votes to come out. That can, of course, be managed and many believe that there are improved opportunities on offer in the longer term if the UK is outside of the EU.
This should not though disguise the fact that a vote to stay in provides an opportunity for organisations, not least businesses, to assess their engagement and improve it.
There should be several steps in this process.
- The PM’s negotiated settlement will change the way the EU makes decisions – the ‘red card’ may have been sniffed at by some but it does change the landscape. There are other changes as well, all of which need to be considered. So the old ways of doing business in Brussels will change and you need to understand this. It is really about new decision-making processes and understanding the implications of these changes.
- Identify and pursue opportunities – unless you are currently a real EU-watcher, many opportunities may have passed you by. Has your organisation considered, for instance, the development of the Five Presidents’ Report which has implications for those outside as well as inside the Eurozone? This should be a back to starting principles approach to ensure that all opportunities are identified and assessed, not just picking things up again after the 23 June.
- MEPs want to hear from you – many British MEPs appreciate that they are hardly household names and are barely known. They want to assist and will be under more pressure to do so following a vote to stay in. If this existing democratic deficit is not addressed then the EU issue will bubble up again very soon. So after a vote to stay in there will be a need to reconnect, or connect for the first time, certainly with your UK MEPs but also relevant ones across the Parliament.
- Keep the UK government on the straight and narrow – maintaining relationships with the EU and advancing British interests are not just a job for businesses and other organisations but for the UK government as well. UK Perm Rep, in particular will need to work even harder following a vote to stay in but government departments too need to take a more pro-active stance on relevant policies. What is the norm in other Member States needs to become the norm here as well. If that means business doing some cajoling then maybe that should be one of the new roles too.
Better engagement in the EU, as here in the UK, can lead to a range of benefits such as better policy outcomes and fewer unintended consequences. What the EU does is important and if we vote to stay in then everyone needs to show that we value its role and the UK’s role in it. This is critical for businesses and others, not just voters and the government.
A better understanding of your issues can only be achieved if, after 23 June, you consider if you are doing enough. After that date, if the vote is to stay, then everyone can think about how seriously they take the EU and how seriously they need to take it.