“The implications of Brexit would be serious and long-lasting, with certain sectors seeing very real threats to their continued business in the UK" 
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

A British exit from the EU would cause long-lasting damage to Britain’s economy, say business leaders, echoing comments made by Tony Blair in a speech today.  

They also said that the uncertainty over a possible referendum was already having an impact on investment decisions, as businesses were reluctant to take long term decisions before knowing whether Britain would remain in the EU.   

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:

"Businesses crave certainty and the threat of a British exit from the EU is already seeing investment decisions postponed. 

"The implications of Brexit would be serious and long-lasting, with certain sectors seeing very real threats to their continued business in the UK.  Britain outside the EU would be diminished and lonely, when we should be open and outward-looking to trade with the rest of the world."  

“This referendum would have an irreversible impact on young people's futures, so denying them a say would be hugely unfair.”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Ukip fear younger voters being included in a referendum as they tend to be more open to the rest of the world, says pro-EU business group, Business for New Europe. Exclusive polling carried out by BNE last year found that 16-17 year olds are more likely to vote to remain in the EU, with 56% saying they would stay, compared to 38% of adults in the same poll.

But regardless of voting intention, they say, the enormity of the decision facing the country means those who would be affected for the rest of their lives should get a chance to have their say.

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe said:

"In the Scottish referendum, passions were ignited by younger people getting involved in the campaign. This referendum would have an irreversible impact on young people's futures, so denying them a say would be hugely unfair.

"Given that 16 and 17 year olds can join the army and safeguard our security, it would be strange not to allow them a say over the future of the country's place in the world. 

"Our polling shows that younger people are more optimistic about the future and outward-looking to the rest of the world, so it is unsurprising that UKIP would rather they were not allowed to vote."

“Business will continue to make the case for a strong Britain in a more competitive EU”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign, today commented on business attitudes to Britain's membership of the EU. This is ahead of a speech on the subject this morning by Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:

"The business community is clear that the case for Britain's continued EU membership is overwhelming.

"It is not for businesses to dictate whether there is a referendum, or when it should be, but they will continue to make the case for a strong Britain in a more competitive EU."

“Today's ruling is an important step in preventing free movement being used only to claim benefits.”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Today’s ruling by the European Court of Justice shows that free movement of people does not bestow an automatic right to claim benefits, according to Business for New Europe. The EU’s highest court ruled today that EU governments can deny EU migrants unemployment benefits even if they were previously employed in that country.
 
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Today’s ruling is an important step in preventing free movement being used only to claim benefits. As BNE has long argued, the right to move around Europe to work, study or marry is an important part of EU membership, but that should not be misused. The ruling shows that most of the perceived problems associated with migration can be dealt with by our government, and do not need dramatic renegotiation of EU powers. 
 
“As one of the key parts of the UK reform agenda, this decision shows that Britain can win its push to make the EU work fairly for all."

“With a genuine single market, buying from Barcelona will be as easy as buying from Birmingham.”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

The European Commission’s plan to build a digital single market will let help British businesses grow, and consumers save money, and shows the extent of Britain’s influence in Brussels according to Business for New Europe. The pro-European business campaign was responding to the release of the first outline of the Commission’s digital single market strategy.
 
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Extending the single market into the digital sector will be of great help to British business as well as saving consumers money. At the moment just 15% of Europeans buy products online from other EU countries, but with a genuine single market, buying from Barcelona will be as easy as buying from Birmingham.
 
“The focus on digital is also another example of Britain shaping Europe’s agenda. David Cameron called for a digital single market in his Bloomberg speech in 2013 and we’re now starting to see that become a reality.”

“This report shows that leaving the EU could carry a huge cost and great uncertainty.”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Leaving the EU could damage the economy and create uncertainty, according to a new report from Open Europe, which found that in the worst-case scenario Brexit could cost the UK £56bn a year, or 2.2% of GDP.

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said: 

"This report shows that leaving the EU could carry a huge cost and great uncertainty. At worst, the UK could lose more each year than we currently spend on defence. At best, there could be some kind of free trade deal, but would still have to apply many EU rules, with no say over what they were. Far from the sovereignty sceptics claim to crave, this would leave the UK with even less control over laws affecting us."

“The Prime Minister should focus on how to secure the best reforms possible, dealing in reality rather than fiction.”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

David Cameron can compare himself to Tom Cruise all he likes, but EU reform requires dealing in fact, not fiction, says Business for New Europe. The pro-European business group was responding to the Prime Minister's comments at the European Council in Brussels today; where Mr Cameron said: "If you watch any of his movies, Tom Cruise normally prevails in the end. He is a bit smaller than me but I hope to be just as effective."

Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:

"The Prime Minister should focus on how to secure the best reforms possible, dealing in reality rather than fiction. As he said himself last month, this will take 'time and patience, as well as strong relationships with our key allies and goodwill - not shouting from the sidelines'.
 
"Other EU countries have no appetite for treaty change and by making these demands on principle, the UK could use valuable goodwill.
 
"There is agreement across Europe on a series of reforms that don't require changing the treaties, so we should concentrate on building consensus on the substance, rather than getting hung up on the piece of paper they're written on.'

“Small businesses are finding it harder to access bank lending, so this initiative is a welcome push to alternative sources of lending.”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

The EU’s plans to create a single European capital market will increase finance for SMEs, create new opportunities for the City, and allow Britain to play a leading role in Europe, according to Business for New Europe. The pro-European business campaign was responding to the publication of a report by the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs: ‘Capital Markets Union: a welcome start’.

‘Capital Markets Union’ covers a range of policies, all designed to boost non-bank sources of finance. These include: crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital and corporate bond markets. Creating a Capital Markets Union is the responsibility, of Britain’s EU Commissioner, Lord Hill, who holds the finance portfolio in the European Commission.
 
Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Small businesses are finding it harder and harder to access bank lending, so we need to open up alternative sources of funds from across Europe. Just 2 per cent of SME lending in Europe comes from venture capital - compared to 14 per cent in the United States – so this Capital Markets Union initiative is a welcome push to alternative sources of lending.

“As the House of Lords report rightly shows, Britain can and should play a leading role in this ‘major engine for stimulating growth’. Our national expertise in financial services will be much in demand across the continent, and the whole process is being led by Britain’s European Commissioner, Lord Hill.”

“It is undeniable that several million jobs are linked to our EU membership, and given that we have no idea what a trade deal outside would look like, they could be at risk”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

It is naïve and wrong to claim that jobs would not be at risk if we leave the EU, says pro-European business campaign, Business for New Europe. Responding to a report from the Institute for Economic Affairs, the business group highlighted significant research commissioned by Boris Johnson, suggesting that London alone could lose 1.2 million jobs and lose out on tens of billions of pounds of GDP if the UK left the EU. 
 
Chairman of Business for New Europe, Roland Rudd, said:
 
"Business leaders are clear what the impact of a UK exit would be: this includes tariffs and quotas, or being forced to re-locate to the EU in order to continue trading. There is no precise figure for how many jobs would be lost, and people shouldn't overstate that they would go overnight. But it is undeniable that several million are linked to our EU membership, and given that we have no idea what a trade deal outside would look like, they could be at risk.
 
"Wishful thinking can get you a long way when the question is still theoretical, but hoping for the best when it comes to the future of the British economy is too much of a gamble for most business leaders.
 
"The London Mayor himself, hardly known as an ardent Europhile, commissioned a report  which found that 1.2 million jobs in London could be lost if the UK left the EU. That research was based on real conversations with real business leaders who know how serious the impact of Brexit could be."

“This is a defining moment for the future of Britain's relationship with the EU.”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

The UK has won a decisive victory after winning a challenge at the European Court of Justice on the location of clearing houses. The ECJ has forced the European Central Bank to overturn its rule that clearing houses for euro trades must be located in Eurozone.
 
Pro-European business group, Business for New Europe, said this was a defining moment in the future of Britain’s relationship with the EU and showed how important it was for the UK to retain a strong voice in order to make its case and win.
 
Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:
 
"This is a defining moment for the future of Britain’s relationship with the EU. It demonstrates the integrity of the single market, that the Eurozone cannot make decisions to the detriment of those outside and that the UK can successfully challenge decisions with which it does not agree.
 
“All too often we hear that the EU is set against us and we are unable to stand up for Britain’s interests, but this is a huge win, setting a new tone for future relations between those within and outside the Euro.” 

“If the UK were outside the EU we would be unable to challenge these decisions so successfully, so it is all the more important to remain in and make a strong case for change.”