Chapter 7
International policy: A stronger
country in a secure, sustainable
and just world
Forward to international leadership,
not back to isolation and
powerlessness
1997: Marginalised in Europe, aid in decline
and Bosnia in ruins
2005: Aid doubled, elections in Iraq and
Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia peaceful
2010: A strong Britain in a reforming Europe,
300 million out of poverty, global action
on climate change
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Globalisation means that events elsewhere have a direct
impact at home. So we will pursue British interests by working
with our allies to make the world a safer, fairer place.This
means reforming Europe. It means fighting terrorism and
stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. It means
modernising our armed forces. And it means using our leading
role in the G8, EU, the Commonwealth and UN to promote
global action on climate change and poverty.
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The new Labour case
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Domestic interests and international action are entwined more than
ever before. Action on drugs, terrorism, people trafficking, AIDS, climate
change, poverty, migration and trade all require us to work with
other countries and through international organisations. The best
defence of our security at home is the spread of liberty and justice
overseas. In a third term we will secure Britain’s place in the EU and at
the heart of international decision-making.We will always uphold the
rule of international law.
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Making Europe work better for Britain
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We are proud of Britain’s EU membership and of the strong position
Britain has achieved within Europe. British membership of the EU
brings jobs, trade and prosperity; it boosts environmental standards,
social protection and international clout. Since 1997 we have gone
from marginal players, often ignored, to leaders in the European
Union.Working hard with Labour MEPs, we are determined to
remain leaders. Outside the EU, or on its margins, we would unquestionably
be weaker and more vulnerable.
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The EU now has 25 members and will continue to expand.The new
Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively,
and that Britain keeps control of key national interests like foreign policy,
taxation, social security and defence.The Treaty sets out what the
EU can do and what it cannot. It strengthens the voice of national parliaments
and governments in EU affairs. It is a good treaty for Britain
and for the new Europe.We will put it to the British people in a referendum
and campaign whole-heartedly for a ‘Yes’ vote to keep Britain
a leading nation in Europe.
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We will also work to reform Europe. During Britain’s EU presidency
this year, we will work to promote economic reform, bear down on
regulation; make progress in the Doha development trade round; bring
closer EU membership for Turkey, the Balkans and Eastern Europe;
and improve the focus and quality of EU aid so it better helps the poorest
countries.
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We will continue to lead European defence cooperation.We will build
stronger EU defence capabilities, in harmony with NATO – the cornerstone
of our defence policy – without compromising our national
ability to act independently.We will ensure the new EU battle groups
are equipped and organised to act quickly to save lives in humanitarian
crises.
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On the euro,we maintain our common-sense policy.The determining
factor underpinning any government decision is the national economic
interest and whether the case for joining is clear and unambiguous.
The five economic tests must be met before any decision to join can be
made. If the Government were to recommend joining, it would be put
to a vote in Parliament and a referendum of the British people.
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Protecting British interests and British citizens abroad
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We will continue to provide effective support to British businesses and
trade unions abroad, and we will continue to improve our ability to
respond quickly to international crises and disasters which affect our
citizens.The Foreign Office already provides a wide range of services
for British people in difficulty overseas, and we will consult widely
before drawing up a comprehensive statement spelling out the rights
and responsibilities of British travellers abroad.This will include the
help that people can expect from their government in times of need.
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Helping make you more secure
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We have worked closely with the US and other nations to combat the
threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and in Iraq.The threat of the proliferation
of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons – and their use by
rogue states or terrorist groups – is a pressing issue for the world today.
We have worked with the US to ensure that Libya has given up its
WMD, and we will continue with France and Germany to ensure that
Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. In North Korea we will support
the multilateral approach of the Six Parties talks.We will continue
to strongly support the peace process between India and Pakistan, and
back moves to resolve the long-running dispute over Kashmir.And we
will work to put an end to the international network of trade in
weapons of mass destruction. Labour has already introduced a strict
regime to control the export of conventional weapons, and we led
moves for EU-wide measures.We will work actively to secure an international
treaty on the arms trade.
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Promoting human rights, peace and democracy
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We need to be tough on terrorism and its causes.The threat of terrorism
and the danger to British citizens is proven, not just by September
11th but by repeated attacks in Europe and around the world. So we
cannot sit back and hope that we will be unaffected. It is right that we
do everything in our power to disrupt terrorist networks, and to challenge
the conditions that help terrorism to breed.
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The UN Charter proclaims the universal principles of human rights
and democracy. In an uncertain world they are not only right in
principle, they are important guarantees of our national security and
prosperity too.
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There have been major strides forward in recent years: in Indonesia,
Afghanistan and many parts of Africa and Latin America, democracy
is being extended.
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We mourn the loss of life of innocent civilians and coalition forces in
the war in Iraq and the subsequent terrorism. But the butchery of
Saddam is over and across Iraq, eight million people risked their lives
to vote earlier this year.Many people disagreed with the action we took
in Iraq.We respect and understand their views. But we should all now
unite to support the fledgling democracy in Iraq. British troops should
remain in Iraq under a United Nations mandate as long as the democratically
elected government there wants them.They will continue to
train Iraqi security forces to take responsibility for their own future.
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We welcome the wider process of democratic reform across the
Middle East, and we will work with our allies to encourage and promote
economic and political change.
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We strongly support the peace process between Israel and Palestine.
Resolution of the conflict is crucial to peace in the region and the wider
world.The conference held in London in March 2005 has started the
process of helping a democratic government in Palestine build security
and prosperity.We will work tirelessly to bring about a peace settlement
in which a viable and independent state of Palestine lives
alongside a safe and secure Israel.
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Supporting our armed forces
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Britain’s armed forces are among the best in the world.They are able
to play a key role in advancing our interests and values.We want to
keep it that way.
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We are immensely proud of the bravery, skill and dedication our armed
forces have demonstrated in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, the
Balkans and elsewhere across the world.They are a force for good.We
will never commit forces to battle unless it is essential; but when they
are committed they will have the investment, strategy, training and
preparation they need.That is one reason we have given the armed
forces the biggest sustained increase in funding since the end of the
Cold War. But we also know that modern demands on our armed
forces are changing.That is why reform and modernisation are essential.
A reduction in the number of infantry battalions, made possible
because of the improved security situation in Northern Ireland, has
allowed extra resources for the vital support services such as signals,
engineers, intelligence and logistics units – the parts of the army most
under pressure.This is essential to allow our infantry soldiers to be
fully supported when they go into action on our behalf.We will continue
with the investment and reform that make our fighting forces the
most flexible and effective in the world.
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We are also committed to retaining the independent nuclear deterrent
and we will continue to work, both bilaterally and through the UN, to
urge states not yet party to non-proliferation treaties, notably the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to join.
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Veterans
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Labour has always recognised the sacrifice and bravery of our servicemen
and women.That is why we were the first government to appoint
a Minister for Veterans Affairs. This has enabled us to put veterans’
affairs at the heart of decision-making at the Ministry of Defence.
Labour has also put more money than ever before into veterans’ issues,
including £27 million of Lottery funding over the last two years.We
will continue to give priority to veterans’ affairs as we mark 60 years
since the end of the Second World War.
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Reforming the United Nations
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The UN is crucial to our efforts to build a more secure and more
prosperous world.We support the reform of the Security Council so it
becomes more representative and has a stronger focus on conflict prevention.
We support the recommendation of the Secretary-General’s
High-level Panel for a Peace-building Commission to assist countries
emerging from conflict and to develop mechanisms to enhance conflict
prevention.We will press for more radical reform of the UN
humanitarian system, so it is better equipped to saves lives.We will also
press for reform of the World Bank and IMF to improve transparency,
give more say to developing countries and, with the EU better focus
their efforts on the poorest countries, particularly in Africa.
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Climate change and Africa
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Britain has the chair of the G8 this year.We will use the summit for two
particular purposes.
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First, climate change is the one of the most pressing challenges that the
world faces.We will continue to lead internationally on climate change,
and to strive for wider acceptance of the science and the steps needed
to combat the problem.We will look beyond Kyoto and promote an
international dialogue to reach agreement on the long-term goals and
action needed to stabilise the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
We will also work for effective international action to adapt to
the impacts of climate change.
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The UK has already met its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.We
remain committed to achieving a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide
emissions on 1990 levels by 2010, and our review of progress this
summer will showus howto get back on track.A60 per cent reduction
by 2050 remains necessary and achievable.
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We will continue to promote and develop renewable energy sources, to
seek high standards of energy efficiency in the public and private sectors,
and to support emissions trading in Europe and beyond.
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Secondly we will focus on Africa and the global fight against poverty.
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We have more than doubled aid since 1997.We have cancelled the
debts of the poorest countries and are now pushing others to follow
our lead and offer 100 per cent debt relief for the poorest.We are proud
to have established a Department for International Development, with
a clear mission to reduce poverty. Now, for the first time ever the UK
has a clear timetable – 2013 – for achieving the UN target of 0.7 per
cent of national income devoted to development. Globally we are
pressing for a doubling of aid backed by getting international agreement
to an International Finance Facility as supported by the
Commission for Africa.
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But aid will not be successful without conflict prevention, good governance
and zero tolerance of corruption.We will work for faster repatriation
of stolen assets from UK financial institutions, ratification of the
UN Convention on corruption, and more open and accountable
reporting of revenues from oil and mining – that so often fuel local
conflicts. Our commitment is to the people of the developing world;
our contract is with their governments for reform. But if poor countries
are committed to good governance and poverty reduction we
then believe they should be in control of their own policies.We will end
the practice of making aid conditional on sensitive economic policy
choices, such as trade liberalisation and privatisation.
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With this leadership and extra money, we can now work to ensure all
children go to school, and millions of people in Asia and Africa suffering
from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria have access to treatment. In
particular, we will press for an international agreement on universal
access to AIDS treatment by 2010 and for all people in poor countries
to have access to free basic healthcare and education.
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Our long-term aim is to help lift a billion people out of poverty.
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Fair trade
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We also know that without fairer trade rules and private investment,
poor countries will not generate the growth needed to lift themselves
out of poverty.We will press for the conclusion of an ambitious trade
deal that will completely open markets to exports from poorer countries;
for further reform of rich countries’ agricultural subsidies,
including the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and a 2010 timetable
to end agricultural export subsidies.We do not believe poor countries
should be forced to liberalise.We will allow them to sequence their
trade reforms, so they can build their capacity to compete globally.
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The choice for 2010
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In 1997 the Tories had left Britain isolated in Europe, overseas
aid had declined and we lacked any coherent vision of our place
in the world.With Labour, a strong Britain will force international
terrorism into retreat and help spread democracy and
freedom around the world.We will be leaders in a reformed
Europe, and, with others, make significant progress towards
raising a billion people out of extreme poverty.We will fight for a
new global agreement on climate change, an arms trade treaty,
and a trade deal that makes trade work for the many, not just
the few. Our armed forces will continue to be the best in the
world.The alternative is to go back to the Tories with their record
of cuts in aid and defence and their policies of tearing up
the Social Chapter, and marginalising Britain in Europe and
the world.
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