CBI says staying in EU ‘overwhelmingly’ best for business

The Confederation of British Industry published on the 4 November 2013 the business vision for a reformed EU, after an in-depth study of the UK’s global future. As emerging markets became increasingly dominant, the CBI argued the UK must maximise openness to global trade - and the best way of achieving this was as part of a reformed EU.

EUObserver and other news sources reported that the UK's main business lobby group offered 'unequivocal' support for Britain staying in the EU, the latest sign that industry would fall behind the campaign for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union.

In reaction to this report, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that British people's support for staying in the European Union is currently "wafer thin".

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 04.11.13: British business leaders want their country to stay in EU http://dw.de/p/1AB4A

ESO: Background information: UK must remain part of EU and lead drive for reform focusing on economic benefits, says industry http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-must-remain-part-of-eu-and-lead-drive-for-reform-focusing-on-economic-benefits-says-industry/

CBI: Press Release, 04.11.13: In with reform or out with no influence - CBI chief makes case for EU membership http://www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2013/11/in-with-reform-our-out-with-no-influence-cbi-chief-makes-case-for-eu-membership/

CBI: Report: Our Global Future. The business vision for a reformed EU, November 2013 http://www.cbi.org.uk/media/2451423/our_global_future.pdf

EUObserver, 04.11.13: UK business lobby backs Britain staying in EU http://euobserver.com/news/121963

British Influence: Point of View, 04.11.13: Stay in the EU to achieve our global trading ambitions http://britishinfluence.org/point-of-view-stay-in-eu-achieve-global-trading-ambitions/

EurActiv, 31.10.13: City of London executives reject calls for 'Brexit' http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/uk-business-rejects-brexit-news-531416

The Guardian, 03.11.13: Europe is an anchor for British business (Vince Cable) http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/03/european-union-good-uk-business

The Guardian, 03.11.13: Britain must stay in EU, says business lobby group http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/03/britain-eu-business-lobby-group-cbi

EurActiv, 04.11.13: EU membership 'significantly outweighs costs', says UK's leading business group http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/uks-leading-business-organisatio-news-531488

BBC News, 04.11.13: UK support for staying in EU is wafer thin, says Cameron http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24804479

Paul Nuttall, MEP: Press Release, 04.11.13: CBI out of touch with reality http://www.paulnuttallmep.com/?p=2951

Blog: Euroblog, 06.11.13: Britain’s future, and its economic interests, belongs inside the EU http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/2013/11/06/britain%E2%80%99s-future-and-its-economic-interests-belongs-inside-the-eu/

EurActiv, 21.11.13: Billy Bragg: European Commission should buy up the Daily Mail http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/billy-bragg-european-commission-news-531827

CBI: Business Issues: Britain and the EU http://www.cbi.org.uk/business-issues/britain-and-the-eu/

The Conversation, 05.06.14: The CBI is unfit to represent UK business – why is Nigel Farage the only leader to say so? http://theconversation.com/the-cbi-is-unfit-to-represent-uk-business-why-is-nigel-farage-the-only-leader-to-say-so-27468

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