N-VA strengthens ties with the British Conservatives

The N-VA seconded a delegation of two party members to Great Britain, to the party congress of the British Conservatives in Manchester. Sander Loones, vice-chairman and MEP, and MP Brecht Vermeulen, president of the Home Affairs Committee, look back at four fascinating days.

“It is clear that the British Prime Minister David Cameron will have to find allies for European reforms. The N-VA will gladly be his partner for this. A stronger economy, within an EU with a confederal, bottom-up structure, also benefits Flanders,” according to Loones.

Loones also stressed the excellent collaboration which the N-VA developed with the British Conservatives within the ECR group of the European Parliament: “The British clearly want to strengthen these ties. This was apparent from the numerous contacts with David Cameron, his Chief of Staff, the party chairman, various ministers and MPs.”

Vermeulen confirms: “We had several very interesting meetings. For example with the British Home Secretary Theresa May (see photo). She praised the approach of her Belgian counterpart, N-VA Minister Jan Jambon.”

“The discussion about the asylum crisis was also a key theme at this party congress,” Vermeulen continues. “They share our concerns and our approach. They have also formulated a number of interesting proposals in terms of separate social status for migrants.”