As the London section of the European Movement in the United Kingdom, London4Europe’s history is part of the Movement’s general work to promote and increase understanding of European integration across the continent.

Post-War Origins

The origins of the European Movement UK can be found in the aftermath of the Second World War, when delegates from across Europe gathered in The Hague in May 1948.

Under the chairmanship of Sir Winston Churchill, a new international movement was established to promote European unity and prevent further wars between its members. The British section of the European Movement was founded a year later in 1949.

For nearly 80 years, The European Movement has been at the front of the campaign for a dynamic, popular, integrated and efficient Europe that can deliver peace and security, democracy, justice, jobs and prosperity. We have always recognised that European integration is a process not an edifice set in stone and that the UK should play an imaginative and constructive role in making it work more effectively and efficiently for all our citizens.

London4Europe's current set up

The Future

We have learned real lessons from the referendum campaign, the 2016 vote and elected Government manoeuvres since then.

Once the UK decided to leave the EU, London4Europe, as a continuing part of the European Movement UK and European Movement International, has sought through its campaigning activities, topical meetings and partnerships with kindred grassroot organisations to learn those lessons. For instance, verifiable facts are not enough when emotions have been stoked. Through understanding the clearly many different reasons why a majority of UK citizens voted to Leave, we have continuously tried to redress the concerns through the lived experience of our citizens, their businesses, their values and their future opportunities.

Our aim is to redirect the UK and its citizens forwards towards a closer relationship with our erstwhile European partners where we were, as can be demonstrated very clearly in the current polls - let alone the worrying geopolitical circumstances - better off and safer.

Ultimately, it is our hope that the UK public will see that our future in trade, security, defence and civil society lies in re-establishing formal timely treaties with the EU. We may never get back the benefits that we lost and, yet, we sincerely believe that we can - we must - improve the future for ourselves and our future generations. 

Our objectives include improving the information available to citizens about the EU, how it works, what its successes (and defects) really are. Concurrently, we must counter and dispel the myths and misinformation regarding the UK's role in the EU.

In 2016, emotions trumped facts. In the 2020s, the facts expressed empathetically, yet knowledgably and sincerely, may ultimately change minds.

Please, do join us, in this challenge!

Jo Pye

Current Chair of London4Europe