JUST before Parliament broke up for the summer, Foreigh Secretary William Hague came to the House to announce a review of the powers of the European Union.

Given the excitement that Europe usually generates, I am surprised this attracted so little attention.

We have been members now for some 40 years and have steadily ceded more power to Brussels, but at no point has there been a comprehensive look at the extent of the EU’s powers.

This has led to the generation of urban myths, promoted by those who would rather see us withdraw and those who would happily go further.

I recall one Euro-enthusiast try to tell a delegation from Bosnia that the EU was responsible for peace in Northern Ireland.

The review will inform a mature debate about our relationship with Europe based on factual analysis, not propaganda.

It is essential to the British national interest that we continue to play a leading role in Europe.

The idea that Britain can simply hoist up the drawbridge and retreat into nationalism is ridiculous.

Europe is the nearest market and remains the largest and most prosperous market in the world – a market of 500 million people with a combined GDP of £11trillion.

That is not to say we have the right relationship with Europe at present. My belief is that Europe for Britain should be no more than a single market.

I would like to see us reclaim the powers given to Brussels by the Treaties of Maastricht, Lisbon and Amsterdam. We need to define those issues where it is in the national interest to be part of collective action.

For example, the EU recently concluded a trade deal with Korea worth £500million to the UK. It is clearly in everyone’s interest to have one single trade agreement rather than 27.

I know many people would like a referendum on the EU. What is needed is a mature debate about what our relationship with Europe is and what we would like it to be. That debate is coming closer.