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Britain and the European Union

Britain and the European Union. Foundations of the EU EU Institutions EU precedence. European Ideal 1945-58. 1945 - ruins of war Prime motive was the prevention of war Schumann Plan, 1950 European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), 1952 Treaty of Rome, 1957 (EEC & Euratom).

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Britain and the European Union

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  1. Britain and the European Union Foundations of the EU EU Institutions EU precedence

  2. European Ideal 1945-58 • 1945 - ruins of war • Prime motive was the prevention of war • Schumann Plan, 1950 • European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), 1952 • Treaty of Rome, 1957 (EEC & Euratom)

  3. Treaty of Rome 1951 • Robert Schuman - put forward the idea for the ECSC • EEC and Euratom created • Created a common internal market • UK not interested - only eyes for the USA!

  4. Britain & Europe 1945-73 • 1945 - Britain has different agenda • Healthy economy • British Empire • 1961, Harold McMillan sought entry • 1973 - entry gained to EEC

  5. EU impact on UK • Euro sceptics see EU as a threat to UK sovereignty • EU law takes precedence over UK law • Regional List System used in UK EU elections • UK major political parties split over EU

  6. Maastricht Treaty 1992 • Two new areas created - Justice and Social Affairs • Proposed EMU (working towards a single currency) • Established the EU • Common Foreign and Social Policy • Introduced EU citizenship

  7. Schengen Agreement • Emerged out of Treaty of Amsterdam 1985 • Allows countries to remove internal borders and allow people to travel without checks • Terrorism - UK and NI opt out

  8. Development of Europe • EEC (1958) 6 members • 27 members of EU (2007) • Talks with Turkey • 1992 Maastricht Treaty • Closer integration • Can the EU continue to absorb new states?

  9. Pillar One - European Community (EI, EMU, EC, Treaty of Rome) Pillar Two - Common Foreign and Security Policy (co-operation on foreign policy. Defence policy) Pillar Three - Home Affairs and Justice (asylum, immigration, combating fraud, drugs, rules on crossing Members’ States external borders) 3 Pillars of the EU

  10. European Union Objectives • To promote economic and social progress • To assert EU ID on rest of the world • To introduce EU citizenship • To develop freedom, security and justice • To build upon EU law

  11. EU Institutions & Processes

  12. EURO • Launched on Jan 1 1999 (2002) • 16 members of the EU have ditched their currency and joined the Euro • Denmark, Sweden and the UK have opted out for now • Interest rate set by the European Central Bank

  13. Current Euro crisis (2011) Greece offered bail out packaged by Europe Greek issue arose due to public spending and public sector wages doubling. Govt borrowed and went on a ‘spending spree’ Money offered for bailout was simply not enough Other EU countries have run up huge debts and now it’s bust time. Austerity measures http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13991135 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/15538164

  14. UK and the EURO • Still to have a referenda in the UK • Five tests: convergence, investment; flexibility; financial services; growth and employment • UK not met all the tests and is not ready to join the Euro

  15. EU Enlargement • Helsinki Summit 1999 - Turkish problem • 2004 - 25 countries joined including Poland • Voting systems changed to include new members • New members have to meet certain criteria - Copenhagen Criteria • New EU candidates are helped to achieve criteria

  16. EU Crisis? • New European Constitution was to put a seal on the new Europe • France and Netherlands rejected it • Opposition to enlargement • UK pushes for EU competitiveness • EU Constitution condemned as federalist

  17. Drafted for the arrival of the 10 new member states in 2004 Dealt with every subject from Presidency to citizenship to economy It aimed to make life more democratic in EU Would condense half a century of Treaties Rejected - EU Constitution

  18. Bigger role for national parliaments Greater transparency of what EU can/cannot do Focus on global challenges Streamlined EU institutions Full time president of the European Council High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy More majority voting IT will not: Create a European super state UK won’t lose its UN seat It won’t take control over UK foreign policy UK won’t lose control of its borders EU Reform Treaty – Lisbon Treaty

  19. Other EU issues CAP – Common Agricultural Policy CFP – Common Fisheries Policy CDP – Common Defence Policy Economic migration

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