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Britain and the EU

Britain and the EU. 20 January 2014 by Sigrid Brevik Wangsness. Introduction. Current British attitudes to the EU as compared to that of other EU member states: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden and the UK Why these attitudes?. Origin of the EU.

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Britain and the EU

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  1. Britain and the EU 20 January 2014 by Sigrid Brevik Wangsness

  2. Introduction • Current British attitudes to the EU as compared to that of other EU member states: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden and the UK • Why these attitudes?

  3. Origin of the EU • Europe – a troubled continent By 1945 Europe had been ripped apart by two world wars. • After World War II: - How to build the peace in Europe? - How to create European unity?

  4. Forerunner of the EEC • Winston Churchill’s vision (1946): Creation of a “United States of Europe” with reconciliation between France and Germany as the first step. • 1951: The European Coal and Steel Community (The Treaty of Paris). France, Germany, Italy and the BeNeLux countries.

  5. Development of the EU • 1957: The EEC (The Treaty of Rome): Six member states. • The EuropeanEconomic Community: a customs union, common policies on trade, agriculture, and transport, and a common market. The goal of coordinated economic/ monetary policies and increased economic integration.

  6. Development of the EU • 1987: Name change to the EC:   The European Community, reflecting the goal of political unity • 1993: The Single Market Free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital

  7. Development of the EU • 1998: Name change to the EU: The European Union A European Central Bank (ECB) • 1999: European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): A single currency: the euro • There are 28 member states in the EU (2014) • Of these, 17 nations have adopted the euro

  8. Britain: The Reluctant European The Phase of Scepticism, 1950-1975: • 1951: Britain declined to participate in the European Coal and Steel Community. Why? •  1957: Britain declined to join the EEC Why?

  9. Britain’s reasons for not joining the EEC • Three spheres of interest originally governed the British official attitude to the EU: - The relationship to the U.S.A. - The Commonwealth - Europe

  10. Still Scepticism, but UK Application for EEC Membership • 1961: First British application for EEC membership • 1963: First French veto against British membership • 1967: Second British application for EEC membership and second French veto against British membership • 1971: Third British application for EEC membership (De Gaulle resigned in 1969)

  11. UK Membership in the EEC • 1973: Britain became a member of the EEC • 1975: Referendum: In favour of continued membership (66% voter turnout, 2/3 said yes) • What were (are)the main arguments for Britons in favour of the EEC (EU)? • What were (are)the main arguments for Britons against the EEC (EU)?

  12. The 1980s: • Britain’s external policies became increasingly more European, but there were still many Eurosceptics. • Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) - Confrontational style - Negotiated a budget rebate for Britain

  13. Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) - In favour of enlargement, but resisted closer European integration: "no European superstate!" - Resisted the ERM: wanted floating exchange rates. Britain became a member of the ERM in 1990, against M.T.'s wishes. - Against the "Social(ist) Chapter".

  14. The Political Parties’ Opinions about the EU in the 1980s • The Labour Party became more and more committed to the EC in the 1980s, while the opposition to the EC within the Conservative Party became more and more pronounced. A month after Britain joined the ERM Margaret Thatcher had to resign as Prime Minister in Britain.  

  15. The 1990s and into the 2000s: • John Major (1990-1997) - More pro-European (in style at least). The British view of widening rather than deepening European integration - The Social Chapter dropped - Black Wednesday" (Sept. 1992): Britain's exit from the ERM

  16. John Major (1990-1997) - Opted out on the EMU (1999), and no euro (2002) - Split within the Conservative Party concerning the EU before the 1997General Election.

  17. Tony Blair (1997–2007) - New Labour had a more pro-European stance: Signed the Social Chapter. - Tony Blair wanted to play a leading, constructive role in Europe. Less sceptical to the EU. - Wait-and-see attitude concerning the euro. When would be the right time for a referendum?

  18. Tony Blair (1997–2007) - Won the election in 2001 by a landslide, too, but declining popularity due to the Iraq war. Britain vs. France and Germany regarding Iraq. • Did not risk the question of EMU membership.

  19. 2007-2010: Britain’s Political Parties and the EU • Gordon Brown (2007-2010) • Gordon Brown finally signed the EU Reform Treaty - four hours after the official signing ceremony (2007). - The Labour government rejected a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty by 311 votes to 248 in the House of Commons (2008).

  20. 2010-2014: Britain’s Political Parties and the EU • David Cameron (2010 - ) - Coalition government with the Liberal Democrats = the most pro-European party - “Britain needs to be in the EU – it is not in Britain’s interest to leave the EU (2011).” According to Cameron, in which case will the British people be guaranteed a referendum?

  21. 2010-2014: Britain’s Political Parties and the EU • David Cameron: - The UK opted out of the fiscal treaty to control eurozonebudgets (Dec. 2011) - Cameron calls Financial Transaction Tax “madness” (Jan. 2012) - Cameron’s major EU speech (Jan. 2013)

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