Britain and the EU

14 January 2015by

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

Europe – a troubled continentBy 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?

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.

Development of the EU 1957: The EEC (The Treaty of Rome): Six

member states.

The European Economic 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.

 

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

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 (2015)

Of these, 19 nations have adopted the euro

1951: Britain declined to participate in the European Coal and Steel Community. Why?

 1957: Britain declined to join the EEC Why?

Britain: The Reluctant European The Phase of

Scepticism, 1950-1975:

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 

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)

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)?

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

- 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".

Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990)

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.  

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

John Major (1990-1997)

- Opted out on the EMU (1999), and no euro (2002)

- Split within the Conservative Party concerning the EU before the 1997 General Election. 

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?

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.

 

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).

2010-2015: 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?

 

2010-2015: Britain’s Political Parties and the EU David Cameron: The UK opted out of the fiscal treaty to control eurozone budgets

(2011) Cameron calls Financial Transaction Tax “madness” (2012) Cameron’s major EU speech (2013) The Conservative Party vs. the UK

Independence Party (UKIP)