Britain and Europe

1. Britain and Europe A Supra-national State

2. Lesson Objective • By the end of this session you will understand how Europe has affected British Politics since 1945 • You will also find out the viewpoints of the different parties to European integration.

3. Task • What was Britain’s position after 1945? • Where did Britain’s interests lie? • What is the view on European integration, offered by • The Conservative party? • The Labour Party? • The Liberal Democratic party?

4. Traditional View • Britain has had three spheres of influence • Her Empire and latterly the Commonwealth, the USA and Europe • Barriers to integration are related the geography and history • Traditional rivalries have been based on Trade and Colonisation • Britain has not been invaded since 1066 • And Britain is an Island, with an island mentality attached

6. 1945 • Britain came out of the war as a World power – Was this an illusion? • The big 3 (USA, Russia and Britain) had defeated Nazism and Great Britain’s overseas Empire was retained • Therefore the country had worldwide economic and financial interests • NO DEFEAT….NO OCCUPATION !!

7. Formation of the EEC • Europe was founded by Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman • They argued that greater economic co-operation would lead to greater stability and the avoidance of another devastating War • Treaty of Paris was signed in 1952, which formed the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) • France, Germany, Italy and Benelux signed up the EEC in 1958 • Britain stayed out, forming the European Free Trade Area with Sweden, Denmark and Norway

8. Trouble with Empire • Oh dear it all went horribly wrong • The liquidation of Britain’s Empire – India independence 1947, Israel formed 1948, Suez Crisis 1958 etc. • This led to an adverse balance of trade and deep economic troubles in Britain • MacMillan (Cons) 1961 looked with jealousy at the EEC and tried to join, blocked by De Gaulle • Wilson tried in 1967, blocked by De Gaulle • Only when the ungrateful French git died in 1971, could Britain be accepted • Britain joine din 1973 (ratified by referendum in 1975), with Republic of Ireland and Denmark

9. Triumphal Process • Deepening integration/expansion • Tension in enlargement and integration widening and deepening • 1958 – Fr, Ger, It, Benelux • 1973 – RoI, UK, Denmark • 1981 – Greece • 1986 – Single European Act – non tariff bars to trade • 1992 – Maastricht – EMU, Social Chapter • 1995 – Austria, Finland and Sweden • 2000 – Treaty of Paris – Formal start of single currency • 2005 – Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia • Set to join soon – Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Turkey

10. Task • Why do you think that Turkey’s involvement in the European Union is so controversial? • How much pressure do you feel continual expansion puts on the Union? Think of size of the Parliament and free access across Europe

11. Britain and Europe 1973-2006 • The Conversion has not been wholehearted • U.K joined too late to influence the direction of the Union • There has been no benefit of the remarkably generous CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) • EEC saw growth rates rise, with improved Standards of Living • Whereas up to membership, standard of living in the UK fell, with an energy crisis and a 3 –day week

12. Political Parties • Liberals and Liberal Demcrats have been wholeheartedly in favour • The left wing of the Labour party saw Europe as a rich mans capitalist club, underpinning the aggressive NATO. By 1983, Michael Foot had pledged withdrawal • Conservatives initially saw membership as a Conservative achievement • Thatcher obtained a rebate from the EU • She signed the Single European Act (1986) • Joined ERM in 1990 • But, by end of power, Thatcher’s opposition grew

13. Major • “My aim is for Britain to be at the very heart of Europe, working with our partners building a better future” • Maastricht – Major’s Government negotiated an opt out of the Social Chapter and EMU • Black Wednesday 1992 – Caused massive economic problems and Britain’s withdrawal from the ERM

14. Blair • A more positive approach to Europe • Government signed up to the Social Chapter • Brown was more cautious implementing 5 economic tests to monetary union • 2001 – Labour won another landslide despite Cons “Save the Pound” campaign • After 9/11 Blair became more US centric and EU integration on the back burner • 50 years on Britain still seen as an awkward partner

15. Task • Can you think of 5 arguments for and 5 arguments against membership of the European Union?

16. Key Terms • Intergovernmentalism – Where Governments meet on a regular basis to discuss common issues • Subsidiarity – Where powers are only exercised by the Community if a member state cannot deal with it. Therefore decisions ought to be taken at the lowest possible level – National Government, devolved assemblies or Local Councils

17. Political Make-up • The European Union consists of: • An Executive – European Commission (made up of commissioners nominated by member states) • A Legislative – European Parliament (elected every 4 years via the list system) • A Judiciary – European Court of Justice (each state nominates a judge for a 6 year period) • A single currency, a central bank etc. • Surely it is a Nation State in it’s own right? • Well the Council of Ministers remains which still requires unanimity in most issues and made up of senior politicians in member states – intergovernmentalism • A veto remains for some issues (Monetary Union), otherwise QMV is the norm

18. Task • What problems can you envisage with the current political make-up and enlargement policies? • Think about the how our magic triangle is affected!! • What also do you envisage to be the problem of low turnouts in Euro elections? • 25% voted in 2004 • Democratic Deficit – The weakness of democratic control and accountability

19. Impact on Britain • Supremacy of EU law over UK law • The British Government can help influence EU law • The Electoral System changed in 1999, moving to the list system • The machinery of Government is less affected. There is no Sec. of State for Europe, although there is little doubt British politics is affected. Thus the number of ministerial flights to Brussels

20. Policy areas • Fiscal Policy – Introduction of VAT in 1975, plus constraints on tax and expeenditure • Regulation – over 80% of rules governing production, distribution and exchange of goods are decided by the EU • Agriculture and fisheries – Spanish in our waters • Butter mountains and win lakes thanks to CAP • Social Policy – The Social Chapter • Human Rights – ECHR

21. Call me old fashioned but I’m a bit nervous about the future • The introduction of the Euro has been trouble free • Major institutional reform needed to balance the rich and poor regions • EU policy towards the developing world will come under scrutiny, especially continued agricultural protection (Fair Trade??) • Foreign and Defence policy? What about EU and USA priorities? • Nth Am FTA or EU the choice will need to be made. Isolation in a globalised world is not an option