Transcript The European Union and Britain

The European Union and Britain
Jade McCauley
The European Union

The EU is an economic and political union of 28 member
states that are located primarily in Europe.

The European countries that participate in the world
economy as one economic unit also operate under one
official currency, the euro.
Facts:

The Union originated by six founding states – Belgium, France,
West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

The policies of the EU aim to ensure the free movement of
people, goods, services, and capital.

It also focuses on maintaining common policies on trade.

With a combined population of over 500 million, the EU in
2012 generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of
16.584 trillion US dollars.

The EU is similar to a confederation.
Britain and the European Union:
History

1963 – Charles de Gaulle (France) vetoes Britain’s
attempt to join the EU because of worry about English
taking over as Europe’s main language.
Three Pillars of the EU

Comprised between 1993 and 2009.
1. The European Communities Pillar: economic, social and
environmental policies.
2. The Common Foreign and Security Policy Pillar: took care of
foreign policy and military matters.
3.Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters: brought
together co-operation in the fight against crime.

1973 – Britain is allowed into the EEC but called for
major changes in less than a year due to needing “fairer
methods of financing and budget” and solutions to
monetary problems.

1975 – Even after these challenges, the people still voted
“yes” when asked the referendum question of whether or
not the UK should stay in the European Community.
Margaret Thatcher and the Rebate
Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister from 1979-1990.
 A rebate on the UK’s contribution to the European
Union budget paid back to the Government of the United
Kingdom by the EU.
 80% of the EU’s budget was being
spent on the Common Agricultural
Policy.

Cameron’s EU Referendum



David Cameron is the current prime minister of the U.K.
and has been since 2010.
Cameron has proposed an in or out of the EU
referendum by 2017.
Cameron is proposing
that this referendum will
pass because of it’s
overwhelming support
from the Conservatives.
Fundamental Differences in Philosophy

BRITAIN
Laissez-faire


An economic environment in which transactions between
private parties are free from government restrictions, tariffs
and subsidies, with only enough regulations to protect
property rights.
CONTINENT
Social Democracy

A political ideology that officially has its goal the establishment
of democratic socialism through reformist and gradualist
methods.
Positions of Parties

The Obama administration has warned again a British exit
from the EU.

The Labour Party say they do not support a referendum
at the current time, but have not ruled it out for the
future.

The Liberal Democrats have said they do not support an
in/out referendum because it is within Britain’s interests
to remain a member.

The UK Independence Party, the British National Party
and the Green Party all support a referendum.
Scottish Independence


A national referendum is to be held in Scotland in 2014
to decide whether or not Scotland will become
independent.
This raises the issue of whether or not they will need to
apply to be a part of the EU.