What factors have led to the notion that Britain is an 'awkward partner' in Europe?

Résumé du document

The brightest manifestation of the various innovations in Europe was the emergence and the development of the different European communities, later to be merged in the European Union. The history of this process is a complex one. Each State is motivated and implicated in the integration process according to a different agenda since 1945. Thus, the eastern countries shared the common experience of almost 50 years of communism, which gives them different expectations towards the EU. However, despite all this diversity, one country that has emerged with a somewhat indelible image of a difficult, if not terrible, is Britain. In this document, we discuss the various factors that led to the notion that Britain is an "awkward partner? in Europe. The reasons behind their polite and disciplined nature turning to that of a rebellious one in the European context needs to be exposed. We present the major three factors in this document that led to the complexity of this relationship.

Extraits

[...] British history constitutes the main factor explaining Britain awkwardness within Europe. From the beginning, it did not start well indeed. As Stephen George sums up: 1 January 1973 Britain became a member of the European Communities, twenty-two years after the first of those Communities has been created without British participation. Within a year of achieving membership, Britain was already regarded as something of an awkward partner, a reputation that has remained' (1994: 1). The history of early relationship of Britain with European Union after 1945 can be divided in two periods. [...]

[...] And since Tony Blair said it was not negotiable, it is very likely that the subject will continue to poison the relationship between Britain and its neighbours for a lot of time. The question of the European currency is another factor that persuades other European countries that Britain is an awkward partner. Indeed, despite all Gordon Brown might say about the necessity of economic convergence, the refusal of British government depends more on a sovereignty concern than on an economical one. Adopting the euro would indeed mean a substantial abandon of sovereignty, that goes straight against the idea that Westminster remains the only place where political decision can be taken. [...]

[...] The last series of factors leading Britain to be considered as an awkward partner in Europe lies in cultural features. The first of these is the Victorian exceptionalist vision of British history, link with the special relationship with the USA and Churchill's English-speaking peoples. At the heart of the uneasiness of Britain towards Europe lies the ‘special relationship' with the United States of America. As we have seen, this pattern is historical. British Atlanticism remains a constant pattern however, with Blair's position towards Iraq as the last manifestation of it. [...]

[...] As we have seen, the reason is that Britain has still not decided if it really wants to get involve in the European project. The issue has by the way reached such an impasse that it has been constantly avoided both by Tony Blair and Michael Howard during the general election campaign. However, the British presidency to come and the future referendum on the European constitution would force people to precise their positions. The first might oblige Blair's government to develop a practical vision of Europe. [...]

[...] What factors have led to the notion that Britain is an ‘awkward partner' in Europe? Since 1945, dramatic changes have occurred in Europe. The brightest manifestation of these innovations was the emergence and the development of the different European communities, later to be merged in the European Union. The history of this process is a complex one. Each State is motivated and implicated in the integration process according to a different agenda. Thus, the eastern countries shared the common experience of almost 50 years of communism, which alone gives them different expectations towards the EU. [...]