Britain's relationship with the European Union: is this relationship best described as an 'awkward partenership'?

Résumé du document

'...willing and active co¬operation between independent sovereign states is the best way to build a successful European Community…' , Margaret Thatcher's speech underlines a reality: Britain did not want to accept a European intrusion into their its policies. However, this point of view could be debated. We have to think about the effectiveness of partnerships, feelings of members' populations, everything which must give to the European Union its reason to exist. Indeed, some member states are more or less acting in accordance with the rules decided by the Union. The case of England underlines this notion of disagreement and brings many elements to understanding past, present and future of Britain's action. Fifty years ago the European project has began. After the end of the Second World War some countries have decided to create a common market. The Treaty of Rome ( March 25, 1957) gave birth to the European project. At the beginning the project was just an economic one, a symbol of Liberal Tradition in which the economy would be able to establish peace. Since 1950, the Cold War divided the world. The European project was an effective means of ensuring security and trade for all European coutries. However, despite of British investment in the European project, Britain does not want to be one of the leading member (the first economic project was the European Coal and Steel Community). It can be noted a similute between Britain's behavior and the United States 'behavior during the creation of the League of Nations. It was an American project but at the end they didn't want to join it. Since the accession of Britain to the European-Union every European coutry has criticised its behavior and used distressing nicknames like "the bad student of Europe" or "the sick man of Europe " to qualify it. However, it is interesting to understand why the relationship between Britain and European-Union are so difficult, and maybe to find explanations in Britain's past . So we have to Examine Britain's relationship with the European Union, and try to see if this relationship is best described as an "awkward partnership". On the first part, it could be interesting to make a historical summary of Britain and the European-Union's actions and in on the second part we should study Britain's past to understand the uniqueness of this country.

Extraits

[...] Cardiff: University of Wales Press,2002, p.444. P.Dunleavy, R.Heffernan, P.Cowley and C. Hay, 'Developments in British Politics 8 ',Palgrave macmillan 2006, P.166/167. Phantasmes et phobies dans le discours eurosceptique anglais', annales.org/gc/2004/gc78/launay044-053.pdf I. Budge, D.Mckay, J.Bartle, K.Newton, 'The new british politics', Fourth Edition, Pearson Longman, Edinburgh Gate P. [...]

[...] Britain had nothing in common with European experiences. Its political system was stable for several centuries and the concept of the British nation is not new. Britain's insularity is an other important issue which preserved it against invasion while European coutries were mixed thanks to the war. These elements underline a historical continuity of the British foudations. Secondly, it could be intersting to study the concept of decentralisation of power. In spite of recent developments in terms of decentralisation, Britain remains a country which did not accept it. [...]

[...] The factortame case confirms the primacy of European Union law over english British law because Britain had to accept the conditions imposed by the EU[3]. In conclusion it had to renounce a part of its sovereignty. The implications are simple: Eurosceptics are more virulent and the British english population is becoming more divided. On the other hand, Britain was an active participant in many areas. Indeed, Britain was a leader of development of the foreign security policy and the development of the European Rapid Reaction Rorce (ERRF). [...]

[...] The Eurosceptism These explanations describe a historical reality. Britain is one of the most unfriendly coutry towards European integration. This hostility can be explained thanks to history, by a feeling of estrangement. Because of its historical legitimacy and a stable politics Britain was often worried about Europe's violence. Finally, it could be intersting to take a last element into account in order to understand the relationship between Britain and European Union: the Eurosceptism. This Eurosceptism exists among British Political leaders but it is also developped by the media. [...]

[...] As we said before, we can see that year after year, this eurosceptism remains intense, but moves from one political party to an other. Today, the prime minister has a majority of pro european. But recently there has been a decline of enthusiasm among 'New Labour' and Eurosceptics. So, If politicians are divided it is the same with the masses. According to the Commission of the European Communities (public opinion on membership of the only 36% have a good opinion and 26% haven't got an opinion[10]. [...]