From the start, Britain's feelings towards European integration were complex; and when Britain finally joined the ‘common market’ in 1973, its reasons were predominantly of an economic nature. Its profound doubts of any ‘federal’ or ‘political’ union would become a recurring theme throughout its membership; and, in later years, Britain's critical attitude towards transfers of legislative powers to the European Union found numerous expressions in a wide range of ‘opt-outs’. They gave the United Kingdom, in the words of the British government, a unique place within the Union. However, even this halfway house ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the European Union could not prevent a British referendum in which the majority of British citizens decided to opt out of Union membership altogether. This article offers a very short historical overview of British membership in the Union. Six key moments in the story of British membership will illustrate the complex relationship between Britain and the European Union.
Britain in the European Union: A Very Short History / Schuetze, Robert. - In: GLOBAL POLICY. - ISSN 1758-5880. - 13:Suppl. 2(2022), pp. 39-46. [10.1111/1758-5899.13063]
Britain in the European Union: A Very Short History
Schuetze, Robert
2022
Abstract
From the start, Britain's feelings towards European integration were complex; and when Britain finally joined the ‘common market’ in 1973, its reasons were predominantly of an economic nature. Its profound doubts of any ‘federal’ or ‘political’ union would become a recurring theme throughout its membership; and, in later years, Britain's critical attitude towards transfers of legislative powers to the European Union found numerous expressions in a wide range of ‘opt-outs’. They gave the United Kingdom, in the words of the British government, a unique place within the Union. However, even this halfway house ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the European Union could not prevent a British referendum in which the majority of British citizens decided to opt out of Union membership altogether. This article offers a very short historical overview of British membership in the Union. Six key moments in the story of British membership will illustrate the complex relationship between Britain and the European Union.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Global Policy - 2022 - Sch tze - Britain in the European Union A Very Short History.pdf
Solo gestori archivio
Tipologia:
Versione dell'editore
Licenza:
Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione
118.61 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
118.61 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.