The UK wanted special terms, special benefits and a special discount on the membership fees. In the meantime the country tried to benefit most from the EU, while trying to ensure the least amount of interference of the EU in country politics. The opposition against the meddlesome European Union has always been strong.
The UK is probably the only country in the European Union where a majority of the people and almost a majority of parliament don’t want to be a member of the EU at all.
One of the reasons for this widespread reservedness and even animosity against Europe might be that the UK was used to being one of the most important and influential empires in the world and had undisputed power. Now the country is at best a member of the European Economic Top 5 and it is not recognized for its leadership within the EU. On top of that, the country feels much stronger connected with the USA, with whom it shares its language and a very special relationship.
The UK always felt
a stranger in the relation with continental Europe with its Paris/Berlin axis, its many
incomprehensible languages and its endless discussions and bureaucracy. Therefore
it has always been a EU-member without passion. Ireland, although the country
is further away from the European continent, felt much more love for the
European Union, as it gave the country the chance to escape from poverty.
And now, at a time that
it is ´do or die´ for the whole European Union and especially for the Euro-zone
and its current member-states, it is the lack of love that puts a lot of
tension in the ‘marriage of convenience’ between the EU and the UK.
And just like in a respectful,
but loveless marriage between people; in good times they manage to keep things from
falling apart. In bad times, however, the tensions grow quickly and then often
the self-interest wins from the mutual benefits of the marriage.
Therefore it was pleasantly surprising
for me to see the tremendous leadership that was expressed in the letter that David
Cameron wrote to the Times today.
David Cameron, the
young and eloquent Tory (conservative) Prime-Minister in the first British coalition
cabinet in ages, is – as inquiring minds know – stuck between a rock (the plans
of Merkozy for a much stronger connected Europe) and a hard place (the anti-European
sentiment on his home turf).
In his letter
Cameron explained the stance of the United Kingdom towards the Euro-negotiations
of tomorrow. I quote the pertinent snips from this letter (for reasons of unpaid
access, the link points to another newspaper that also integrally printed the
letter):
What matters most
to Britain's national interest now is that the eurozone sorts out its problems.
These have been having a chilling effect on our economy for the past 18 months,
and the longer the crisis continues, the more it will damage us. We need this
resolved as quickly as possible.
That requires
three things.
First - as Germany
has argued - there needs to be much tighter fiscal discipline and closer fiscal
co-ordination within the eurozone to restore market confidence and stop
unmanageable debt and deficits occurring all over again.
Second, the
members and institutions of the eurozone should take whatever action is
necessary to prevent a second global credit crunch. In a world where the
interest rates on Greek debt are 33%, on Spanish debt 5% and on Italian debt 6%,
we need to see the full implementation of all the elements that the UK has been
pushing for - above all a big firewall to prevent contagion along with properly
capitalised banks.
Third, and more
fundamentally, we need to see improved competitiveness, especially in the
euro-area economies that are struggling to grow. Britain has put forward and
consistently argued for bold structural-reform programmes and a comprehensive
growth plan for Europe.
In all of these
debates my job is to defend and protect the British national interest.
If we are changing
the treaty that applies to all EU countries and allowing the eurozone countries
to have new rules, it is also important that there are rules to keep the single
market fair and open for key industries for Britain, including financial
services.
Our requirements
will be practical and focused. But eurozone countries should not mistake this
for any lack of steel. Fundamentally, the problem with the eurozone is a
problem of competitiveness, with countries that have large trade deficits
coexisting with Germany, which has a huge trade surplus. These imbalances have
to be addressed. Without this there will be no lasting solution. We fully
support the eurozone's determination to reform its own rules and structures,
but not if they are just papering over the cracks and threatening Britain's own
interests in the single market.
While this week's
summit will inevitably focus on the crisis in the eurozone, I am still
committed to forging a new kind of Europe. Indeed, some of the problems
underlying the crisis strengthen the case for a more competitive, dynamic and
outward-looking Europe.
I have spoken
about a Europe that has the flexibility of a network, not the rigidity of a
bloc. A Europe that looks beyond itself, with its eyes to the horizon, and
recognises that it must change fundamentally or fall behind. A Europe that
cherishes its national identities as a source of strength.
That is the kind
of Europe that is in Britain's national interest and that is the kind of Europe
I am determined to help to bring about."
This is a very strong letter and the letter of a man that seems committed to do the right thing in tomorrow´s Euro-zone negotiations. It is very good to read in the red text that Cameron addresses the problems of the structural imbalances within Europe and doesn´t put the blame for the Euro-crisis solely on the peripheral Euro-countries.
I wish the German and
Dutch governments would express Cameron´s understanding of the fundamental
problems within the Euro-zone. However, I´m not optimistic about this: PM Mark Rutte
of The Netherlands and Chancellor Angela Merkel will probably decide to ignore
these imbalances totally and to go on with their blame game of Southern-Europe.
Everybody that knows
the financial substance of the City for the British Gross Domestic Product,
understands that Cameron stands firm for the interests of London. And that
Cameron is not in favor of a much stronger connected Europe (´the bloc´) and
that he sees the national identities as a source of strength is understandable;
both from his British background and from the pressure that is being put on him
by both his own party-members and the opposition.
To give you an
impression of this internal opposition that Cameron has to deal with, I show
here the pertinent snips from an article in the Financial Times of today:
The prime minister was asked in the Commons if he
would show some “bulldog spirit” at the weekend EU negotiations. “That’s
exactly what I will do,” he insisted.
Yet however the talks are resolved, Cameron seems
unlikely to emerge clutching what many of his backbenchers would like to see:
the repatriation of various powers such as human rights legislation and
employment laws.
That is likely to stoke the internal pressures which
were visible in the October Commons debate over an EU referendum, when 81 Tory
backbenchers rebelled against the leadership.
Ed Miliband skewered the prime minister over the issue
during PMQs, reminding the House that Cameron had promised the repatriation of
powers during that debate: “Six weeks ago he was promising his backbenchers a
handbagging for Europe, now he’s reduced to handwringing.”
The line is sensitive for the Tory leader as it
reflects what many of his rank and file believe. Asked by backbencher Steve
Baker whether Britain should simply “leave Europe” – a not uncommon view among
Tory MPs - Cameron replied that it was in the country’s interests to stay “in
the single market”.
His demands would not include repatriation of social
or employment laws but would instead be “practical and focused“, he warned.
Instead the immediate priority was to drag the single currency back from the
precipice: “Our biggest national interest is that the eurozone sorts out its
problems“.
Meanwhile Cameron is facing pressure from another
cabinet minister, this time Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson, who has
told the Spectator that a referendum on EU membership is “inevitable“.
As James Kirkup writes on his blog, Paterson said:
“If there was a major fundamental change in our
relationship, emerging from the creation of a new bloc which would be
effectively a new country from which we were excluded, then I think inevitably
there would be huge pressure for a referendum.”
Asked if a referendum would be required, he continued:
“I think there will have to be one, yes, because I
think the pressure would build up. This isn’t going to happen immediately
because these negotiations are going to take some months. But I think down the
road that is inevitable.”
If the leader of an
notoriously anti-European country shows so much strength and leadership in
favor of the EU against an opposition that is so widespread, then let him be a
beacon for the rest of the EU leaders to show the same strength and resolve.
Then tomorrow´s Euro-zone summit might become a success after all.
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