Europe Flashcards
(32 cards)
When and what was the Shuman plan?
1950 —> coal and steel community
When and what set up the EEC?
1957–> Treatyof Rome
Opinions of EEC at beginning?
Capitalist club working against socialist values
Trade with commonwealth damaged
When was EFTA created?
1959
When was first EEC application and who was the chief negotiator?
1961–> Edward Heath
What happened to the first EEC application?
(1963) veteod by de Gaulle
Labours position 1964 on EEC?
not as committed–> Wilson preferred US and Atlantic Alliance
When was 2nd application?
1966
What happened to second application?
(1967) vetoed again
When was 3rd application?
1971
What happened with 3rd application?
(1973) entered
Help of new French President Geroges Pompidou
DId they miss formative years?
When was the referndum to enter EEC?
(1975) Yes= 68.3%
No=32.5%
–> Roy jenkins left parliamtent to become European commisioner
What was Thatchers opinion over EEC?
wanted a better deal for Britian over financial contributions to EEC
They were paying more than they were getting back
(1984) Britain successfully given rebate after a thatcher persistent
Thatcher relationship with France after joining?
(1981-95)close relationship with French President Mitterrand
(1986) agreed over Channel a tunnel project
Most important piece of European legislation since UK joined?
(1986) Thatcher negotiated Single European Act
—> changed Assmbly to European Parliament with possibility of a European monetary union (shared currency)
Opinions of Single European Act?
Positive: would make Europe a free market
Negative: surrendered elements of British sovereignty
Conservative divisions over Europe?
(1986) Westland affair
Only a few, like Enoch Powell, spoke against SIngle European act
–> most agreed, even some EUrosceptics
What was outcome of Westland Affair?
Divisions on whether COns. should prioritise European ties over other
What was Westland affair?
—> Michael Heseltine resigned after Thathcer blocked dicsussion in gov. over who should take over fialing helivopter company
–> he favoured EU but Thatcher didnt want any interference even if it meant it would go to a US company
Imapct of Single EUropean Act?
changed Britains relation with Europe –>it limited influence of individual nation states
What did Thatcher do to ocunter impact of Single European Act?
(1988) speech in Bruges of her vision of future for Europe
–> emphasise EEC was trades association between soverign states
She was opposed to fedarilsm whereas other leaders thought that was the right direction
Opinions of Thatcher Bruges speech?
Infuriated other Europan leaders
raised doubts about Britains commitment to further European intergration
Bruges group formed –> focus opposition to any European federal state
–> balmed federalists in Brussels in chaning EEC from the Common market which they first joined
How did Thatchers opinion over partially failed Single European Act affect cabinet?
caused tensions
Howe and Major thought she was backtracking from their position in 1985
Thatchers opinion of Europe after collapse after communism?
Enthusiastic to expand EEC to incl. Eastern Europe
–> extend free trade and enuse communism truly defeated
–> also weakne power of European ocmmission
–> preffered wider and shallower union over a deeper one
–> only became anti-Euroupe after she left