Description
Book SynopsisGiving equal attention to the British government and the EU, this textbook examines the political relationship between the two. It charts the history and development of the EU and explores some of the common policies. Examples, tables and figures updated throughout to reflect the results of the elections to the European Parliament in June 2014.
Table of Contents1. Introduction: Introduction; Content of the book; 2. History and Development of the EU: The Origins of the European Coal and Steel Community; From ECSC to EEC; The First Enlargement - Britain joins; Enlargement to the South; The European Union; The Northern Enlargement; The European Union grows to the East; The Euro crisis; Who is the 'reluctant European'?; 3. Institutions of the EU: The Commission; The European Council; The Council of Ministers; COREPER; The European Parliament; The Court of Justice; The Committee of Regions; The European Economic and Social Committee; The European Ombudsman; The 'democratic deficit'; 4. Common Policies of the EU: Why have common policies?; The Common Agricultural Policy; The Common Fisheries Policy; Competition Policy and Trade Policy; The Common Foreign and Security Policy; The development of the single currency; 5. Europeanisation: What is Europeanisation?; The effects of Europeanisation; Europeanisation and the British state; Thinking about Europe; Conclusion; 6. lntergovernmentalism versus Supranationalism: What is supranationalism?; Supranationalism and the European Union; Supranationalism and the United Kingdom - a troubled relationship?; What is intergovernmentalism?; Intergovernmentalism and the European Union; Intergovernmentalism and the United Kingdom; Conclusion; 7. Expansion versus Integration: What is integration?; How is the European Union promoting integration?; The United Kingdom and integration; The expansion of the European Union - what are the limits?; The United Kingdom and enlargement; 8. The influence of the EU on Britain: The constitutional relationship between Britain and the European Union; The European Union and the United Kingdom Parliament; The European Union and regional government in the United Kingdom; Local Government and the European Union; Conclusion; 9. Political Parties and the EU: Conservative Party; Labour Party; Liberal Democrat Party; United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP); The minor parties; 10. The British media and the European Union: What is the media?; Reporting on the European Union; 'New' media; 11. Reluctant Europeans - Public Opinion on the European Union: British public opinion on the European Union; Pressure groups and the European Union; How do pressure groups lobby the European Union?; Public opinion across the European Union; Turnout for European Parliamentary elections; Conclusion; 12. Conclusion - Is Britain still the 'reluctant European'?: What is a 'reluctant European'?; The case for Britain being a 'reluctant European'; The case against Britain being a 'reluctant European'; Are any other EU members 'reluctant Europeans'?; Conclusion - If Britain is not reluctant, then how can the relationship be labelled?
