EU and UK - a friendship?

The relationship between Europe and the United Kingdom is a difficult one. Margaret Thatcher, a symbol of ambition, determination, power and aversion against Europe is quite popular. The first female British prime minister is famous for the quote: "We are not asking for a penny piece of Community money for Britain. What we are asking is for a very large amount of our own money back." - which went into history as: “I want my money back.”.

Does she really want her “money back”? Why is the cooperation between Brussels and London so complicated? How will the relationship be after the election in May? The following article deals about these questions and outlines why Great Britain actually needs Europe.

There are a few reasons for this point of view: Great Britain is used to being an imperial power on which the sun never sets. It´s difficult for London to change the focus from global thinking to Europe´s compromising. As an imperial power, commonwealth governments have to obey them no matter what. Europe´s structure is completely different. Conferences, meetings and elections are the European way to find solutions for problems and crises.

Moreover, the current financial crisis creates aversions against the median countries in Europe. A typical stereotype of a man living in Spain or Greece according to British or German yellow press magazines is that he is lazy, retires early and lives beyond his means. How can you advertise for Europe if you target group has got this image? How can you ask for votes in this situation? How can you change a popular opinion?

British newspapers in particular are significantly critical about Europe. How can you get another impression of Europe if you cannot see any other opinions or statements? Simply you can´t. In the United Kingdom, critisising Europe is commonplace. Public support for Europe is low. Europe serves as a scapegoat. London certainly has the fear of losing by a more Europe. 

Many banks and headquarters are located in the capital. Regulations, new laws and more monitoring would be fatal for London. Barclays, HSBC and co could just move to New York. The financial market is England’s lifeline. After all, the capital market is reliant on London. Any public or government intervention would reduce the financial power and the banking profit. The financial sector does almost everything to keep this powerful position.

Great Britain likes its freedom. In order to extend the European cooperation, London’s self-sufficiency and independence would have to be cut. For instance, although the labour rights in a few European countries like Germany and Luxembourg are stricter, the UK has quite flexible work regulations. Consequently, the UK would have to adopt Brussel’s regulations which would reduce the flexible work environment in the UK. In 1988 Margret Thatcher explained why she is afraid to be overruled by a supranational authority: "We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain only to see them re-imposed at a European level, with a European superstate exercising a new dominance from Brussels."