1 ATTITUDES
The UK & The European Union Report examines the attitudes of the UK citizens towards the European Union.
a) Read the summary (p.4) of this report. What do the UK citizens think about the EU? Make a mind map.
b) What is your attitude towards the EU? Is there a positive or rather a negative attitude towards the EU in Germany? Does it differ much from that of the UK citizens?
2 BBC TIMELINE – UK AND EUROPE
What do you know about the UK’s often stormy relationship with Europe? Find out more about it on the BBC Timeline and try to answer the following questions.
1945-1957
a) Which countries first joined the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)? Why did the UK not join it?
1958-1968
b) Why did the UK not want to join the European Economic Community (EEC) at first?
c) Why was the UK not allowed to join the EEC when Prime Minister Harold Macmillan asked for membership?
1970-1979
d) When did the UK finally join the EEC? What concessions had to be made?
e) Did all British people and politicians support the EEC membership?
1979-1990
In preparation for the introduction of a single currency, the euro, the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) linked currencies of countries outside the Eurozone to the euro. The aim was to reduce exchange rate variability and achieve monetary stability in Europe.
f) When did the UK join the ERM? Was Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in favour of ERM membership?
g) What was Mrs Thatcher’s attitude towards political integration with Europe?
1990-1997
h) What was Conservative Prime Minister John Major’s attitude towards Europe?
i) How did Mr Major once describe the Eurosceptics in his own cabinet?
1997-2002
j) What was Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair’s stance on Europe?
3 SHOULD BRITAIN JOIN THE EURO?
Read the comments to this question of the BBC polls of 2003 and of 2009. Make a mind map containing the arguments in favour of and against joining the euro.
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