Abstract
“We have our own dreams and our own tasks. We are in Europe, but not part of it. We are linked, but not combined. We are interested and associated, but not integrated.”
Winston Churchill's famous quote aptly describes Britain's approach to European integration since the inception of the European Union in the 1950s. Churchill emphasized that although he was ‘not opposed to a European Federation', he ‘never thought that Britain or the British Commonwealth should become an integral part.' Churchill's attitude towards the European Union has been imitated by many of the Prime Ministers that followed him. Britain's relationship towards European integration has generally been a reluctant union, supporting free trade and mutually beneficial cooperation, while attempting to distance itself from economic and cultural ‘unity' within Europe. In the same way, Keynes wrote in 1919: “England still stands outside Europe. Europe's voiceless tremors do not reach England. Europe is apart and England is not a part of it.” This statement also highlights the fact that by the end of the First World War, Britain was considered to be “in Europe but not part of Europe”.
After World War Two, Britain saw Europe as a liability, insofar as its special relations with the USA provided it more prestige. Nevertheless, in 1973, Britain joined the Union. But, only a year after being accepted into the European Union, Britain was regarded as an “awkward partner”, a reputation that still remains today. However, after more than thirty years it can still be described as the “awkward partner”. Britain remains out of the EMU whereas most of European States already belong to the Euro zone. The Constitution was also rejected whereas Spain and Germany accepted it. Britain keeps being one of the most important State that seems to slow the integration down, and above all its supranational position.
