Abstract
The United Kingdom's relationship with the European Community has always raised controversies, both on the British political scene and on the international stage. Not only has Britain refused to be one of the founding members of the ECSC in the 1950s, it has also confronted many difficulties when it opted to join it. When Prime Minister Macmillan recognized that it should become part of the Common Market, achieving membership was delayed because of the two French vetos in 1962 and 1967 and it was not until 1973 under Heath that the UK could join the EEC. However, as Peele states, even after becoming a member, Britain has never been 'seen as entirely committed to the European project'. The UK's 'imperial past', its relationship with the US and its sceptical attitude towards the integration process led to describing Britain as a 'reluctant', 'semi-detached' or 'awkward' partner of the EU. The notion of 'Europeanization' is however difficult to define, as it relates to a range of institutions, sectors and realities of British politics that cannot be fully listed here. Thus, let us consider that 'Europeanization broadly relates to the impact of the EU on its member states' that is, to the extent to which European integration has affected the institutions and politics in general in each country.
