In 2017 the Great Britain May Hold a Referendum on Leaving the EU

• 02.02.2015, 00:01
•  Europe,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  Analytics,  Interview

-The disagreements between the EU and the Great Britain are being discussed on the daily basis. It is even discussed that Great Britain is going to leave the EU. What problems does the Great Britain see in the EU?

- Indeed, today among the points of disagreements between the EU and the Great Britain, the possibility of Britain leaving the EU is also discussed. In order to understand the problem, let’s try to find its roots. Britain believes the model of intergovernmental system should work in the EU, which means that during integration processes the role of the national governments should be more crucial than that of the European institutions. Since joining the European Economic Community, Britain has put its national interests on the first place in any question, considering them above the idea of the united European. Margaret Thatcher voted in favor of the Joint European Act as it met her national interests. In 1990’s Britain ratified the Maastricht treaty, but did not join the Euro and Shengen zones. The Great Britain sees the EU exclusively as an economic union, not accepting any political value in it.

At the same time the possibility that the United Kingdom will leave the EU is largely exploited today. Prime-minister Cameron has many times spoken about holding a referendum on leaving the EU in 2017.  

-The Great Britain also is against further enlargement of the European Union. What is it conditioned by?

First of all, according to Cameron, the EU does not need new members. On the other hand one of his requirements is that the citizens of the new member states could not enter the Great Britain, as well as do not be able to access the benefits system. Let us not forget, that Britain was the country that kept its doors closed for the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania after their membership in the EU in 2007.

Nowadays, Britain is a member of the EU, not being a member of the Shengen zone. Cameron has always stand for restrictions in the European Integration processes and reducing the impact of Brussels on Britain’s internal affairs. 

Lately, Mayor of London- Johnson presented a package of reforms that the EU should undergo, in order the Great Britain remains in the union. According to that plan, the main reason of Britain to leave the European Union is the EU’s social policy, EU’s economic stagnation, the stupidity of some of the Brussels’ regulations. According to Johnson, in case of consistent work, the reforms are possible to make. On the other hand, he has presented the change of London’s GDP by 2034 in numbers.

The United Kingdom states its willingness to stay in a reformed Union only. Together with all the above-mentioned, Cameron has declared that in case of his Conservative party wins in the coming elections in May, he will hold a referendum on leaving the union until the end of 2017.