The UK and the European Union - Assignment Example

THE UK AND THE EUROPEAN UNION By of the of the of the School 22 February The EU “is a unique economic and political partnership between 28 democratic European countries” (Council of Europe, 2014, p. 169) with the United Kingdom among them. It was created after the Second World War, with a prime purpose of fostering economic cooperation among member nations. Cogen points out that it was expected that countries would trade with one another, become economically interdependent and avoid conflict (2015). Another objective of the creation of the union was to promote human rights both within the member states and around the world. The core values of the union are human dignity, democracy, democracy, equality, freedom, rule of law and respect for human rights. What began as an economic union has slowly evolved into an organization spanning different policy areas, such as development aid, environment among others. It was initially called European Economic Community, but its name changed to the present one, which is the European Union. The rule of law guides the EU in all matters and everything is based on treaties that Europe. are democratically and voluntarily agreed upon by all member states (European Union, n.d.). The EU has managed to come up with a single currency, the Euro that is used among the member states, help raise the living standards of the member states citizens, and has brought stability, peace and prosperity. Through the standardized system of law, the EU has established a single market that is used by all member states. It has also removed border controls among EU nations which have made people travel freely among them. Additionally, it has made it easy to live and work among the nations when one is a citizen of one of the nations. EU membership means the residents of existing EU states have the rights and privileges to live and work in the UK (Manners and Whitman, 2000). Countries however have the option of placing transitional limits on migration from other countries to the EU. During one of the recent council meetings, there was a divide about the UK’s relationship with the EU. Niblett states that it showed the growing division between UK’s approach to its membership in the EU (2012). Since the council meeting, the disparity has widened rather than narrowing down. The Eurozone members that have joined the single currency period are joining forces to create and establish a new structure of financial and political integration that seeks to establish a Euro that is more stable. However, the UK is not part of this. In fact, the UK has never shared the same kind of political affairs to the European integration as other European countries. This means that for the UK, it is not only the political affairs, but the single currency as well. The UK has been strong consistent advocate of membership, showing doubts of the economic benefits and fearing the political consequences. The Euro crisis in full flow and UKs government is Eurosceptic and there is no prospect of the UK willing to join the Euro. This has result to other Euro zone members to draw opposition from the crisis. They recognize the inadequate political mechanism in the management of single currency. UK has recognized that the absent of the implosion of the entire single currency, building a fiscal union and resolving the Euro crisis will be a sustainable way to override the objective of most of the EU member state. The transformational of the EU in which it refuses to share, UK has three options. It can either withdrawal its full membership, sit on the sidelines while other EU members states focuses on saving the single currency or make the most of EU membership. If UK gets full membership, and leverages within the EU, they decline both decline as the Euro crisis (The Independent, 2015). The UK should get out before it’s pushed into second tier of membership, which has become difficult to shape EU that will interest the UK. In the second option EU fails to acknowledge the great value that UK gains from its membership and how important UK voice is in shaping the future of the union. UKs membership in the EU gives its free-barriers access to a single market, its estimated that trade between EU countries is twice as much as it would be without a single market (Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee, 152,2012) . It’s the main reason why UK continues to attract one of the largest inflows of foreign direct investment and send most of its money to the EU. The third option is to make most of the EU membership, the UK takes opportunity to build alliances with other EU members, and it still continues to benefit UK directly. In 2017, Prime minster David Cameron is to hold a referendum on the UKs EU membership (Consensus Economics, 2013) . When it comes to trade they is little or no evidence that the economy would suffer from an exit, provided that UK is able to come into an agreement that will enable exporters to compete on the same terms as those in the EU. Its main priority is for the exports in the region. It’s not clear if the EU membership has enabled UK to engage in services liberalizing successful, so the cost of exist is minimal. An exit from the EU would open up the possibilities of an era that would limit net inflows of workers to the UK. UK is fully aware of the benefits associated with open migration, especially for skilled workers. EU membership benefit has brought benefits to the UK. It’s challenging to use export performance of the economy as a counterfactual for the UKs EU membership, they have a unique trade structure that is hard to compare to the UKs. It’s a challenge to find an impartial analysis on the issue that has a strong framework; research has found no evidence of long-run trade performance of a member state that would be bad off outside of the union, consisting the trade agreement remains in place. UK relies heavily on service exports that create other issues. The UK trade with the EU highlights that that exploits the comparative advantage in service with the non-EU trading partners. Leaving the EU gives UK ability to set its own, potential and migration regime (Center for European Reforms, 9, 2014). The EU members have shackled Britain Economy to a corpse. The UK exporters have been held back from the fast growing markets of the commonwealth and the developing world. From a recent study, the frequent question asked is what the membership of a single market is actually worth in the UK? Close integration with the Europe brings an access to a market of more than 500 million people and brings healthy competition and investment into the UKs economy, helping raise productivity (BIS, 3, 2011). EU membership has boosted Britain’s trade in goods with other EU countries, accounting for close to $219 billion. EU explains that single market is more than free-trade area. Trade has been tariff-free for years; this has reduced the non-tariffs arising from national regulations. EU membership has helped UK get large investments from Europe. REASON WHY UK SHOULD LEAVE EU (Economic help, 2012). 1. Reintroduce the full power back to the Westminster: The EU parliament has a single state objection to a new legislation would make no difference if other states were in support of it. States no longer get a veto when deciding on new laws. The new laws are put either through consensus among the members only, or by a majority. This made countries unhappy because they can’t block new laws that they strongly disagree. The EU has great structure and the power should be handed by the west minister. 2. EU is a Drain on British Economy: the EU drains the British economy. A huge sum of money given to the EU is allocated to the bureaucracy and the wasteful spending like the common agricultural policy (The Guardian, 2015). Most of the EU spending is spend towards industry development. The distribution is unequal and limited to one area. Other countries have very little money spend on agricultural sector and this sees few benefits and yet except to foot the bill for this wasteful idea. 3. The EU is undemocratic and unaccountable: The EU is headed by unelected and unaccountable leaders whose powers are vast. They establish laws that haven’t been voted on in the National assembly, yet they super cede the UKs laws that do pass through the democratic process. The powers and influence in the EU structure is divided though it has some disparities between the European parliament, the council of ministers and the commission. These bodies are designed to check and balance each other. In the EU the closest a citizen can come is through their elected leaders in the European parliament. 4. We need to co-operate against global crime and terror: The Europol is enables criminals and terrorist to cross borders so as to be tracked and caught easily by the force. Britain being an island the possibility of criminals crossing the border is minimal; hence the Europol becomes irrelevant to them. It UK was to fight global terror then its better if they merged with the United States, where there are way too strong. 5. Representative elected shouldn’t give UK away: Britain should remain independent and sovereign. Its involvement with EU threatens national identity and the UK economy. Britain doesn’t rely on it neighbouring European countries in order for growth. 6. People that are not European but Englishmen are entitled to vote: In political party manifesto many leaders like Tony Blair promised a referendum. Gordon Brown was not mandated to sign the membership of EU for the Lisbon treaty, when we were not given a referendum. 7. Immigration: After joining the EU the numbers of immigrants from the EU have come to the country for work related reasons. Not only has that but in terms of asylum seekers are being financed by the EU stated who don’t deal with the immigrants. In recent years, new laws have been passed in the UK hospitals to full treat other EU members. This new will cost UK billions of money per year, with a fair amount of money been spend on foreigners who pay little or no money to access the facilities. This has resulted to an increased cost for hiring additional teachers and nurses. The number of immigrants have caused the loss of national identity, with values been relegated to second place while they focus on catering for the needs of foreigners. 8. Britain taxpayers are forced to bailout other European countries rather than receiving goods and services: The Britain taxes been used to give other European government large sums of money. The rate of unemployment increases and countries desperately avoiding double dip recession (The market oracle, 2011) . Withdrawing from the EU has become self-sufficient and commences trade with other countries that would be developing the economy. Instead the money is being used for other European nations rather than building their country. It deprives the British people of work and advantages they should have. 9. Trade: Trade is a major aspect in any country. UK has large trading partners outside the EU that are beneficial to both countries. Trade in UK has been beneficial for the EU but have little benefits on Britain’s people.UK withdrawal from the EU will be beneficial and the money earned will help build the country’s economy. 10. Employment opportunities given to the British: If UK pulls out of the EU many British citizens will get more chances of getting employed. When the citizens start earning then the economy will grow drastically. Most of the EU members send their money home to be used to spend in their economy so it doesn’t help the UK (BBC, 2013). If a pensioners living in the United States are deported a or forced to return to their country, then the pension are paid to the citizen by the UK, then this money would be spend in the UK and not in the US. This wouldn’t interest EU to return pensioners back to the UK. 11. Economical and political ties: Developing countries like Brazil and China provide Britain with business and entrepreneur with an unparalleled opportunity to develop and grow into the untapped economy. The belief that staying with EU is vital to the UK economy is reduced, with the growing opportunities that an EU free UK will receive. Leaving EU will allow an independent decision to develop the UKs bilateral trade with other countries. UK leaving EU would be flexible in deciding which country to engage with both political and economic. If this chance is utilized properly by the Government, then leaving EU will be the start of anew golden age of the British economy. 12. Students will not pay tuition fees: The British student will gain qualification in the UK, the fess will have increased because the British citizens are not getting an education in the UK. England was a rich country with great skills and knowledge. Now the EU treats UK as a way to enrich their home countries. Every student is crying to leave the EU, this is because students want to pay cheaper tuition fees, instead get visa system rather than permitting people to move from country to another. 13. Security: The main aim was to aid regional security, now that the bond of trade and co-operation has been established, they is no longer need to be part of the peace and good will. The unique co-relationship between the US and UK has shown that the UK is not dependent on EU security; this means that UK is no longer tied to the union for protection reasons. The peace in the UK has little to do with the EU, different ideologies have corrupt people that Europe could become a supernatural country, and hence Germany has given an irrational support. The Britons don’t what war among the EU member countries. 14. UK doesn’t want to change the pound to the Euro: there have been constant talks for Britain to become a new monetary change making the pound to the Euro. WHY SHOULD UK STAY IN THE EU 1. EU is a regional security guarantor: This means that so far no member has gone to war with one another, hence fulfilling the long lasting peace. EU members are economic and political cooperative to a level that it renders war between states member. EU plays the role of a negotiator for most of the important international treaties. It negotiates to ensure a better international governance and international community and is able to support mutual interests. The EU hands such important security issues and has weapons of mass destruction, that combats illegal accumulation nd trafficking of weapons and other security related issues. 2. Free market: EU gives business access to millions and millions of consumers with great benefits for businesses that are bound to be prosperous (Euromove,2011). The benefit of a free market has increased the customer choice and goods are always on time, delivery takes a short time and it allows manufacturers to save money by reducing prices for the consumer. The free market has helped the service industry, because they find it easy to access a large area of new customers easily. 3. TNCs would leave: These are companies that are based in at least two or more countries. Some of the TNCs are located in Britain, the reason why TNCs are in the EU is because they are based in UK and they are allowed free export throughout the EU because of accessibility to free market. This means if they pull out from the EU some of these companies will leave to and many people will lose their jobs. 4. EU strengthening structure: The EU is continually growing its structure to make it democratic and accountable (Piotrowski, 118, 2010). MEPSs are elected to represent the people within their state; they vote on new laws and represent their states, constituency and national party. Making important decision on the voting system helps develop a high democratic council. Many people view the EU to be a democratic deficit; the EU structures continue to grow and reform in order to better their citizens and stakeholders. 5. Students will have to British fees: Students will pay a lot of money in the coming year for tuition. But in most of the EU members tuition fee is cheaper and others free, this kind of privilege benefits all the EU members, because they have a chance to student in any EU member country for a little or no tuition fee. 6. Trade: In the past few months exports to non-European countries have risen while exports to the Eurozone countries have fallen. Nevertheless other members of the Eurozone like Germany are doing much better, and other countries like Sweden that are not in the Eurozone but are EU member (BBC, 2013). In conclusion UK leaving the EU is more adventurous that it staying in the EU. Some of the advantages are like trade; Students will not pay tuition fees, Employment opportunities given to the British, EU is a Drain on British Economy, Economic and political ties and Immigration. The disadvantages include: Trade, students will have to pay British fess, TNCs would leave, EU strengthening structure and freemarket. Bibliography BBC News, 2013.UK and the EU: Better off out or in? [Online] Available at http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-20448450 [Accessed on 22 February 2015]. BIS, 2011. The UK and the singlemarket. [Online] Available at< https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43314/11-719-uk-and-single-market.pdf> [Accessed on 23 February 2015]. Center for European Reforms, 2012. 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