Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Britain and World Opt
Britain and World Opt
December, 2005
transport
agriculture
external trade
taxation
Member Countries of EU
Britain joined in 1973
There are now 25 member countries
Germany is the largest with a population
of 80M, with Malta and Luxembourg the
smallest – around 300,000.
4 more countries are negotiating to join.
11 countries have formed a common
currency – the Euro.
Britain and the EU
There is no clear view
Euro-sceptics (including much of the conservative party)
believe that closer links would inhibit Britain’s freedom to
make its own decisions about its political and economic f
uture. They are against joining the Euro.
Pro-Europeans see it as essential to Britain’s national int
erest that Britain has a voice in the direction of policy in
Europe, otherwise Britain will be left out of important dec
ision making. Only the Liberal Democratic Party is fully i
n favour of close ties with Europe.
The Labour Party has promised a referendum on wheth
er or not to join the Euro as the common currency.
Special Relationship of Britain with USA