Europe

Question 1

What tensions were there over the Euro?

Answer 1

• Blair, in the face of opposition and a set of stringent tests from Brown, was unable to even place the idea of a single currency to a referendum.
• This made the idea of British leadership in Europe a little more strenuous.

Question 2

How did Blair have good relations with Europe?

Answer 2

• He opted back into the Social Chapter.
• ## He had a high personal standing and good relationships with other European leaders.

Question 3

How did the EU expand and what was Blair’s role?

Answer 3

• The Eu had expanded to 27 states by 2007, including much of the ex-communist Eastern European bloc.
• This was favourable for both UK parties as it nullified the proposed notion of a large federalised state.
  Blair also had some success negotiating the full implementation of a single market.

Question 4

What was Blair’s struggle with the Common Agricultural Policy?

Answer 4

• He understood that CAP a reform was bound to the question of the overall EU budget, and that any progress would result in concessions from Britain over Thatchers rebate in 1985.
• Blair was then outmanoeuvred in 2005, accepting a modest cut in the rebate without a formal agreement on reducing the CAP.

Question 5

How did Blair strengthen the role of the EU in the wider world?

Answer 5

• He took the lead on issues like climate change and aiming to ‘make poverty history’ by reforming aid to Africa.
• At the Saint-Malo Agreement (1998) Blair took the lead in laying the foundations for the European Security and Defence Policy.
• He also tried to make Britain a bridge between Europe and the US above all in Iraq, Iran and Israel/Palestine.

Question 6

How did Iraq strain EU relations?

Answer 6

• The war was repudiated by most prominent European leaders.
• French president Chirac brought relations to a low point when stating he would veto any UN second resolution for invasion

Question 7

What was Britains position with Europe by 2007?

Answer 7

• Few concrete achievements were made under the Blair premiership.
• A new diluted reform scheme vis the 2007 Lisbon Treaty was controversial and gave no certainty all 27 states would ratify it.