foreign affairs Flashcards
single european act
1986
established the european parliament
aimed to create a internal single market
thatcher opinion on SEA
firstly seemed to be pro-european and supported it
later claimed that she had not fully understood how the SEA would be used to change britain’s relationship with europe
thatcher and federalism
had a fear of federalism
wanted the UK to remain an induvidual power
came clear that the SEA limited the influence of induvidual nation states
bruges speech
infuriated other european leaders
raised doubts about britain’s commitment to european integration
enthused the eurosceptics in britain, caused bruges group to be formed
thatcher’s initial opinion on europe
after collapse of communism, she was in favour of expanding the EEC to include the new states in eastern europe
wanted to extend free trade
favoured a wider and shallower union instead of a deeper union
eurosceptics in major’s governmentq
becoming more vocal and important
eg, micheal portillo and john redwood
maastricht treaty
1992
designed to set up new structures to deal with the expansion of the EEC
EEC became the EU
conditions set for a single currency to come in in 1999
created the EMU - Economic and monetary union
major’s skills
good diplomatic skills
allowed him to establish good personal links and negotiate what he wanted from maastricht
britian’s opt-outs of maastricht
single currency
social chapter
- aimed to regulate workingh conditions eg. maximum hours and employment rights
big influence in getting the maastricht treaty passed in parliament
rebels against maastricht
1993 attempt to get parliament to ratify maastricht
major won by threatening a vote of no confidence, which if he had lost, would have resulted in a GE
eventually ratified after 18 months
did the ratification of maastricht end tory divisions?
NO
eurosceptics continued to oppose major on european issues
losing the whip or deselection did not stop the rebels
anti-europeans outside parliament
anti-federalist league (former UKIP) set up in 1993
referendum party set up in 1994
- fought in the 1997 election
soviet union after fell of communism
had obvious economic trouble
introduced market reforms, but they had little impact
reagan and thatcher involvement in USSR downfall
insisted on taking a strong line with USSR which forced gorbachev to realise the USSR wasnt strong enough to compete
negotiated well with gorbachev so that the cold war could come to a peaceful end
did the key figures see the end of the cold war
NO
reagan 2nd term came to an end in 1998 so Bush oversaw the end of the cold war
Gorbachev was overtaken by events as the USSR fell apart and resigned at the end of 1991
thatcher fell from power in 1990
