Foreign Developments: Arguments for Britain being in a stronger/weaker position in the EU 1997-2007

Question 1

Which universal policy in relation to currency were Britain unable to accept?

Answer 1

The Euro

Question 2

Who ran tests to see if adopting the Euro would be economically sustainable in Britain?

Answer 2

Gordon Brown

Question 3

What was an issue for Blair in regards to not adopting the Euro?

Answer 3

Britain would not be able to be at the heart of Europe

Question 4

When did Brown conclude the tests for the Euro showed it would not work for the British economy?

Answer 4

2003

Question 5

What did Brown tell the media in relation to the Euro?

Answer 5

That Britain would not accept it

Question 6

Name 2 prominent Labour members who wanted the Euro to be accepted

Answer 6

Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson

Question 7

What did Blair not being told what Brown would tell the media show with his authority in this aspect of his party?

Answer 7

His authority over Europe was weak

Question 8

Why did Brown not want to accept the Euro in terms of inflation?

Answer 8

Inflation was stable at around a 2.5% increase a year

Question 9

What did Blair opt in to in the EU in 1997?

Answer 9

EU workers rights’ legislation

Question 10

What did Blair opt in to in the EU in 1998?

Answer 10

Eu defence policy

Question 11

What did it mean when Britain opted into the EU defence policy?

Answer 11

The EU was now a separate military force from NATO

Question 12

Which President was pleased when Britain accepted the common EU defence policy?

Answer 12

The President of France

Question 13

What year did British contributions to the EU rise to £7 billion a year?

Answer 13

2004

Question 14

What did Blair agree to in terms of EU Budget contributions in 2005?

Answer 14

Agreed to increase them

Question 15

What percentage of the total CAP funding did Britain contribute to?

Answer 15

10%

Question 16

How was Blair strong with the use of his veto against paying rebates?

Answer 16

He argued Britain never got their full rebates

Question 17

How can it be seen Britain never got their full rebates?

Answer 17

66% of rebate money went back into funding the EU

Question 18

Which policy were Labour unable to get Britain under?

Answer 18

Common Agricultural Policy

Question 19

What concept did Blair create with the hope this would get Britain into the CAP?

Answer 19

The Third Way

Question 20

What did Blair’s Third Way with the EU say ?

Answer 20

If Britain continued to accept EU reforms then they should be rewarded

Question 21

What did most EU ministers think about Blair’s Third Way?

Answer 21

Britain accepting reforms was instead the country catching up to the EU legislation

Question 22

What did France and Germany do against Britain in the EU?

Answer 22

They worked together to make sure Britain could not join the CAP

Question 23

What did Blair say he would give up in terms of British abilties in the EU?

Answer 23

He would give up Britain’s ability to veto EU policies

Question 24

Why did Blair propose Britain should receive by giving up their ability to veto?

Answer 24

Joining the CAP

Question 25

What could possibly happen in the future if Blair gave up Britain’s ability to veto EU policies?

Answer 25

They could introduce a policy which Britain heavily opposed that they could not get out of accepting

Question 26

Name a prominent area of Britain that would be impacted heavily by future EU policies if they were made

Answer 26

London

Question 27

Why would London being impacted by potential future EU policies be an issue for Labour?

Answer 27

They could potentially lose votes there

Question 28

Why would the issue of getting rid of Britains ability to veto in terms of the British electorate have been more prominent by the 2005 election in terms of seats won?

Answer 28

Labour only won 66 seats in the 2005 election

Question 29

How many EU reforms were given to Labour during Blair’s time as Prime Minister?

Answer 29

3000

Question 30

What percentage of all EU reforms given to Labour were accepted during Blair’s time as Prime Minister?

Answer 30

80% of them