Thatcher and Europe 1987-1990

Question 1

What is SEA?

Answer 1

• 1986 Thatcher signed Single European Act
• she appeared pro-European
• appeared to be more negative after this
• wanted single market
• later claimed not fully understood how SEA used to change relations with Europe
• worried her and many C MP’s

Question 2

What did Thatcher do in response to Europe after joining SEA?

Answer 2

The Bruges Speech 1988
- under pressure obliged to increase Britain’s contribution to EC social fund but become more outspokenly critical of European developments
- “We have not…rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain only to see them … reimposed by a European super-state”

Question 3

What was the problem of Thatcher’s vision of a single market economy?

Answer 3

• difficult to see how it could become reality without some increase in central EU institutions to manage it

Question 4

What were reactions to the speech?

Answer 4

• Europeans reactions hostile
• her full opposition to European integration became more and more apparent
• Enthused Eurosceptic MPs that the Bruges Group was formed to focus opposition to any EU federal state

Question 5

What was Thatcher in support of regarding Europe?

Answer 5

• extending it to include new states in Eastern Europe
• to ensure communism truly defeated
• extend free trade
• partly to weaken power of EU commission in Brussels
• wider shallower rather than deeper union

Question 6

What was the Delors Report?