Tag: EU membership

How Closely Is the Economy of the UK and Scotland Aligned with the EU?

David Bell Britain’s Decision | The EU Referendum In terms of income per person, the economy of the UK, and Scotland in particular, is in line with the average across the EU, writes David Bell. He analyses different aspects of the economic relationship with the EU and notes variations across both Scotland and the UK. …

Brexit Debate: Lessons From the EU’s Non-Members

Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum Although European states such as Norway or Switzerland have different kinds of relationships with the EU, they are all becoming increasingly integrated into it, without any formal say, write Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum. They argue that these states have given up national sovereignty without any …

What Do Voters Think About the EU and the Referendum Question?

Charlie Jeffery Britain’s Decision | The EU Referendum Public opinion on the EU varies in the different parts of the UK, and views within each of the UK nations have shifted markedly since the Common Market Referendum in 1975, writes Charlie Jeffery. He suggests that identity could play an important role in voters’ decisions at …

How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of Britain’s Membership of the EU

Daniel Kenealy Britain’s Decision | The EU Referendum The shape of the UK’s relations with the EU has been defined by its unique historical understanding of its place in the world, writes Daniel Kenealy. He argues that, more recently, the increasing Eurosceptic dimension of the Conservative party and the electoral threat from UKIP combined to …

Towards Brexit? The UK’s EU Referendum

Anthony Salamone The upcoming EU referendum has brought about a different kind of political debate in the UK, and the need for facts and analysis to sort through the many issues at stake is clear, writes Anthony Salamone. He sets out an open invitation to the University of Edinburgh’s new free online course which will …

This June’s EU Referendum is Unlikely to be the UK’s Last

Anthony Salamone The debate on the UK’s relationship with the EU will continue well beyond the forthcoming referendum, writes Anthony Salamone. He argues that, under either outcome of the vote, the UK could be set for another EU referendum in the foreseeable future. Plenary Session in Strasbourg – Jan 2016, European Parliament, CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0 The approaching …

Brexit, Northern Ireland and British-Irish Relations

Christine Bell In-Depth Analysis Despite the precarious nature of politics in Northern Ireland, the emerging political differences on the question of the UK’s EU membership may not prove particularly divisive during the referendum, writes Christine Bell. However, she suggests that the institutions built around the peace process would be seriously undermined if the European frameworks …

The UK’s EU Renegotiation: Placing the Economic Governance Measures in Context

David Howarth In-Depth Analysis Following the conclusion of the UK’s renegotiation of its EU membership, David Howarth analyses the provisions on economic governance. He argues that, while most of measures change relatively little, the relationship between euro and non-euro states in the EU is a crucial issue for the UK, particularly given its large financial …