The Impact of EU membership on
decision making in the UK
Lesson Starter
Today we will…
• Identify the EU laws that have been
implemented in the UK.
• Identify how the powers of the
Scottish and UK parliaments are limited
by the EU.
Success Criteria
• I can list and explain the
different EU laws.
• I can work cooperatively to show
the impact of EU decision in the UK.
You
will have already looked at the powers that belong to the
Scottish Parliament and Westminster.
Devolved Powers
Reserved Powers
Health
Education and Training
Social work
Sports and the arts
Local government
Economic Development and
Transport
Housing
Law and Order
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Tax varying powers – can increase
tax by 3p in the £ -
The constitution
Defence
UK foreign policy
Social security
UK fiscal and monetary
policy – the economy
Employment
Immigration
Transport and Safety
Regulation
Abortion/firearms/drug
control
Others e.g. nuclear energy,
broadcasting
These powers can also be challenged by EU law
Britain joined the European Union in 1973
The EU brings many social and economic benefits,
however, some people believe that by being part of this
organisation some power is taken away from the UK
The European Union, or EU, describes itself as
a family of democratic European countries,
committed to working together for peace and
prosperity.
The Impact of EU membership on decision
making in the UK
28 member states
• European Parliament has 766 seats
from 28 member countries.
• The European Parliament is composed
of publicly elected members (MEPs)
from each member state. Elections
are held every five years.
• The European Parliament is divided
into political rather than national
groupings, for example, the Socialist
Group, the Christian Democratic
Group and the Green Group. MEPs
choose which group they wish to
belong to.
EU Decision Making
• In certain areas such as tax, defence, health, industry, culture,
tourism, education, youth, sport and vocational training - the EU has
the right to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of
member states like the UK.
• Euro MPs don't set our taxes or decide if a local school or hospital's
going to close, but they do have a big influence on how we live our
lives.
• They make decisions in Brussels that directly affect our jobs, our
family lives, the health care we get, rules about recycling and
energy.
• MEPs passed a law a few years ago significantly cutting the cost of
texting from abroad. Roaming rates were also cut.
• They also stopped airlines from using misleading adverts that
suggest we can fly to Spain for 50p.
Benefits
• Trade benefits
• Common Agricultural Policy
• Regional Development fund/Structural finds etc
The Scottish Parliament and
the EU
The following examples show how decisions
made by the Scottish Parliament can be
restricted by and influenced by the EU.
What Powers does the EU have?
The EU has a much greater influence over the
more social policies rather than political or
military ones.
Certain laws that have been passed in the UK and
Scotland have been challenged by the EU.
Minimum Unit Pricing on Alcohol
The Scottish Government proposed this to tackle Scotland’s unhealthy
relationship with alcohol. They argue that affordability is one of the
main reasons for the increase in consumption. It is estimated that
alcohol is now 44% more affordable in the UK than it was in 1980.
Tackling price could lead to reduced consumption and related harm.
The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 was passed in
June 2012 and will pave the way for the introduction of a preferred
minimum price of 50p per unit.
The EU and Minimum Unit Pricing
• Some member states of the EU are against Scotland’s minimum
pricing on alcohol and they are trying to block the plans.
• France, Spain, Italy , Portugal and Bulgaria have said that the policy
is illegal.
• They argued that it breaches European Free Trade Law.
Free trade within
EU states means
that barriers to
trade have been
broken down with
reduced taxes and
tariffs.
What can the EU do about the MUP?
• The Scottish Whisky Association has challenged
the law.
• The wine producing countries have argued that
this policy will have a devastating impact on the
wine and spirits industry.
• These countries have argued that it breaches the
European Free Trade Law as it discriminates
against imported products.
Why are the
producers against the
policy?
What can the EU do about the MUP?
Under European law, countries can restrict imports on public
health grounds but only if it doesn’t restrict trade between
member countries.
The issue that member countries have is:
• It would effect competition between countries as it
would mean that cheaper products would be at a
disadvantage.
• It would not allow the free movement of goods.
• It would not allow for healthy and fair competition
between countries and countries would suffer from a loss
in profit.
As a result of the these concerns, the Court of Justice of
the European Union will decide if the policy is legal. They
have said that member countries do have the right to
protect citizens on grounds of health but the policy may
disadvantage other members. They may advise on a
different approach. For example increasing alcohol taxation.
Common Fisheries Policy
This sets quotas which member
states are allowed to catch and
what amounts for each type of fish.
The whole purpose is to manage
fish stock for the EU. It has been
criticised by fishermen who say it
is threatening their livelihoods.
The fishing industry in Scotland
comprises a significant proportion
of the UK fishing industry. In some
areas the fishing industry creates
40% of employment.
Common Fisheries Policy
CFP was heavily criticised by fishermen in the UK and Scotland
because:
• It is seen as wasteful as 75% of stocks were overfished . The
quotas were not properly enforced by the EU.
• The Scottish Government felt fishermen have very limited
opportunity to influence EU fisheries policies because they do not
have much contact with the European union decision makers.
• Because of the rules and regulations, it was felt that CFP did not
make use of the fisherman’s knowledge and expertise.
Therefore, it could be argued that the EU should not manage
the fisheries and it should be placed under national control. This
would mean that the Scottish Parliament would legislate on it.
However, the whole idea of the CFP is to make Europe's fishing
stable and sustainable and prevent conflicts arising where foreign
trawlers fish in a country's waters. CFP has recently been
updated to deal with the concerns.
The UK Parliament and the
EU
The following examples show how decisions
made by the UK parliament can be restricted
by and influenced by the EU.
Prisoner Voting Rights
• Prisoners in the UK do not
get to vote in elections.
• However, some prisoners
have argued that under EU
law, they have the right to
vote.
• The European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR) have
said that the UK’s blanket
ban on votes for convicted
inmates is a breach of
human rights.
David Cameron, December 2013
“Prisoners "damn well shouldn't" be given
the right to vote…The court's powers
must be restricted, we need to clip its
wings".
• This issue is currently under investigation and the
UK may be forced to reconsider its blanket ban on
prisoners votes.
• A cross-party committee of MPs and peers has
recommended prisoners serving jail terms of a year
or less and those coming to the end of their
sentences should be entitled to vote.
• This example clearly shows how the power of the
UK government is restricted by the EU.
Information on EU laws that affect the UK
Stand and Deliver Task
1. Mobile Phone Roaming Charges-The European Commission
is proposing to scrap mobile phone roaming charges across
Europe. Measures will reduce consumer charges.
2. Working Time Directives- limits the working week to 48
hours. Britain opted-out of this which allows workers to
say that they do not want their time to be limited.
3. Freedom of Movement-all EU citizens are entitled to look
for a job in anther EU country without needing a work
permit and reside in the country.
4. Eurozone bailout fund- countries such as Spain, Ireland,
Portugal and Greece have received money from the EU to
bailout their failing economies. All EU countries have
signed up to help protect the single currency.
Britain’s Responses to these Laws
1. Working Time Directives- UK have opted out of this law.
UK believes that opting out gives more flexibility and
boosts the economy by allowing people to decide how many
hours they wish to work.
2. Freedom of Movement- David Cameron has suggested
that there should be limits to the freedom of movement
of European countries since poorer countries like Romania
and Bulgaria have joined.
1. Eurozone bailout fund- UK wants to ensure that they are
not responsible if any of the countries fail to pay back the
money. The Queen’s speech highlighted the UK’s intention
to withdraw from EU bailouts.
Impact upon UK decision making
Can the UK simply ignore EU legislation?
No, but they can certainly challenge it. T he UK can make an
amendment by an Act of Parliament. Member states must also look
out for developments in the domestic and European courts, which
might mean some laws need to be adapted.
What penalties can the EU impose if member states defy EU
law?
The UK has to meet timescales for implementing EU law. Even
before the measure is adopted, member states will have started
thinking about a project plan for implementation, including key
dates by which consultations must have been completed.
Failure to implement laws within the Commission's deadline will give
rise to possible actions against the government, before both
national and European courts.
The Limitations of the EU
International
Issues. Member
countries do not
have to consult the
EU when going to
war.
Each member state still has
sovereign power which means
that each country can make final
decisions. These decisions make
have implications to future
involvement with the EU.
Limitations
of the EU
Opt outs. Meaning that
countries do not have to
participate in these
policy areas. The UK has
opted from the Euro
and the Working Time
Directive
The Eurozone
bailout. UK
government refused
to participate in
this.
The European Union: Better off in or out?
David Cameron is to promise to
"make sure" UK voters get a
referendum on whether to
leave the European Union.
He wants to have an ‘in-out’
referendum by the end of
2017.
He also argues that he has a
record of "standing up" to
Brussels over eurozone bailouts
and EU budgets.
British people were concerned
that they had little say about
how the European Union affected
their lives.
William Hague:
"Too often, the British people
feel that Europe is something
that happens to them, not
something they have enough of a
say over. That the EU is happy
speaking but does not seem
interested in listening”
Cameron’s
Speech on
Europe
Exam Task
Evaluate the impact The European
Parliament has on decision making in the
UK
12 marks
Was I successful?
• I can list and explain the
different EU laws.
• I can work cooperatively to
show the impact of EU decision
in the UK.