The Impact of EU membership on
decision making in the UK
Lesson Starter
Do you believe that Britain benefits from
being in the EU? Explain your answer.
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.
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.
The Impact of EU membership on decision
making in the UK
• There are 73 UK MEPs
• The UK is split into 12 REGIONS for
EP elections and each region has 3-10
MEPs depending on population
• Scotland has 6 – 2 SNP, 2 Labour, 1
Conservative and 1 UKIP…see next
slide
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 is
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.
Impact of EU on Decision-Making
in Scotland and the UK
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.
Negative Impact - Minimum Pricing of Alcohol
Certain laws that have been passed in the UK and
Scotland have been challenged by the EU.
Minimum Unit Pricing on Alcohol
Knowledge - 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
• Knowledge - Some member states
of the EU are against Scotland’s
minimum pricing on alcohol and
they are trying to block the plans.
• Analysis - France, Spain, Italy,
Portugal and Bulgaria have said
that the policy is illegal arguing
that it breaches EU Free Trade
Laws. The Scottish Whisky
Association has also challenged
the 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 MUP?
• Analysis - 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 MUP?
Analysis - 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 affect 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.
Analysis - 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. All of this shows that the EU has a
significant impact on DECISION-MAKING in Scotland.
Negative Impact - Common
Fisheries Policy
Knowledge - This sets quotas about which
member states are allowed to catch fish in
particular areas and also about the amount
of fish each state can catch. The whole
purpose is to manage fish stock for the
EU. Analysis - It has been criticised by
some Scottish fishermen who say it is
threatening their livelihoods.
Knowledge - The fishing industry in
Scotland comprises a significant
proportion of the UK fishing industry. In
some areas such as Peterhead the fishing
industry creates 40% of employment.
Analysis – The CFP has been 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. Also, when ships
caught more fish than their quotas allowed, they had to throw
extra dead fish (known as discards) back into the sea.
• The Scottish Government felt fishermen have very limited
opportunity to influence EU fisheries policies because they do not
have much contact with the EU decision makers.
• Some fisherman feel that the rules were written by bureaucrats
who had no expertise in fisheries and fisherman were not
consulted.
• 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.
This again shows how the EU is making decisions for Scotland
which underlines its influence.
Positive Impact - Common
Fisheries Policy
Knowledge – Because fish don’t follow frontiers, the European Union
needs a common policy to manage fisheries. The CFE protects stocks and
prevents damaging competition between fishing fleets.
Analysis - Having the Spanish, French, British, Irish and Portuguese
fleets all competing independently under national rules for declining
stocks in the same Atlantic waters would lead to chaos and so the CFP has
a positive impact in Scotland as it protects the long term future of the
industry and prevents conflicts between different countries.
Analysis - The whole idea of the CFP is to make Europe's fishing stable
and sustainable and prevent conflicts arising where foreign trawlers fish
in another country's waters. In 2013 the CFP was amended meaning that
fishermen no longer need to throw discards back into the sea. In
addition, it is hoped that all EU countries with fishing industries will see
increased yields in future years. It could be argued then that the fact
that the EU created the CFP means that decisions are taken collectively
which is beneficial to Scotland – either way the CFP has a huge impact on
decision-making in Scotland.
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.
Stand-off between EU and
UK - Prisoner Voting Rights
• Knowledge - 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.
Knowledge –
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".
• Analysis - 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 decision-making power of
the UK government is restricted by the EU although it seems
that the current UK government is unlikely to budge on this
issue – could put UK on collision course with EU.
Positive Impact – Mobile
Phone Roaming Charges
• Knowledge - The European Union is proposing to
scrap mobile phone roaming charges across Europe.
Measures will reduce consumer charges.
• Roaming charges for using a mobile phone abroad will
be abolished from December 2015
• Posting holiday snaps to Instagram or keeping up
with emails while abroad should no longer result in
unexpectedly high bills
• Analysis – This has a major effect on decisionmaking in the UK as the EU are essentially writing
legislation which applies to Britain and all other EU
member countries.
Positive Impact – Mobile
Phone Roaming Charges
• Knowledge - But a coalition of networks representing 45
million consumers has warned that the legislation is so badly
designed that the cost of domestic calls could rise to pay for
it.
• There is a risk that calls for domestic UK calls will increase
according to the roaming coalition.
• Roaming might not be subject to surcharges anymore, but the
overall level of tariffs would increase, and non-roaming
customers might effectively foot the bill for roaming
customers.
• Analysis – Therefore the EU’s decision to scrap roaming
charges might have a negative impact on the UK since there
may be an overall rise in tariffs as a result and again this shows
how the EU has a huge impact on decision-making in the UK.
Ability to Opt Out – Working
Time Directive
• Knowledge – Part of the EU Working Time Directive
limits the working week to 48 hours. Britain opted-out
of this aspect of the directive which allows workers to
say that they do not want their time to be limited.
• UK Government at the time believed that opting out
gives more flexibility and boosts the economy by
allowing people to decide how many hours they wish to
work.
• Analysis – Since it is clear that Britain can OPT-OUT
of certain EU laws, it is clear that some EU policies do
not have a direct impact on decision-making in the UK
Ability to Opt Out – The Euro
• Knowledge – Britain also opted out of the new
European currency created in 1999 – The Euro.
The Euro is used by 19 of the 28 EU countries.
These are known as the Eurozone countries.
• Analysis – The fact that Britain was allowed to
opt-out of the Euro without receiving sanctions
shows that the EU’s decision-making power in
Britain is limited. Britain continues to use the
pound sterling.
Ability to Opt Out – Eurozone Bailout
• Knowledge - countries such as Spain, Ireland, Portugal
and Greece have received money from the EU to bailout
their failing economies.
• 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.
• The countries affected are in hundreds of billions of
euros of debt and the bailout essentially means that
some EU countries like Germany are buying up the debt
of the affected countries.
• Analysis – The fact that the UK has opted-out and does
not contribute to the bailout fund shows that in this
case its decision-making power has not been affected by
the EU.
Negative impact on decision-making? –
Freedom of Movement
• Knowledge – Freedom of Movement means that all EU citizens are
entitled to look for a job in anther EU country without needing a
work permit and reside in the country. This means that UK citizens
can live, work or study in any of the other 27 countries in the EU
such as France and Germany.
• 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. This is because of the
supposed threat of “benefit tourists” who might travel to countries
to take advantage of their superior welfare systems.
• Analysis – However, Britain does not have the ability to opt-out of
this aspect of EU membership. If Britain wants to remain in the EU
it must accept the freedom of movement policy and this shows the
huge impact that the EU has on decision-making in the UK when it
comes to immigration. This has contributed to the rise of Nigel
Farage’s UKIP party who argue that the UK should leave the EU.
Positive impact on decision-making? –
Freedom of Movement
• Knowledge – However, a report from University College
London (UCL) in 2014 found that from 2004-2011 EU
immigrants to Britain actually contributed almost £5
billion to the UK economy. These immigrants paid $5
billion more in taxes than they took out in services (like
welfare, NHS etc.)
• EU immigrants from countries including Poland often take
on jobs that UK citizens do not want and many other
immigrants bring useful skills to the British work-force
which benefits the UK economy.
• Analysis – This shows that the EU has a massive impact
on decision-making in the UK and in the case of freedom
of movement it could be argued that this impact has been
beneficial to the UK.
HOMEWORK
Negative impact of EU – UK
contributes more than it gains
• Knowledge –
• Analysis –
• Research to find knowledge points about this. Then
provide analysis. In other words, explain the impact
the EU has on the UK’s ability to make decisions about
what it contributes to the EU.
Impact upon UK decision making
Can the UK simply ignore EU legislation?
No, but they can certainly challenge it. The 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 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.
Impact upon UK decision making
Can the UK simply ignore EU legislation?
What if member states defy EU law?
• http://www.lawthink.co.uk/2011/10/european-court-vsthe-uk-the-consequences-of-ignoring-judgments/
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8160808.stm
• http://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2011/10/23/can-britainignore-europe-on-human-rights/
The European Union: Better off in or out?
David Cameron is expected 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
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 made
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 out from the Euro
and the Working Time
Directive
The Eurozone
bailout. UK
government refused
to participate in
this.
Homework – Look into the impact of
the EU on decision-making for the
following…
• The Environment – emissions, home energy
efficiency
• EU safety regulations – impact on
homes/businesses
• Political correctness – what words/phrases are
acceptable – clash with UK laws? Opinions?
• Trade – as a unit…beneficial? Does the EU
restrict the UK’s ability to trade internationally?
Knowledge Question
Evaluate the impact the EU has on
decision making in the UK
12 marks
Planning your answer…
• Possible paragraphs…
• Minimum Pricing of Alcohol
• Common Fisheries Policy
• Opt outs – e.g. 48 Hour Week…Working Time Directive,
the Euro Currency – positive? Allows UK to pick and
choose?
• Freedom of Movement
• Mobile Phone Roaming Charges – positive – cheaper phone
calls? Or not.
• Voting Rights for Prisoners – UK on collision course with
EU?
• Try to get your opinion across
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.