British Shifting Sovereignty-Unity Nexus in Historical Perspective

The British after the Second World War did not have the same necessities as most of the continental Europe; its internal and external situations were different, and thus there was no other reason for the UK to promote European integration.

The United Kingdom became a friendly external sponsor to the peaceful cohabitation between the European powers in order to prevent another conflict affecting the country’s stability. The British necessities had changed from the period right after the Second World War until the enlargement because of economic and political reasons. The country no longer enjoyed a leading position in world affairs because of its incapacity to compete politically, culturally or economically with the USA and the USSR; also, its economy was in clear decline. The solution for its problems was to be found in the European Communities with a big market and the collaboration of the member states in the international arena.

The British had asked for membership under a Conservative government, but also under a government lead by the Labour Party. So it is obvious that there was common agreement between the main political parties of the UK about the necessity of joining the European Communities. For the UK, the enlargement also meant the inclusion of Ireland and Denmark in the European Communities, and the application of Norway was also accepted, but a domestic referendum in the Scandinavian country had a negative result for the European aspirations of its government.

Nevertheless, the British were aware of the meaning of the European Communities; the Schuman Declaration was a public document, the concept of shared sovereignty was included in all the treaties of the Communities and British officials were aware that the European communities had the political long-term goal of uniting its members in a single political structure. The decision of the British was a matter of priorities, economic development and international influence and political power were more important than British sovereignty. Therefore, it cannot be said that the British simply joined a Union of trade and with the current political development of the European Union, its essence has changed and the UK should withdraw from it.