Common questions about the EU
Browsing through this site should give you a much better understanding of how the EU works and the UK’s policies surrounding this country’smembership of it. It may be difficult though to know where to begin so we’ve also collected some of the most common questions people ask about the EU here. The answers to these will lead you to the more detailed content elsewhere on these pages.
That’s a big question and you’ll find it answered explicitly on our What have we gained? page. In brief, the EU has cemented peace between European nations after centuries of war. It has used that peace to build the largest single market in the developed world, bringing greater prosperity to all member states (including the UK).
It offers a vital layer ofco-operation for tackling cross border problems like terrorism or environmental damage, and it has created a much more powerful voice in the world forthe UK’s interests than would be possible for Britain on its own.
Our membership of the EU has also opened up new opportunities for UK citizens, who are now free to live, work and travel across Europe.
Yes, in certain circumstances. Where European laws are approved by majority voting in the Council of Ministers, then not every national Government need agree to it for it to become law.
However, there are national vetoes in the most sensitive areas of possible action (forinstance on tax and foreign policy), as well as strong guidelines designed to ensure that only measures better handled at a European rather than national level are dealt with at that European level. Thisis called the principle of subsidiarity.
Once a law has been approved at a European level then national parliaments are obliged to turn it into national law, if it does not have direct effect already.
The European Court also offers a point of appeal in some instances if citizens of a member state believe that their parliaments have not implemented a European law properly.
Find out more in the How does it work? pages.
Britain's relationship with the rest of Europe has always been controversial. Some people have never believed Britain should be in theEU. Some of them object in principle to European institutions and rules. Some believe that the EU is remote and unaccountable, others that it is inefficient, wasteful or creates too much red tape.
Like most organisations, the EU is not perfect. EU leaders acknowledge this. Some of its policies need reform. Management of EU funds needs to improve. EU regulation can be over-complicated although it can be tempting for all EU member states' governments to shift blame onto the EU when it comes to difficult issues.
The EU is trying to put this right. EU laws are being simplified and slimmed down. But we still need an effective legal European framework to make sure, for example, that the single market works properly.
The EU tends to be unpopular where it does the hardest jobs. For example, managing fish stocks means tough decisions to deal with overfishing.
The Government's latest estimate of UK net contributions, and therefore the cost of the UK’s membership for 2007 - 08 is £4.7 billion pounds. Furtherinformation can be found in the HM Treasury Statement on the 2007 EC Budget.
Find out more about the cost of the EU to UK taxpayers in our How much does it cost? page.
The EU spends a significant amount of its budget on support for farming, in the form of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The UK is pushing to move this funding to more useful areas for the future competitiveness of Europe.
The EU’s structural funding has brought direct benefits to many areas of the UK, but it also offers indirect benefits; by improving the infrastructure of poorer regions, the EU helps to create better markets for British goods and services.
Find out more about the UK and CAP in the Policies section of this website.
Many of the newer members of the EU have economies with much lower costs, making them attractive sources of production for businesses in this country. And many workers from the new Member States have come to work in the UK, as well as in other Member States. This has benefited our economy overall. An estimated 3.5 million jobs in the UK are linked, directly and indirectly, to the export of goods and services to the European Union.
But this is only one facet of globalisation. The EU should also help increase the prosperity of new member states, creating new opportunities and markets for UK businesses.
Find out more from our Enlargement pages.
The European Council (comprising Heads of State or Government of the Member States) sets the strategic direction for the EU at its quarterly summit meetings. The European Commission (the EU’s civil service) drafts legislation or other non-legislative measures for policy areas inthe 1st Pillar (mainly social and economic policy). Draft legislation is sent to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers for revision and eventual agreement. Member States as well as the Commission may put forward proposals in the 2nd and 3rd Pillars (common foreign and security policy and co-operation in justice and home affairs) and the Council, acting alone, is the supreme decision-making body.
Find out more in the How does it work? pages.
As an EU citizen there are various ways to participate and have your voice heard.
Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s) are your elected representatives at the level of the EU. The European Parliament has elections every 5 years. Any citizen of a Member State can vote in these elections irrespective of their nationality.
Citizens of the EU, or residents of Member States, have the right to submit a petition to the European Parliament on any subject which is part of the European Union’s activity. A petition could be a complaint or a request and relate to issues of public or private interest.
Such petitions give the European Parliament the opportunity of calling attention to any infringement of a European citizen's rights by a Member State or local authorities or other institution. You can find out more on the European Parliament website.
The new Lisbon Treaty will include for the first time a means for citizens to directly poll the European Commission.
You can contact the European Parliament and the European Commission through their offices in the UK:
UK Office of the European Parliament
European Commission Representation in the UK
You can also contact the Europe Direct network of information centres on 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11 from anywhere in the EU to find out more.
Joining the Euro is a big step and so the economic conditions have to be right before a political decision can be made. The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous. So the Government has laid down five key tests for whether the economic conditions are right, and these have not yet been met.
Find out more in the economic and monetary union pages of our Policies section.
In the event of a future assessment supporting UK entry to the euro a decision will only be taken if the Government and Parliament agree that it would be in the UK’s best interests. The UK would then join the euro if thepublic voted “yes” in a referendum. You can find further information on the Government’s position on HM Treasury's Euro website.
What has the EU done for us?
That’s a big question and you’ll find it answered explicitly on our What have we gained? page. In brief, the EU has cemented peace between European nations after centuries of war. It has used that peace to build the largest single market in the developed world, bringing greater prosperity to all member states (including the UK).
It offers a vital layer ofco-operation for tackling cross border problems like terrorism or environmental damage, and it has created a much more powerful voice in the world forthe UK’s interests than would be possible for Britain on its own.
Our membership of the EU has also opened up new opportunities for UK citizens, who are now free to live, work and travel across Europe.
Can the EU overrule our parliament?
Yes, in certain circumstances. Where European laws are approved by majority voting in the Council of Ministers, then not every national Government need agree to it for it to become law.
However, there are national vetoes in the most sensitive areas of possible action (forinstance on tax and foreign policy), as well as strong guidelines designed to ensure that only measures better handled at a European rather than national level are dealt with at that European level. Thisis called the principle of subsidiarity.
Once a law has been approved at a European level then national parliaments are obliged to turn it into national law, if it does not have direct effect already.
The European Court also offers a point of appeal in some instances if citizens of a member state believe that their parliaments have not implemented a European law properly.
Find out more in the How does it work? pages.
Why is the EU controversial?
Britain's relationship with the rest of Europe has always been controversial. Some people have never believed Britain should be in theEU. Some of them object in principle to European institutions and rules. Some believe that the EU is remote and unaccountable, others that it is inefficient, wasteful or creates too much red tape.
Like most organisations, the EU is not perfect. EU leaders acknowledge this. Some of its policies need reform. Management of EU funds needs to improve. EU regulation can be over-complicated although it can be tempting for all EU member states' governments to shift blame onto the EU when it comes to difficult issues.
The EU is trying to put this right. EU laws are being simplified and slimmed down. But we still need an effective legal European framework to make sure, for example, that the single market works properly.
The EU tends to be unpopular where it does the hardest jobs. For example, managing fish stocks means tough decisions to deal with overfishing.
How much does it cost the UK to be part of the EU?
The Government's latest estimate of UK net contributions, and therefore the cost of the UK’s membership for 2007 - 08 is £4.7 billion pounds. Furtherinformation can be found in the HM Treasury Statement on the 2007 EC Budget.
Find out more about the cost of the EU to UK taxpayers in our How much does it cost? page.
How does the EU spend its money?
The EU spends a significant amount of its budget on support for farming, in the form of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The UK is pushing to move this funding to more useful areas for the future competitiveness of Europe.
The EU’s structural funding has brought direct benefits to many areas of the UK, but it also offers indirect benefits; by improving the infrastructure of poorer regions, the EU helps to create better markets for British goods and services.
Find out more about the UK and CAP in the Policies section of this website.
How does enlargement of the EU to include more member states affect me?
Many of the newer members of the EU have economies with much lower costs, making them attractive sources of production for businesses in this country. And many workers from the new Member States have come to work in the UK, as well as in other Member States. This has benefited our economy overall. An estimated 3.5 million jobs in the UK are linked, directly and indirectly, to the export of goods and services to the European Union.
But this is only one facet of globalisation. The EU should also help increase the prosperity of new member states, creating new opportunities and markets for UK businesses.
Find out more from our Enlargement pages.
How is EU policy made?
The European Council (comprising Heads of State or Government of the Member States) sets the strategic direction for the EU at its quarterly summit meetings. The European Commission (the EU’s civil service) drafts legislation or other non-legislative measures for policy areas inthe 1st Pillar (mainly social and economic policy). Draft legislation is sent to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers for revision and eventual agreement. Member States as well as the Commission may put forward proposals in the 2nd and 3rd Pillars (common foreign and security policy and co-operation in justice and home affairs) and the Council, acting alone, is the supreme decision-making body.
Find out more in the How does it work? pages.
As UK citizens, what say do we have in the EU?
As an EU citizen there are various ways to participate and have your voice heard.
Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s) are your elected representatives at the level of the EU. The European Parliament has elections every 5 years. Any citizen of a Member State can vote in these elections irrespective of their nationality.
Citizens of the EU, or residents of Member States, have the right to submit a petition to the European Parliament on any subject which is part of the European Union’s activity. A petition could be a complaint or a request and relate to issues of public or private interest.
Such petitions give the European Parliament the opportunity of calling attention to any infringement of a European citizen's rights by a Member State or local authorities or other institution. You can find out more on the European Parliament website.
The new Lisbon Treaty will include for the first time a means for citizens to directly poll the European Commission.
You can contact the European Parliament and the European Commission through their offices in the UK:
UK Office of the European Parliament
European Commission Representation in the UK
You can also contact the Europe Direct network of information centres on 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11 from anywhere in the EU to find out more.
Why are we NOT in the Euro?
Joining the Euro is a big step and so the economic conditions have to be right before a political decision can be made. The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous. So the Government has laid down five key tests for whether the economic conditions are right, and these have not yet been met.
Find out more in the economic and monetary union pages of our Policies section.
In the event of a future assessment supporting UK entry to the euro a decision will only be taken if the Government and Parliament agree that it would be in the UK’s best interests. The UK would then join the euro if thepublic voted “yes” in a referendum. You can find further information on the Government’s position on HM Treasury's Euro website.