The European Union was created from a series of treaties and agreements between member states meant to achieve a Common Market and harmonize and promote different elements and aspects of the states. However, unlike the United States and other federal units, member states of the European Union have a higher level of autonomy and choice in deciding whether to accept European policies or not. The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the approaches of two European member states to European Policy Issues. The two countries under review are Britain and Germany.
The policy framework of both the UK and Germany are destined to be influenced by how and when they joined the European Union. This is because each of the nations have treaties in their domestic jurisdictions that guide them on how to conduct affairs and also formulate policies relating to the treaties. Germany is a founding member of the European Union and hence, they have various entrenched clauses that make them central and leading members. On the other hand, Britain has a more laidback role in the European Union because they joined in 1973, over 15 years after the most basic agreements that gave the union its shape were set up. Thus, with the benefit of hindsight, Britain was able to abstain from some agreements that would have been onerous and demanding upon them.
European Union policy is influenced by the approach through which member states domesticate EU law. Whereas Britain has to debate everything within the parliament and give it presidential assent, Germany seem to leave issues about European Union law to its judiciary. Due to this, Britain has a lot of professional politicians who are willing and able to analyze and review every single agreement relating to the European Union. Such analysis ensures that any aspect of EU treaty that is integrated into British law is insulated and protected from any form of complications to the citizens. This is because the House of Common and House of Lords scrutinizes everything and goes through every aspect of European Union law that is brought to the domestic jurisdiction.
On the other hand, Germany’s federal court system examines and reviews the laws and regulations from the European Union and applies it at the federal level. State courts do not primarily bother themselves with these EU laws. However, due to the fact that there are two tiers of legal systems, there is a larger and wider appetite for Germany to accept more laws and more restrictions. This is because the courts and the federal level government are not going to allow for any onerous actions to occur with the ordinary German. This therefore allows Germany to adopt a wider policy approach towards EU laws that is brought into the system. On the other hand, Britain is closed and less likely to accept things. Britain is more likely to object to aspects of European law and rise up against certain things it considers to be against the interest of British nationals.
Britain is not a full member of all agreements of the European Union so they have some degree of autonomy and insulation from European policy. On the other hand, Germany is a central state in the European Union and they have to lead the Union and are represented in most agreements. Furthermore, Germany’s location makes it beneficial and almost inevitable to be part of these many European policy arrangements.
Germany is central and Germany has a leading role in policies of the European Union. This is because Germany is a major country and as a founding member in the Union, they have obligations and requirements to supervise things and lead by examples. This causes German policy towards the European Union to be one that seeks to save the Union and keep the EU going rather than the British approach which is more of a self-serving method and system. When it is good and Britain is benefiting, they draw closer to the European Union, when things are difficult and the UK must make painful concessions, they back out. Due to this, the UK is more of a distant country from the European Union and Germany is somewhat central to the Union.
Britain’s distance in policy from the European Union is mainly founded on the fact that it is not a member of the Eurozone. Britain did not sign the Euro currency agreement and due to this, Britain has an independent Central Bank – the Bank of England which prints the British Pound and ties it to the British economic performance.
Britain is also not a member of the Schengen agreement which allows for the free movement of people. Due to this, Britain is able to maintain a strong immigration system which ensures that European Union free movement privileges are properly scrutinized. This allows for the UK to lay rigid foundations on the ground to check European citizens who come into the UK and overstay their permitted period. This is not like Germany which is more opened and has to be more lax in policy because of the Schengen agreement and other things.
Financially, Germany has policies that are more opened and friendlier to the European Union. This is because Germany was the richest and most powerful nation of the European Union for a long time. Their efficient means of running their financial affairs have been prescribed and internalized in most European Union financial policies. This makes it easier and desirable for Germany to have policies that are strongly dependent upon and linked to European Union provisions. Also, the European Central Bank was modelled on the Bundesbank – German Central Bank but the level of scrutiny of the ECB is limited so Germans ask for more supervision. Therefore, Germany has been making policies that are in line with the financial measures of the European Union.
Germany’s financial policies are meant to promote efficient supervision and formation of stronger financial institutions in the UK. Germany focuses on promoting efficient institutions and seeks to get nations to sacrifice national sovereignty for a more efficient European Union that leads to more prosperity. Germany argues for economic supervision similar to IMF amongst member-states. This is what has caused major rifts and problems between Germany and Greece which has always been against such measures that require onerous scrutiny of financial matters.
Britain however retains a high degree of autonomy and distance from the European Union in financial terms. Britain engages with the rest of the continent primarily through corporate controls and investments. These private arrangements lead to interests that are protected through Capitalist measures. Therefore, the UK government maintains a financial policy that is independent of what they deem to be inefficient and highly volatile collectivized European financial system. This causes the UK to maintain healthy financial figures and macroeconomic statistics. This is opposed to the European Union and countries that have integrated their finances to the Union like Germany who are hit financially by many things from migrant crisis to the threat of any member state.
Britain vetoed changes to the EU Treaty that was meant to give the EU more power over national budgets and sanctions over states’ fiscal activities. This shows the fact that Britain is against creating strong supranational systems and processes that will cause the nation to lose its autonomy. On the other hand, Germany’s policy has been towards stronger integration, especially on the financial front based on the Common Markets ideology. Germany is seeking banking unions and more financial integration, but focuses on tough and strict measures on nations.
Conclusion
The approaches of member states of the European Union varies significantly across member states. This study shows that there are divergences in the policy of the UK and Germany which are apparent from the very beginning and other natural factors. Germany being a founding member of the Union’s treaties plays a leading role, whilst the UK which joined over a decade later is more cautious and plays a passive role. Whilst Germany relies on the European Union significantly for its activities, the UK engages opportunistically with its policies. Germany’s financial affairs are a model for the EU and they continue to demand more regulation and more control over the sovereignty of member states. Britain believes in retaining national sovereignty. This is steeped in the fact that they are not in the Eurozone and Schengen arrangement.
Works Cited
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