Britain and Europe: Treading Water or Slowly Drowning?

Abstract

Little appeared to have changed in Britain's relations with Europe in 2002: speculation about the Britain joining the euro continued; euroscepticism continued to operate at a low key; and Britain continued to engage in the diplomatic game over the enlargement of the EU. However, the year also saw a growing EU irritation, especially from France and Germany, at Tony Blair's close relations with George Bush, and the gulf widened towards its end as war with Iraq looked increasingly likely. For its part, Britain was irritated by the watering down of a reform package by France and Germany. In addition, signs of a rift between Blair and Gordon Brown over the euro and proposals for closer union emerging from the European Constitutional Convention are both likely to make Britain relations with Europe more difficult.