The United Kingdom expects to hold a referendum on its membership of the European Union. The political debate is dominated by phoney conversations and over-simplifications. This creates a difficult environment for citizens to engage in this process. QCEA has compiled briefing papers intended to help Quakers and others reflect on their position with regard to the UK referendum and how they might vote. QCEA encourages informed and constructive engagement by citizens in their own governance. Many of these issues are complex and there is not necessarily easy to predict the consequences for the UK, the EU or people in other parts of the world.
One thing is clear, the UK cannot leave Europe. It is a geographical reality. This discussion is therefore about the UK’s relations with its neighbours. QCEA works to change European policy. If citizens do not like EU policy (most of which requires agreement by all Member State governments) then leaving the EU is one option. Engaging with the EU is another!
With or without you: The UK, the EU and Peace: Click here to read the full briefing paper.
This briefing paper tracks the origins of the EU as a peace project ans structures many argues prevented further war in Europe. The paper explores the EU’s role in promoting both peace and militarism in the wider world and how is the UK involved. EU foreign policy decisions are taken by Member State governments through a unanimous vote, giving the UK an effective veto. The UK currently opposes closer integration in many areas of military policy, such as a permanent military headquarters for the EU. However, it is itself one of the states most inclined to use military force and has supported most aspects of EU militarism.
With or without you: The UK, the EU and Trade: Click here to read the full briefing paper.
Through its European Union membership, the UK participates in the world’s largest single market. Euro-sceptics say that the UK could occupy a more prosperous position in international trade if it left the EU. Should relations with the supranational EU be redesigned based on the Norwegian, Swiss, or Turkish models?
With or without you: The UK, the EU and the free movement of people: [Briefing paper coming soon]
The freedom of movement of workers has been a tenet of the European Union (EU) since its early days as the European Economic Community (EEC), and it has long been a tradition in Britain. Nearly 1.5 million UK citizens live outside the UK in other EU Member States, and there are about 2.2 million EU citizens in the UK. What does it all mean for our local, national and European communities?