faith in politics 2010
europe
PLEASE NOTE: This page was for the 2010 general Election
See http://churcheselection.org.uk/ for the 2015 General Election
Background
- The European Union (EU) expanded in 2007 to include Bulgaria and Romania. There are now 27 member countries, and there is a high likelihood that Croatia and Iceland will join in the next few years.
- In the autumn of 2009 the Lisbon Treaty was finally ratified by all member states, which completed a long process of constitutional and organisational reform of the EU.
- It is often said that around two-thirds of all laws that affect the UK now originate from the European Commission or Parliament. The Lisbon Treaty increases the range of policy areas that the EU has some responsibility for.
- In 2009 two BNP candidates were elected to the European Parliament, raising questions about xenophobia and nationalism.
Issues
- The UK in Europe - Despite the increasing size and authority of the EU, British people in general tend to have a very low interest in European affairs and politics. Most debate tends to be about whether you are ‘pro-Europe' or a ‘Euro-sceptic'. There is very little understanding about how the EU works, what it does or how it affects the lives of European citizens. Despite this, the UK is a big player in the European Union as the country has a large population and a strong economy, and English is widely taught as a secondary language in many countries in the rest of Europe.
- The Lisbon Treaty - The Lisbon Treaty, which came into force last year, was a major reform of the EU and how it works. The Lisbon Treaty was drawn up following the failure of an earlier proposed European constitution. A new permanent post of president of the European Council was created, and the first holder of this office is former Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy. A second new position, that of high representative for foreign affairs, was filled by a Briton: Catherine Ashton, a member of the House of Lords and previously the UK's european commissioner.
- Dialogue with the Churches - One of the articles of the Lisbon Treaty specifically recognised the role that European Churches play in society and commits the European Union institutions to "open, transparent and regular dialogue".
- The Euro - The issue of whether the UK should adopt the Euro is not high on the political agenda, as most economists agree that the conditions are not right and the move would not benefit the UK at the present time. Many politicians remain committed to the principal of joining the Euro zone, and many are implacably opposed. Although it is not expected to feature as a main issue during this General Election campaign, it is worth considering in the long term, and finding out what your candidates' views might be, if this is an important issue for you.
Questions
- What can be done to help people understand European issues better?
- What role should the UK have in Europe, and what role does Europe have to play in the world?
- Where do you think the European Union is heading? Should Turkey be allowed to become a member?
Further information
The Revd Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity,
Baptist Union of Great Britain
Contact: email
Website
Please note: the views and analysis outlined in this paper are those of the author alone and do not constitute a statement of policy on the part of the organisation the author belongs to.
Faith in Politics: Acknowledgement and thanks