United Kingdom’s membership in european union: discussion in European Union

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to determine the nature and positions of the British government, political parties of Great Britain, EU member states, the British community and the world community regarding the future membership of the UK in the European Union. The following main tasks are set here: analysis of the vision of the future of the EU and the place of the UK in it by the EU, the British government, supporters and opponents of EU membership (in particular public opinion on this issue). The author emphasizes the UK's special place in the EU: it is one of the EU member states that is not part of the euro area; Like Ireland, she refused to join the Schengen area; Great Britain is one of the main opponents of the introduction of the European Prosecutor's Office; she has a special position in the budgetary sphere. Features of the Brussels summit of 2016 are considered. It is proved that as a result of the Brussels summit, Great Britain has received a special status that will allow its citizens to finally decide on a referendum on the future membership of the UK in the European Union. According to the Brussels agreement, London refused to participate in the policy of an "ever closer union", which was assumed by existing EU agreements. According to the reached compromises, London can not "be obliged to further political integration." Therefore, the paragraphs on the "ever closer union" in the European agreements will henceforth not affect the UK. The Brussels agreement on the special status of the UK in the EU provides for equal rights for the United Kingdom with other EU members, but smaller responsibilities, a signed agreement will come into effect if the British vote in favor of the EU in a referendum. If they oppose, then there will be no deal either, because the UK will withdraw from the EU. But citizens, giving their votes in a referendum, will know that they vote for staying in the EU with a special status. The author concludes that the secession of Great Britain for the EU will mean the loss of its authority, connections in the world and the beginning of the process of disintegration, and the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU can become the beginning of the end of this supranational organization. Therefore, in order to preserve the integrity of the EU, it is necessary to find answers to a set of challenges facing it.