(The latest version of this page is at Pattern Descriptions. An archived copy of this page is held at https://www.patternsofpower.org/edition02/6651.htm)
In formal political groupings, countries pool their sovereignty and yield some autonomy in return for the benefits of greater collective power and increased stability. As Sir Winston Churchill said at the Congress of Europe in 1948:
"It is also possible and not less agreeable to regard this sacrifice or merger of national sovereignty as the gradual assumption by all the nations concerned of that larger sovereignty which can alone protect their diverse and distinctive customs and characteristics and their national traditions." [1]
The EU gains many benefits as a result of its pooled sovereignty:
· It underpins peace in Europe €“ in contrast to the historical tensions which culminated in the two world wars of the 20th century.
· The increased travel and interaction within Europe makes it less likely that people will regard other countries as hostile. People are becoming much more familiar with each other €“ grumbling from time to time, but nonetheless tolerant.
· Its members can exert more political influence in the world with a collective voice than they would each wield as separate countries.
· It enables businesses to benefit from free trade (3.5.4.1) within a single market.
· It extends financial support for the development of less prosperous regions, thereby reducing migratory pressures and social friction.
· It provides a legal framework (5.3.5.2), whose benefits include the enforcement of contracts and the coordination of crime-prevention and law-enforcement.
· It imposes human rights by law (5.4.7.5), as a condition of membership, to prevent politicians from abusing their powers in the way that Hitler did.
These benefits are not immediately felt on a daily basis, though, and there is evidence of discontent.[2] For example a new political party, the UK Independence Party (UKIP), was formed in Britain to exploit anti-European feeling and to regain British autonomy by leaving the EU.[3] Many people are more aware of the costs and constraints than of the benefits.
© PatternsofPower.org, 2014
[1] Sir Winston Churchill addressed The Congress of Europe on 7 May 1948, in a speech extolling the value of European unity. The full text of his speech was available in May 2014 at http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/WSCHague.html.
[2] An Economist survey on 23 September 2004, entitled No love lost, reported that €śjust 43% of EU citizens said they had a positive image of the Union, against 21% with a negative image€ť. The report was available in May 2014 at http://www.economist.com/node/3194484.
[3] The United Kingdom Independence Party€™s manifesto, dated 23 April 2010, was available in May 2014 at http://www.general-election-2010.co.uk/ukip-manifesto-2010-general-election/ukip-manifesto-2010-introduction. Its aims include:
€śUKIP wants Britain to regain three essential freedoms by leaving the EU:
Freedom of Action: No longer will our country have to grovel to the EU for permission to spend our own money to save our Post Offices, car plants or power stations, or to negotiate our trade deals and determine our destiny.
Freedom of Resources: The UK will save Ł6.4bn a year in net cash (rising to Ł10bn next year) to spend how we wish. The overall cost of our EU membership is estimated by the TaxPayers€™ Alliance at some Ł120bn p.a., which includes over-regulation, extra food costs, the loss of our fishing industry etc.
Freedom of the People: We will no longer be governed by an undemocratic and autocratic European Union or ruled by its unelected bureaucrats, commissioners, multiple presidents and judges.€ť