The United Kingdom and the European Union: Still an Awkward Member State?

On April 11, 2014, Visiting Scholar Dr. Neill Nugent, from the College of Europe - Bruges, gave a EUC Visiting Scholar Lecture entitled "The United Kingdom and the European Union: Still an Awkward Member State?" Dr. Nugent's main points were that many of the policy issues that are likely to dominate the EU's agenda in the foreseeable future will see the UK government mostly well "onside."
There are four general "orientation" matters that could create major difficulties for Britain's relations with the EU (and perhaps weaken its influence):
1. a tighter and more centrally-managed Eurozone
2. the implications of opting-out of (so many) major policy areas
3. a vote for independence in the referendum to be held in Scotland in September 2014
4. the election to power in 2014 of a conservative majority government - which would hold an in/out referendum by 2017

 A video of the lecture is available to view in the EUC's Video Library or below:

Posted in: Neill Nugent,Video