To what extent has control of the economic policy passed from British Governments to non-elected bodies both home and abroad?
To what extent has control of the economic policy passed from British Governments to non-elected bodies both home and abroad? The Government was traditionally in tight control over the economic policy for the country but over time the governments powers have become eroded and devolved to other non-elected bodies. The Bank of England's importance rose after 1975 and has increased steadily over the years. After Labour's landslide victory in 1997 on the 7th of May they gave the Bank of England operational independence, which empowered them even more. This gave the Bank of England control over interest rates through the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which is made up of five members from the Bank of England and four experts appointed by the Chancellor. The advantages of this are that economic experts and not amateur politicians formulate the monetary policy. It also removes political pressures, which enables a greater co-operation between the Bank of England and other central banks. This also means interest rates are depoliticised and increases the bank's credibility with the market. Although the bank has a degree of control in reality the government still has some constraints over them. The Prime Minister, for example, appoints the Governor (currently Mervyn King) and the Chancellor appoints most members of the MPC. The MPC have to publish details of their interventions with
EU actorness in relation to Environment policy and Development policy: An evaluation.
Lynda Curtis EU actorness in relation to Environment policy and Development policy: An evaluation. "The sheer size of the European Union in economic, trade and financial terms makes it a world player. The EU has a web of bilateral and multilateral agreements covering most countries and regions of the globe."1 The European Union today faces global responsibilities and challenges. The EU is the largest trading block in the world, the largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance and a constant point of reference for others on stability, democracy and human rights2. Although the European Union institutions play a huge part in the day-to-day affairs of the states inside of the Union this report will assess the EU's role in relation to the area outside of the European Union borders. I will look firstly at the different criteria by which it can be established that the EU is indeed an actor I will then look closer at how the EU acts externally in two policy areas; Environmental policy and Development policy. I will conclude with an assessment of the European Union as an actor outside of the EU area. How do we define Europe as an external actor? There are deemed to be certain prerequisites to distinguish 'actorness' in a state. In order to call the EU an actor there must be commitment at EU level to a set of values and principles, both political and moral, accepted
Who other than the governments of state, do you consider to be significant actors in the contemporary international system?
Who other than the governments of state, do you consider to be significant actors in the contemporary international system? There are many actors in the modern international system ranging from major international political organisations such as the UN and NATO to less sizable, yet in their own way no less important, institutions such as Greenpeace and other pressure groups. In this essay I hope to identify the political groups that have played a part in recent global politics and then evaluate any potential claim to being a 'significant actor'. United Nations After the treaty of Versailles in the aftermath of the First World War an organisation called the League of Nations was established. This was a largely ineffectual organisation that had the intentions of preventing major world conflict occurring again. It stood by powerless in the pre-Second World War years when it allowed Germany to pursue its expansionist aims, leading to the start of the first total war. In the final days of the Second World War at the San Francisco conference the United Nations was established in the hope of preventing another major world conflict between members by connecting them in almost a 'world government'. It acts on a 'multi-layered system of governance sometimes working with states, sometimes alongside them, and sometimes apart form them.' (Baylis & Smith, 1997). The central system is
Why is Britain hesitating about membership of EMU and what are the main issues?
International Relations: Why is Britain hesitating about membership of EMU and what are the main issues? On Friday January 1st 1999, "European dreamers finally saw their cherished hope become reality at midnight when 11 countries signed away their sovereignty over monetary policy and the single currency was born".1 However, with the mass jubilation that followed the commencement of the final stage of Economic and Monetary Union within the European Union, there were still some sour notes amid the rhetoric. One included the argument from France that Wim Duisenberg (president of the European Central Bank) should step down in favour of a French president; the other major argument was the claim by Jacques Santer, European Commission president at the time, that Britain's membership of the single currency was inevitable. So why, 4 years later, has this "inevitability" not come into fruition? In order to answer such a question, one must derive first the meaning of EMU. Economic and Monetary Union has been a European ideal for many years. The end of the Second World War heralded the start of a new European surge towards integration. On the one hand, France, left in ruins by occupation from Germany, held a hereditary fear of any further European conflict. As the dust settled, Charles de Gaul emerged as the leader of the Provisional Government of the French Republic. De Gaul
Acid rain will continue to decrease as long as tougher emissions standards, especially in the developed countries, continue to be raised to new, higher levels.
Acid rain will continue to decrease as long as tougher emissions standards, especially in the developed countries, continue to be raised to new, higher levels. The one question mark is developing countries; they do not want to set comply to higher emissions standards because tougher standards will slow the process of strengthening their industries (and economies) to the point where they can compete with the developed countries on the global market . However, there seems to be little literature or data on Acid Rain in developing countries. It could be due to the fact that there is little acid rain, but more likely, the latent problem has yet to be studied as closely as the ultra-meticulous environmental and scientific sector of the acid rain inflicted US and Europe. Consequently, these countries have had good reason to study Acidic Deposition because high water and soil acidity is killing the aquatic and terrestrial life of many regions' lakes and forests. Moreover, from a US perspective, the vast Pacific Ocean is separating America from any pollutants the prevailing winds might waft in, forming acidic deposition. Because we are relatively isolated from most of the world's emissions, it is likely that acid rain will continue to decrease in North America as we and Canada enforce stricter standards. There are already signs of decreasing acidity over much of the Northeast US and
Law... EU. Revision.
Law... EU. Revision. - The European law must be respected by all member states. And all member states must obey EU law. National Governments cannot make laws within there own territories. The Institutions. - Decisions in EU made by 4 institutions; o Council of Ministers o European Commission o European Parliament o Court of Justice Council Of Ministers - Is the EU's Ultimate law making body? Job is to approve/reject proposals drawn up by the commission. o Members * The populations of their own countries elect members. The Commission. - Permanent Bureaucracy of the EU. Made up of Commissioners appointed by member states and civil servants. Commissioners draw up proposals for new laws and ensure that member states follow existing EU laws. o Members * Members of Commission are not elected. The European Parliament. - Citizens of each member state elects members of the EU parliament. Council needs the agreement of the EU parliament before new laws can be created. o Members * Elected every 5 years. Court Of Justice. - Role is to interpret EU law. The 15 judges in the ECJ have the power to resolve cases involving a breach of EU law or to settle disputes over the interpretation of EU laws. Decisions made in ECJ cannot be challenged in any member state. Were parties disagree on the interpretation of a point of EU law and the case is being held under the
How important is the European Parliament?
How important is the European Parliament? The European Parliament is the only directly elected part of the European Union's central infrastructure. The EP is supranational and with the Council of the European Union makes up the EU's legislature. There are 732 Members of the European Parliament, making it the second largest in the world after India. The three pillars of the EU give different powers to three bodies. The first pillar concerns the European Parliament. This pillar gives EP power over some policy areas not reserved for member states. This means the EP has power over the Single Market, the CAP, the Common Fisheries Policy, EU citizenship, the environment and asylum and immigration, among other powers. However, power over foreign and security policy is under the second pillar, and criminal policy is under the third pillar; as such, the EP lacks the power of a traditional Parliament who has power over all policies. The EP has become more important in recent years due to its increased legislative powers. Since 1997, they can reject legislation, and they have co-decision with the Council of Ministers. The new passage of laws requires that the EP can make suggestions through its two readings and the Council can accept or reject these, making their own recommendations as well. Should the Parliament and the Council of Ministers disagree over law past the EP's or the
UK Business Selling in an EU state
UK Business Selling in an EU state Task 8b Within the EU, its aims are to remove all barriers, allowing trade among the member states. For businesses as part of their aims and objectives, it is to maximise sales and to improve the quality of a product while being competitive with other rival businesses. Investment also encourages businesses to compete, increasing productivity. Economically the EU spreads its wealth evenly. Allowing people, goods services and, also introducing free movement and capital making it possible to exchange and invest in money anywhere in the union. If businesses from the UK wish to sell in the EU it should consider about the cost of starting there and the impact it and its product will have on the marketing mix. Because of the Single Market, European firms are known selling to a market where there are over 458 million people (Europe's exact population). This is an opportunity for major firms. At the same time, UK businesses would see this as a competition. An example to this question could be that of a UK sports business and company like JD sport. The chosen products from this business are trainers. In the UK, Nike Air Force Ones trainers are sold mostly for price of £55. If one Euro is €1.42 and JD Sports had sold them in one of the member states of the EU such as Luxembourg, the cost to that in the Euro would be €78.1. Having a single
Should Britain join the Euro? A report into the pro's and cons.
Should Britain join the Euro? A report into the pro's and cons By Katie Clarke Introduction One of the main changes in recent years in the world economy is the appearance of a new sole currency for 12 European countries: Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Sweden and Greece. The two main reasons for building a new currency are, firstly, to rival the US dollar, and, secondly, to strengthen and unite the European economy. There is a long pre-history of building the single European currency with a several unsuccessful attempts. Because of this previous experience, and previous monetary losses, countries such as the UK and Denmark are undecided as to whether to join the European single currency. This report will analyse if the UK should join the Euro or stay with the Pound. History > 1946- The European Federalists Union is put into place in Paris, France. > 1948- The custom convention between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands comes into force. > 1949- The Western Union Treaty (Brussels Treaty) is signed by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. > 1949- France, Great Britain and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) decide to set in place a Council of Europe and ask Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Switzerland to help them prepare the statutes of
THE STATE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE ON TERRORISM
The State of Global Governance on Terrorism No matter where you are now or where you are going to appear tomorrow, the entire globe in under the threat of the 20th century phenomenon and yet commonsense notion at the dawn of the new era. Virtually, living in danger means that you are unable to ensure safety of your residence even in the in well-off European capitals, e.g. Madrid 2004, London 2005; neither can you be safe watching the Olympic Games, e.g. Munich 1984. There's something weird in the air making us fragile and the problem is that compared to the causes of AIDS, the roots of terror are hidden in disguise and nobody's safe regardless the availability of the entire scope of the state-of-the-art high-tech safeguard measures. What makes the solution and who holds the key to uprooting the "plant of horror" are the challenges to be immediately responded by the international community to prevent one another building transforming into a heap of blocks overnight. Global terrorism is not less than the continuous war of the 21st century with thousands victims and no future guarantees at all. This is justifiable to the extent that members of the Taleban regime, Al Qaeda, ETA, IRA are indeed well organized structures, constantly promoting their activities in the range one can hardly anticipate. Therefore, no matter how hard one tries, since September 2001 the rest of the world
