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Great Britain & the EU Verhandlungen in den 1980ern und 90ern

Von: Catherina Manniegel

Stand: 19.09.2023

Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister from 1979-1990 – she was not strictly speaking anti-European, but definitely anti-Brussels. And she believed in a non-dependent, politically strong Britain.

John Major, Prime Minister from 1990-1997 – he was more liberal, ratifying the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, which led to the present European Union. However, he did not believe in the Euro and the monetary union.

Tony Blair, Prime Minister from 1997-2007 – was very pro European. He signed up for the European Social Chapter and almost adopted the euro. But after 9/11 he sided with the US, sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, without even consulting the EU.

Margaret Thatcher
Prime Minister 1979-1990
anti-Brussels
non-dependent, politically strong Britain

John Major
Prime Minister 1990-1997
more liberal
1993: Maastricht Treaty
NO: Euro/monetary union

Tony Blair
Prime Minister 1997-2007
pro-European
1997: European Social Chapter
9/11: military cooperation with the US