Eurosceptic

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A Eurosceptic is someone who directs strong and generally broad criticism towards the European Union, its institutions and its expansion plans. Eurosceptics range from those who support the idea of a pan-European organisation but disagree with the current European Union, to those who want no part of any European organisation at all. These two extremes represent the "soft" and "hard" Eurosceptic positions.

In the United Kingdom, the Conservative party typically supports a "soft" Eurosceptic position of continued EU membership but with no further powers being passed to it, although many of its members would prefer that the EU return to a simple trade community along the lines of the old European Economic Community (EEC).[1] The UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the British National Party (BNP) support total withdrawal from the EU - a "hard" Eurosceptic position.[2][3]

In the European Parliament itself, the "Europe of Freedom and Democracy" group represents the "hard" position, and has members from nine countries, including UKIP from the UK.[4] The "European Conservatives and Reformists" group advocates a "soft" position, with members from eight countries including the Conservatives.[5]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Conservative Party - Europe
  2. UKIP Policies - Foreign Affairs And International Trade
  3. BNP - Foreign Affairs
  4. National Delegations, Europe of Freedom and Democracy
  5. Brief History of the ECR Group, European Conservatives and Reformists
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