A Federal United Kingdom in the European Community

Abstract

So far in this paper the discussion has centred mainly on the internal government of the UK. However, it is necessary to consider explicitly a parallel major development affecting the constitution of the UK: membership of the European Community (EC). Assuming that the EC continues to exist and to develop, and that the UK remains a member, it is essential to consider how the development of devolution or federalism within the UK would be reconciled with membership of the wider political grouping. To do so, it is necessary first to clarify the nature of the EC and its implications for the constitution of the UK. Then we consider how other member states, especially those with an explicitly federal constitution, such as the German Federal Republic, have been affected by membership. Thirdly, we shall examine in more detail the impact on national parliaments and governments of EC legislation. Turning to the regional/provincial dimension itself, we shall examine the question of regional representation in Brussels, how this might develop; and the relations of existing ‘autonomous’ islands and provinces with the Community. Finally, it will be possible to discuss the overall balance of powers between the three levels—European Community, nation states, and provinces—implicit in an assessment of the EC as an embryo federal state.¹