British government report casts EU relationship in positive light

Second part of ‘balance of competences’ review says EU membership is good for Britain, but section on free movement is delayed.

The United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union is broadly positive for the UK, according to a government review published yesterday (13 February). The second instalment of the ‘balance of competences’ review did not identify many areas of the UK-EU relationship that need renegotiation, which is out of step with Prime Minister David Cameron’s calls for reform of the relationship ahead of a planned in-out referendum in 2017.

The review, made up of 30 studies carried out by government departments, focuses on trade and investment. It finds that EU trade policy has benefited the UK economy, with the total value of exports increasing from £130 billion (€160bn) to £240bn (€275bn).

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While the report concludes that the free movement of goods and intellectual property has been in the UK’s interest, a section on the free movement of people that was meant to accompany yesterday’s review was delayed.

That section of the report was shelved because of disagreement within the governing coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, according to UK government sources. The Conservatives want to clamp down on EU migrants claiming benefits in the UK, and the party has been embroiled in a row with the European Commission over what can be done under EU law. The Conservatives have also said that caps on EU immigration could be considered.

The Swiss voted for such caps in a referendum on Sunday, a move that would violate Switzerland’s bilateral treaties with the EU. The British Liberal Democrats are opposed to the Conservative plans.

The UK Independence Party, which wants the UK to pull out of the EU, blasted the report. “The whole review has been commandeered by the pro-EU establishment and is going to be a total whitewash that claims EU membership has no downsides and only advantages,” the party said in a statement. “But for possibly the most important chapter of all to get held back altogether is totally unacceptable.”

Eighteen more papers are to be published during the course of this year as part of the review.