Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2014
BRITAIN HAS BEEN ACTIVELY TRYING TO ALTER THE BUDGETary arrangements of the European Communities in order to reduce the size of its net contributions since the Labour government of Harold Wilson succeeded Edward Heath's Conservative government in February 1974. This effort has been based upon the perception that Britain's net contribution to the budget – the balance of gross contributions and receipts – was excessive compared with that of its partners. Britain has been the largest net contributor, yet has a per capita gross national product which places it with the less prosperous member states.
1 For a useful discussion of the development of the budgetary mechanism, see Wallace, Helen, Budgetary Politics: The Finances of the European Communities, London, University Association for Contemporary European Studies, and George Allen & Unwin, 1980.Google Scholar
2 Ibid, p. 59.
3 Financial Times, 28 January 1982.
4 Financial Times, 26 January 1982.
5 John Wyles in the Financial Times, 28 January 1982
6 Financial Times, 2 April, 1982.
7 The Times, 14 May 1982.
8 The Times, 28 May 1982, p. 10.
9 The Times, 14 May 1982.
10 David Watt in The Times. 28 May 1982.
11 Bulletin of the European Communities, Supplement 1/81, Report from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council pursuant to the Mandate of 30 May, 1980, Luxembourg, 1981, para 42, at p. 16.
12 See figures in Prest, A. R. et al. (eds), The UK Economy, London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, p. 308.Google Scholar
13 The latter point in Helen Wallace, op. cit. p. 17.
14 Figures presented in Europe 81, No. 4, April 1981, p. 8.
15 Godley, Wynne in William Wallace (ed.), Britain in Europe, London, Heinemann, 1980, p. 80.Google Scholar
16 Christopher Ritson, ‘British Interests and the Common Agricultural Policy’, in William Walace (ed.), op. cit., p. 99.
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18 Figures reported by Godley, op. cit., p. 79.
19 Ann D. Morgan, ‘The Balance of Payments and British Membership of the European Community’, in W. Wallace (ed.) op. cit., p. 58.
20 Ibid., p. 66.
21 Ibid., p. 67.
22 William Wallace, op. cit., pp. 15–17.
23 Commission's Report, op. cit., pp. 9–11.
24 See Bristow, Stephen L., ‘Partisanships, Participation and Legitimacy in Britain's EEC Referendum’, Journal of Common Market Studies, No. 4, Vol. XIV, 06 1976, pp. 297–310 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; see also Jowell, Roger and Hoinville, Gerald, Britain into Europe: Public Opinion and the EEC 1961/1975, London, Croom Helm, 1976.Google Scholar
25 Zakheim, Dov S., ‘Britain and the EEC: Opinion Poll Data 1970–1972’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 03 1973, Vol. XI, No. 3.Google Scholar
26 Based on OECD: National Accounts of OECD Countries.
27 OECD Economic Outlook, July 1977 and July 1978.
28 From: EC Commission, European Economics, November 1978 and November 1979.
29 Figures from Daniel T. Jones, ‘British Industrial Regeneration: the European Dimension’, in William Wallace (ed.), op. cit., p. 117.
30 Ibid, pp. 116–17.
31 See Jowell and Hoinville, op. cit.
32 See Paul Taylor, Intergovernmentalism in the European Communities, forthcoming.
33 Katzenstein, Peter, ‘Domestic Structures and Strategies of Foreign Economic Policy’, International Organisation, Autumn 1977, Vol. 31, No. 4.Google Scholar
34 See Roy Jenkins, ‘How Britain Turned a Blind Eye to Community Solidarity’, The Guardian, 7 June 1982.