Posted: September 22nd, 2016

Advise the UK government on the function of EU directives and whether or not you think they will be in breach as described above. Further, should the UK decide to ignore the directive, what consequences, if at all, do you think may follow

Task 3 (LO AC3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

LO3: Understand the role of the major EU institutions.

Task 3a
The Communities Act 1972, which gives legitimacy to the UK’s membership of the EU is under threat. Mr Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, has promised a referendum by 2017 to allow the British people decide whether or not the UK should remain in the EU. If the majority vote is for the UK to pull out of the EU, it means that the Communities Act will be repealed and the UK will no longer be a member of the EU. One of the overarching arguments behind the referendum is that the UK seem to have relinquished too much powers to the EU, through the main EU institutions.

Read widely and investigate further the facts above and answer the following question:

1) Advise the UK government on what role the main EU institutions play in the determination and legitimising of EU policy; and briefly discuss whether there is any veracity to the argument that the UK has relinquished too much powers to these institutions.

(This provides evidence for assessment criteria 3.1)

Task 3b

A fictitious directive 267/14 was issued by the EU to all member states on 1 October 2014. It prohibits the export of fire arms out of the EU. The UK government has come to you for advice as they are concerned that if they implement this directive, they will be in breach of their contract with a non-EU country to whom they supply fire arms. The contract is due for renewal on 1 October 2015.

Consider the scenario above and answer the following questions

2) Advise the UK government on the function of EU directives and whether or not you think they will be in breach as described above. Further, should the UK decide to ignore the directive, what consequences, if at all, do you think may follow.

(This provides evidence for assessment criteria 3.2)

2) What are the main EU funding streams? Evaluate their structure and purpose.

(This provides evidence for assessment criteria 3.3)