Opinion: Brexit or not, Britain’s already isolated in Brussels

Simon Hix outlines the findings of research published by VoteWatch Europe in a report 'Would Brexit Matter? The UK’s Voting Record in the Council and European Parliament'.

The UK is the most outvoted Member State in the Council of the European Union. However, it has supported more than 97% of the EU laws adopted in the last 12 years, the report showed

The analysis looked at the role played by the UK’s Government and its Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in shaping the EU policy over the past 12 years. According to the study, the UK seems to have diminished its influence in the European Parliament in recent years, as a result of self-distancing of some of its own party delegations from the EU’s mainstream political families, as well as due to the results of the latest EU elections in the UK. Nevertheless, UK MEPs have captured many powerful agenda-setting positions, such as rapporteurships of key EU legislation and EP committee chairmanships.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

VoteWatch Europe: Report, April 2016: Would Brexit Matter? The UK’s Voting Record in the Council and European Parliament http://60811b39eee4e42e277a-72b421883bb5b133f34e068afdd7cb11.r29.cf3.rackcdn.com/2016/04/VoteWatch-Report-2016_digital.pdf

Blog: VoteWatch Europe: News, 19.04.16: Special report: Would Brexit Matter? The UK’s voting record in the Council and the European Parliament http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/special-report-would-brexit-matter-the-uks-voting-record-in-the-council-and-the-european-parliament/

EurActiv, 19.04.16: Study: Brexit would leave EU more anti-nuclear, pro-financial transaction tax http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/study-brexit-would-leave-eu-more-anti-nuclear-pro-financial-transaction-tax/

EUObserver, 19.04.16: Report: UK sidelined in EU decision-making https://euobserver.com/political/133125

ESO: Background information: Does the UK win or lose in the Council of Ministers? / Is the UK at the top table in EU negotiations? / Is the UK Marginalised in the EU? http://www.europeansources.info/record/does-the-uk-win-or-lose-in-the-council-of-ministers-is-the-uk-at-the-top-table-in-eu-negotiations-is-the-uk-marginalised-in-the-eu/

Blog: UK in a Changing Europe, 05.05.16: Facts behind the claims: UK influence http://ukandeu.ac.uk/facts-behind-the-claims-uk-influence-in-the-eu/

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