External Relations

Abstract

The distinction between external transactions and external relations is necessarily a rather fine one, and there are clearly other ways to manage the division of material. Essentially, there seemed to be advantages in assembling together most of the material which impinges upon the role of the UK as a member of the EC, and Chapter 5 is broadly given over to this topic. This means that the issues pertaining to exchange rate relationships within the EC are also contained within Chapter 5, even though the more general discussion of exchange rates appears in Chapter 4. However, it is difficult to disintangle issues concerning the EMS, the EMU and the single European market, and these are accordingly dealt with in sequence at the beginning of the chapter. Chapter 5 then goes on to examine relationships between the EC and the rest of the world, treating the UK in its capacity of EC member, and finally looks in detail at the agricultural problem which is sumultaneously an issue in terms of the UK’s relationship with the EC and also in terms of the EC’s relationship with other agricultural trading blocs.