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This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights and duplication or sale of all or part is not permitted, except that material may be duplicated by you for research, private study, criticism/review or educational purposes. Electronic or print copies are for your own personal, non- commercial use and shall not be passed to any other individual. No quotation may be published without proper acknowledgement. For any other use, or to quote extensively from the work, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder/s. The United Kingdom in the European Community: The diplomacy of the UK government towards the Single European Act, 1984-5 Dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Caspar Johannes Bienek Keele University July 2020 Abstract This dissertation examines the policy making of the United Kingdom towards the Single European Act (SEA) from June 1984 to December 1985. The SEA codified the practice of foreign policy coordination and began a process of liberalising the Single Market of the European Community (EC). The literature has identified the SEA as an important milestone in the process of European integration. Controversy surrounds the question as to how Margaret Thatcher could sign the SEA but afterwards say she did not like it. This research makes a contribution with a multi-archival and multilingual analysis of the UK government’s decision making and diplomacy in the negotiations that lead to the SEA. This dissertation argues that the UK government’s approach to the SEA went through two phases. In the first phase, Thatcher unsuccessfully attempted to lead the EC, in cooperation with Germany and France, into formalising foreign policy coordination. In the second phase, Thatcher withheld her commitment to the ongoing talks until the shape of the SEA had become clear, while the Foreign Secretary and diplomats were negotiating the clauses of the SEA. Using the SEA as a lens makes it possible to comment on the broader theme of Margaret Thatcher’s views on European integration and adds a puzzle piece to the history of the relationship between the UK and the EC. i Acknowledgements The popular perception of what it means to “do a Ph.D.” could not be further from the truth. Researching and writing a Ph.D. does not mean sitting in a room and thinking big thoughts. On the contrary, Ph.D. research is a team effort in an endeavour to discover a grain of knowledge and take a minuscule step in advancing the knowledge of a chosen field. My Ph.D. certainly was a team effort. This Ph.D. research could never have happened without the marvellous help of many people who have tirelessly supported me – and who deserve my heartfelt thanks. First of all, I would like to thank my wife for her loving support. I am more grateful to have had her with me on this journey than I can express. I could not have done this without her. She kept me sane. We have fond memories of shared trips to archives and drafting sessions of chapters. My friend and supervisor, Professor Helen Parr, has instilled in me a curiosity about the politics of the UK in the EU. I have learned that knowing the British experience holds many fascinating lessons for my home country, Switzerland. Helen has been unwavering in her support of my research, in encouraging me to hone my analysis, write better and in helping me to bring this Ph.D. dissertation to the finishing line. Her insightful comments and detailed feedback on countless drafts always reflected her great sense of humour and optimism about the world. I shall never forget our many great conversations and her constant encouragement at all stages of my research and teaching journey. I would also like to thank my second supervisor, Dr Elisabeth Carter, for her careful reading of texts, detailed comments and helpful suggestions during the course of my Ph.D. research. Teaching students about the EU and international organisations was a hugely rewarding experience. The School of Social, Political and Global Studies (SPGS) became my home during these three and a half years. I am grateful for their fully funding my Ph.D. research with a scholarship and a Graduate Teaching Assistant position. I also received generous funding for many trips to archives. After my Graduate Teaching Assistant contract expired, I was hired by Dr Rebecca Richards as sessional teacher. I am also grateful that I was permitted to study for the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and to become an associate fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am especially grateful to Professor Robert Ladrech and Dr Rebecca Richards for their guidance and support at all stages of my teaching journey. I would also like to thank Dr Philip Catney, Dr Gemma Loomes, Dr Lorna Lloyd as well as Professors Brian Doherty, Bulent Gokay and John Vogler. Many thanks also go to my fellow Ph.D. students Eleonora Natale, Matt Jones, Grant Mitchell, Phil Morgan, and Rosie West. A special thank you goes to our liaison librarian Jane Shaw, who generously ordered many additions to the Keele library. I am ii grateful to all the SPGS and Keele University staff and students for their many small and large acts of kindness. No archival research would be possible without access to well-catalogued archival sources. Archival research can be an overwhelming experience. Being able to access and navigate both the catalogue and the material is key. Firstly, I would like to thank Georges Saunier for intervening on my behalf to convince the French National Archives to finally process my application for a dérogation. Because of his intervention, I was granted access to a few selected files – after two applications and two and a half years of waiting. I’d also like to thank Sébastien Studer for his help with preparing my visit. Secondly, I’d like to thank Michelle Bleidt for helping me to research catalogues and for preparing a large amount of material for my visit to the Bundesarchiv. Thirdly, at the Auswärtigen Amt I’d like to thank Knud Piening and Thomas Hermeling for preparing a lot of files for my visit. Fourthly, at the Centre des Archives Diplomatiques du Ministère des Affaires Étrangères I’d like to thank Gervaise Delaunay and Sylvie Prudon for their help. Fifthly, in the UK I’d like to thank Jeremy McIlwaine, at the Conservative Party Archives, Andrew Riley, who looks after the Thatcher papers at the Churchill Archives Centre, Chris Collins of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, and the fantastic team of archivists at the National Archives. Sixthly, I’d like to thank Colin Mackie, who wrote the British Diplomats Directory, for giving pointers about the organisation of the FCO and helping me with the organigram in Appendix Four. Seventhly, I’d like to thank Mary Carr, Valérie Mathevon and Pandelis Nastos, at the Historical Archives of the European Union, for their help with my research in Florence. I would also like to thank my English teacher in Switzerland for taking the time to read and comment in great detail on my work. His observations on aspects that I had overlooked, or not explained well, as well as his suggestions for better ways to express myself were absolutely invaluable. Many thanks also to our friends Sally and John Harte for their input and many great conversations. All remaining mistakes and inelegant formulations are of course mine. Last but not least, I’d like to thank the members of the research community who in personal conversations and at conferences have been very welcoming and encouraged me to take part in the debate on the history and the politics of Britain and the EU. My special thanks go to Dr Lindsay Aqui, Dr James Ellison, Dr Matthias Haeussler and Professor N. Piers Ludlow. iii List of abbreviations AN Archives Nationales (French National Archives) BArch Bundesarchiv der Bundesrepublik Deutschland BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BBQ British Budget Question BDOHP British Diplomatic Oral History Programme CAP Common Agricultural Policy CBI Confederation of British Industry CEO Chief Executive Officer COREPER Committee of Permanent Representatives CSCE Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe DOE Department for Education DTI Department of Trade and Industry EAEC European Atomic Energy Community EC European Community/ies ECJ European Court of Justice ECOFIN Economic and Financial Affairs Council ECSC European Coal and Steel Community ECU European Currency Unit EDC European Defence Community EDG European Democratic Group EEC European Economic Community EESC European Economic and Social Committee EI (E) European Integration (External) department at the FCO EI (I) European Integration (Internal) department at the FCO EMS European Monetary System EMU Economic and Monetary Union ERDF European Regional Development Fund ERM Exchange Rate Mechanism ERT European Round Table of Industrialists EP European Parliament EPC European Political Cooperation EQ (O) Cabinet Official Committee on European Questions EQ (S) European Questions Steering Group EU European Union FAC Foreign Affairs Council FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Foreign Office) FRG Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GDP Gross Domestic Product HC House of Commons HL House of Lords HO Home Office IGC Intergovernmental Conference INF Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty IMF International Monetary Fund ITN Independent Television News MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries MCA Monetary Compensation Amounts MEP Member of the European Parliament MP Member of