[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

genuine question.

isn't or wasn't that the point of the veto? we also for example didn't join the Euro. (i dont think that was veto though)

I guess what im asking is, did we have the power to be able to not implement rules set by Brussels and choose blindly to follow them by inept governments of the time?

You ask a very fair question. We had the power not to be able to implement rules set by Brussels whenever we were able to negotiate a derogation/opt-out. In the case of the WTD, which switched from a vetoable decision to a Health & Safety measure (qualified majority) we were able to negotiate opt-outs. I remind that the WTD was one of France's pet project to bring everyone down to their ridiculous working practices.

But, and this is the big BUT, the path toward federalisation is/was the big worry for me - the EU Parliament would trump ours. The Tories would always have vetoed this, but the creeping powers being sought by the Commission would have ultimately led to a trade-off with the UK government. For example, the UK might have agreed to a particular competence to be given to the Commission in exchange for meaningful changes to the CAP (Blair got such a commitment which France then frustrated); or in exchange for a bigger rebate (ha ha).