[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Agreed but geographically they are tied to Europe. Which is why I think people are always a bit confused by the UK. It is also why there tends to be tension between those governments. France and Germany know that they have to be able to work with the UK but are not thrilled with how close the UK is with the US and other former colonies.

And while I'm no fan of Thatcher, I think see did quite accurately sum up Britain's historical approach to Europe:

But we British have in a very special way contributed to Europe.

Over the centuries we have fought to prevent Europe from falling under the dominance of a single power.

British foreign policy for centuries was devoted to preventing a united Europe. In any European war we would generally ally with the weaker side, in order to prevent the stronger side from gaining, thus preserving a balance of power.
We wanted Europe to have internal discord and wars, but didn't want anyone to ever actually win. The more energy they expended in fighting each other, the less left to fight us.
A truly united Europe has always been seen as a serious threat to the UK. That used to be a military threat, now an economic threat. Already there have been moves to try and force Euro-denominated trading to take place in Euro-zone countries only, a clear poke at London.
At some point Europe is going to get fed up with the UK, decide to move forwards to a true federation, and require the UK to either join or leave completely, and neither is a palatable choice. We want to be in enough to exert control, but not enough to be controlled.

As always, Yes Minister put it better:

Sir Humphrey: Minister, Britain has had the same foreign policy objective for at least the last five hundred years: to create a disunited Europe. In that cause we have fought with the Dutch against the Spanish, with the Germans against the French, with the French and Italians against the Germans, and with the French against the Germans and Italians. Divide and rule, you see. Why should we change now, when it's worked so well?
Hacker: That's all ancient history, surely?
Sir Humphrey: Yes, and current policy. We 'had' to break the whole thing [the EEC] up, so we had to get inside. We tried to break it up from the outside, but that wouldn't work. Now that we're inside we can make a complete pig's breakfast of the whole thing: set the Germans against the French, the French against the Italians, the Italians against the Dutch. The Foreign Office is terribly pleased; it's just like old times.
Hacker: But surely we're all committed to the European ideal?
Sir Humphrey: [chuckles] Really, Minister.
Hacker: If not, why are we pushing for an increase in the membership?
Sir Humphrey: Well, for the same reason. It's just like the United Nations, in fact; the more members it has, the more arguments it can stir up, the more futile and impotent it becomes.
Hacker: What appalling cynicism.
Sir Humphrey: Yes... We call it diplomacy, Minister.

Hacker: Europe is a community of nations, dedicated towards one goal.
Sir Humphrey: Oh, ha ha ha.
Hacker: May we share the joke, Humphrey?
Sir Humphrey: Oh Minister, let's look at this objectively. It is a game played for national interests, and always was. Why do you suppose we went into it?
Hacker: To strengthen the brotherhood of free Western nations.
Sir Humphrey: Oh really. We went in to screw the French by splitting them off from the Germans.
Hacker: So why did the French go into it, then?
Sir Humphrey: Well, to protect their inefficient farmers from commercial competition.
Hacker: That certainly doesn't apply to the Germans.
Sir Humphrey: No, no. They went in to cleanse themselves of genocide and apply for readmission to the human race.
Hacker: I never heard such appalling cynicism! At least the small nations didn't go into it for selfish reasons.
Sir Humphrey: Oh really? Luxembourg is in it for the perks; the capital of the EEC, all that foreign money pouring in.
Hacker: Very sensible central location.
Sir Humphrey: With the administration in Brussels and the Parliament in Strasbourg? Minister, it's like having the House of Commons in Swindon and the Civil Service in Kettering!