“EUROSCEPTICISM” For Starters

(Flag of the "EUSSR", a common trope among hard Eurosceptics, comparing the EU with the USSR)

Approximately a couple weeks before i didn’t know anything about Euroscepticism.Maybe because of i am not from European country.But i think this is really serious situtation and worth to discuss about it.After seaching about this word and the meaning of the word,i can say something about this word for starters like me.

Firstable i would like to explain this word of meaning.What is Euroscepticism? Euroscepticism is not anti-Europeanism, which refers to the rejection of the culture of Europe and Europeanisation, and sentiments, opinions and discrimination against European ethnic groups.

Euroscepticism is political view of those who criticize or oppose the European Union. Its main source is the idea that European integration weakens the nation states and wishes to slow down, stop or reverse this integration. Other views are the perception that democracy is open in the European Union or the belief that the Union is too bureaucratic.

When we look at the history of this world and the causes,the concept was first put forward in 1986 to describe the attitude of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to European integration.Looking at the historical process starting with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty (1992), Euroscepticism has increased between 1995-97, declining at the end of 1998 when the last stage of the economic and monetary union began. The skepticism that has risen again in 2007 with the global financial crisis has reached 1995-97 level and has exceeded this level in 2011.

A Eurobarometer survey of EU citizens in 2009 showed that support for membership of the EU was lowest in the United Kingdom, alongside Latvia and Hungary.

The livelihood crisis has also led to a decline in the number of optimistic thinkers about the future of the Union. Increased unemployment, inflation, uncertainty and inequalities have brought concerns about the future of Europe, bringing the economic crisis under the influence of social and political life, raising serious public questions about EU integration, the future of the Union, EU membership, the euro and the free market .

70% of the citizens in Greece and 63% in France think that the economic integration, which is the reason for the existence of the EU, weakens the national economy. Citizens in southern European countries in particular are concerned about the course of the economy and are disappointed about the consequences of European integration.

"Frexit" is a common name for a hypothetical French withdrawal from the European Union.After a 2016 referendum in the UK resulted in 51.9% of votes being cast in favour of exiting the European Union, the Front National leader Marine Le Pen promised a French referendum on EU membership if she were to win the 2017 presidential election Incumbent president François Hollande met with politicians including Le Pen in the aftermath of the vote, and rejected her proposal for a referendum. Fellow 2017 candidates Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the Left Party and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan of France Arise also advocated for a referendum. François Asselineau's Popular Republican Union instead advocate a unilateral withdrawal of the EU.

Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom has been a significant element in British politics since the inception of the European Economic Community(EEC), the predecessor to the EU. The European Union strongly divides the British public, political parties, media and civil society.Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party and co-leader of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the European Parliament. Farage is one of the most prominent eurosceptic figures in the UK.

Euroscepticism in other possible members

Iceland

Moldova

Montenegro

Norway

Serbia

Switzerland

Euroscepticism has even begun to be observed in Germany, where it is believed to be immune from the strongest supporters of European integration and skepticism. It can be speculated that today Euroscepticism is manifested as nationalist rhetoric, the rise of local reactions to economic crime, the confrontation of the identity of Europeanity with the concepts of nationality and national sovereignty.

German Prime Minister Angela Merkel also expresses his opinion that the governments are in favor of more delegation of powers to Brussels and that she is ready for this. In the end, increasing skepticism is being sought through the transfer of powers to the EU, again with more emancipation. In this context, as can be seen in policy examples such as the Stability and Growth Pact, efforts to strengthen the economic and monetary union, to ensure financial coordination and thus to strengthen European integration continue.

Researcher: Furkan Oğulcan Baruğ

References: 

http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/opinion/german-scepticism-is-the-euro-s-next-big-challenge/

https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/study-frexit-chaos-would-be-worse-than-collapse-of-lehman-brothers/

http://www.abmaliye.gov.tr/ABDID%20Raporlar/Ara%C5%9Ft%C4%B1rma%20ve%20%C4%B0nceleme%20Serisi/Ekonomik%20Krizle%20Artan%20Avrupa%20Birli%C4%9Fi%20%C5%9E%C3%BCphecili%C4%9Fi.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euroscepticism

https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avrupa_%C5%9F%C3%BCphecili%C4%9Fi