Since becoming a member of the EU in 1973, the United Kingdom has negotiated opt-outs on key parts of EU legislation, and a sizeable rebate from the EU annual budget.

"There will be tough new restrictions on access to our welfare system for EU migrants -- no more something for nothing. Britain will never join the euro. And we've secured vital protections for our economy and a full say over the rules of the free trade single market while remaining outside the euro. I believe that this is enough for me to recommend that the United Kingdom remain in the European Union, having the best of both worlds."

Key Points of Cameron’s EU deal

The relationship of the UK with the EU has always been difficult. This, partly explained by geography, history and culture, has deteriorated in last years. This is because the British think, with some reason, that the EU institutions have been marked by growing dysfunctionalities. The Eurozone crisis is seen as a further demonstration of the EU’s wrongdoings. It is also feared that it might entail a further integration of the Eurozone, which is seen as a potential danger to British interests. Many Member States agree that the EU does not work well and needs reforms.

CCI France (Paris)

CCI.R Alsace (Strasbourg)

1. CCI de Strasbourg et du Bas-Rhin (Strasbourg)
2. CCI de Colmar et du Centre-Alsace (Colmar)
3. CCI Sud Alsace Mulhouse (Mulhouse)

CCI.R Aquitaine (Bordeaux)

Membership in German chambers of commerce and industry is obligatory for all self-employed persons and legal entities conducting business, including entrepreneurs and enterprises from industry, trade and commerce. There are 80 chambers of commerce and industry in Germany, each covering a specific region as defined by the government. A German chamber of commerce and industry has on average 30,000 members. The smallest chamber has 4,200 members. The largest chamber (Munich Chamber of Commerce and Industry) has 380,000 members.

AALEP's Chair, Christian D. de Fouloy has been invited to speak at the Associations World Congress that will take place in Berlin from 10 thru 12 April on 'How to navigate the process of public policy and advocacy'.

Over 100 CEOs will attend the Association's Congress.

For information, please go to  http://www.associationscongress.com/AWCRegistration

Source : The Global Financial Centres (2015)

In parenthesis (World Rank)

1. The financial services industry (“the City”) is one of the few areas where the UK is a world leader and it is a huge earner. Unlike trade in goods, the UK runs  a very large surplus on trade in financial services, including with the EU. The financial services industry accounts for about 4pc of GDP, about half of which probably represents business done with the EU, or about 2pc of GDP.

Parliament

1. Structure and functioning of the Parliament including the competences of the Parliamentary Committees and the speaker of the Parliament, the prerogatives and competences of the Parliament with respect to control of the executive power, and of the procedures for the adoption of legislation

2. Parliament's rules of procedure and their implementation.

They may come under different names: Parliamentary Friendship Groups, Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups or Friendship Parliamentary Groups or Parliamentary Group of Friendship [and Cooperation].