What has the EU done to you?
Discussion
s2art said:
Mostly uninformed b
ks I am afraid. See the Telegraph article describing just how Norway deals with unwanted EU regulation. The economist merely repeats myths about 'fax democracy'.
I liked one comment on the economist article;
'For some reason the author thinks the EU will continue to run around the world signing trade and investment deals with everyone but ignore the world's 21st largest country by population and 5th largest non-EU economy that sits right on its doorstep.'
There is no way on Gods green Earth that Germany will not sort out a free trade arrangement with her largest trade partner, one which Germany has a huge trade surplus with.
You do realise there will be no such thing as a "German" free trade agreement, all EU members will have to agree to a free trade agreement with the country that just told them to get lost?ks I am afraid. See the Telegraph article describing just how Norway deals with unwanted EU regulation. The economist merely repeats myths about 'fax democracy'.I liked one comment on the economist article;
'For some reason the author thinks the EU will continue to run around the world signing trade and investment deals with everyone but ignore the world's 21st largest country by population and 5th largest non-EU economy that sits right on its doorstep.'
There is no way on Gods green Earth that Germany will not sort out a free trade arrangement with her largest trade partner, one which Germany has a huge trade surplus with.
s2art said:
There is no way on Gods green Earth that Germany will not sort out a free trade arrangement with her largest trade partner, one which Germany has a huge trade surplus with.
This idea that the whole of EU must do what UK wants because UK is so imortant is delusional.The same logic would dictate that Germany is so important that the whole of Europe must do what it's told by Germany. In which case UK had better shut up and get into line!
jamoor said:
You do realise there will be no such thing as a "German" free trade agreement, all EU members will have to agree to a free trade agreement with the country that just told them to get lost?
I don't think it's a case of "telling them to get lost." Rather it's a case of realising that they're going down a path of political union, which we don't want to be part of and working out an amicable and mutually beneficial separation from there. As for this false dichotomy between the Swiss and the Norwegian approach - it's nonsense. It isn't delusional to point out that Britain, by sheer population is around 5 times the size of Switzerland and Norway combined, with a massive industrial output, and a huge volume of trade with the rest of the EU. It's negatively delusional to imagine that the EU is just going to spitefully ignore this and go around slapping maximum tariffs on everything in sight because we don't want to be part of their political union. And it is perfectly within our grasp to negotiate a reasonable solution that would allow pretty much open trade to continue.
Finally, on freedom of movement, how hard would it really be to issue a 6 month visa on arrival for EU citizens and make a work permit and residence visa available with a letter of employment? A simple act of parliament that would require about 20 minutes paperwork from employers and employed immigrants, and absolve us of having to pay benefits indiscriminately to anyone who stays 3 months here.
Since most British people living in the EU (that I know of anyway?) are either gainfully employed or retired and self supporting, I don't see why the EU would make reciprocal arrangements any more difficult.
Ozzie Osmond said:
s2art said:
There is no way on Gods green Earth that Germany will not sort out a free trade arrangement with her largest trade partner, one which Germany has a huge trade surplus with.
This idea that the whole of EU must do what UK wants because UK is so imortant is delusional.The same logic would dictate that Germany is so important that the whole of Europe must do what it's told by Germany. In which case UK had better shut up and get into line!
AJS- said:
I'm not jumping sides, but according to Wiki we're quite a long way down the net contributors list, and even Germany is a good way behind Denmark on a per capita basis. Interesting.
Those numbers dont look anything like the OBR or Treasury's numbers for the UK net contribution.oyster said:
AJS- said:
Since most British people living in the EU (that I know of anyway?) are either gainfully employed or retired and self supporting, I don't see why the EU would make reciprocal arrangements any more difficult.
Ahhh the nub of it.We're superior 'cos we're richer.
Lovely.
mybrainhurts said:
Art0ir said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
The same logic would dictate that Germany is so important that the whole of Europe must do what it's told by Germany.
It doesn't?Never underestimate the might of Merkel...
On a brighter note, some of the comments in this "THATCHERITE RACISTS HATE ROMANIANS" hit piece suggest all is not entirely lost on the left.
If you have ever driven out of town and admired the beautiful English countryside you are looking at EU money.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
willmcc said:
If you have ever driven out of town and admired the beautiful English countryside you are looking at EU money.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
That's awfully nice of them. But where does this "EU money" come from?Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
This regionalism line of argument is I am sure intended to divide and make the subsidy hungry regions believe that their bread is buttered on the EU side. Rubbish. The UK is quite capable of building our own roads without Brussels taking it's cut.
Bedazzled said:
s2art said:
See the Telegraph article...
Always a good place to go for an unbiased assessment 
the older i get, the more interest, (at last) i take in this kind of topic.
at face value, i have my own views on europe, it seems we are being bled dry, for no real benefit, whilst losing our identity.
would we really be worse off, if we pulled out? i honestly don't know, but norway and switzerland seem to be doing ok.
so where do i go to get an unbiased view on this topic.
or is there no such thing as an unbiased view on the topic?
willmcc said:
If you have ever driven out of town and admired the beautiful English countryside you are looking at EU money.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
Are you mad? We are net contributors to the EU. The money you talk about is simply some of our money being spent here, often on things we wouldnt have chosen. Nobody here benefits from EU cash, on the contrary. We would have more to spend on ourselves otherwise. Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
willmcc said:
If you have ever driven out of town and admired the beautiful English countryside you are looking at EU money.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
really?willmcc said:
If you have ever driven out of town and admired the beautiful English countryside you are looking at EU money.
Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
No wonder the EU parasites get away with it with morons like you falling for that one. Likewise many of the roads outside the South East especially Cornwall, Wales and the NE are built with EU money.
There are many people in the UK benefitting from direct EU cash, trouble is none of them live in the SE so no-one notices.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff