Membership of the EU

[Sir David Gray]

Do you support the UK's involvement in the European Union?

[capitals_finest]

Yes but i think it was stupid for them to go down the route of having a single currency. This has f***** it all up IMO. Less fiscal control is a stupid idea for any nation.

[Hainan Hibs]

I like Norway's position on the matter.

[Sir David Gray]

For me, the quicker we are out of the EU, the better.

We don't have full control over every single aspect, when a lot of laws are being passed by Brussels. It will soon be one giant nation, known as the United States of Europe. That, for me, is not acceptable.

That's my take on it.

[AllyF]

Think of the benefits we receive from it. Better in it, than out.

[Onceinawhile]

Being part of the European Union is vital for the UK. If we were to leave the EU our export market would decrease ridiculously. Imagine we had to pay the common import tariff. Meaning an extra %(usually around 7-10) on our already overpriced goods.

It would also allow the EU to place quotas, technical restrictions and all other types of non tariff barriers on our goods making any sort of british manufacturers struggle to compete.

On top of that it would mean withdrawing from the Single European Act meaning that the movement of capital(both monetary and human) could be restricted. Which would mean applying for Visas to visit countries within Europe.

There is no way it will soon be "the united states of Europe." That's BNP scaremongering tactics:agree:

[Sir David Gray]

Being part of the European Union is vital for the UK. If we were to leave the EU our export market would decrease ridiculously. Imagine we had to pay the common import tariff. Meaning an extra %(usually around 7-10) on our already overpriced goods.

It would also allow the EU to place quotas, technical restrictions and all other types of non tariff barriers on our goods making any sort of british manufacturers struggle to compete.

On top of that it would mean withdrawing from the Single European Act meaning that the movement of capital(both monetary and human) could be restricted. Which would mean applying for Visas to visit countries within Europe.

There is no way it will soon be "the united states of Europe." That's BNP scaremongering tactics:agree:

Far be it for me to go along with anything they say, but if that's their view then I have to say that I agree with them, on this particular issue. I think we're heading in that direction (formation of the USE), as far as the EU is concerned.

On the point of having to apply for visas to visit European countries if we exited the EU, I personally don't see a problem with that. We would need a visa to visit Australia, New Zealand, USA or Canada so why shouldn't we need one to visit France, Germany, Spain and Holland?

By the same token, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians would require a visa to enter the UK, so why shouldn't the French, Germans, Spanish and Dutch?

[woodythehibee]

We will never become the "United States of Europe". Simply because we have so many strong, independant, stand alone countries who have been this way for years and years and it will never change. Each one has a proud history and i can never see us all becoming 'one'.

[steakbake]

Far be it for me to go along with anything they say, but if that's their view then I have to say that I agree with them, on this particular issue. I think we're heading in that direction (formation of the USE), as far as the EU is concerned.

On the point of having to apply for visas to visit European countries if we exited the EU, I personally don't see a problem with that. We would need a visa to visit Australia, New Zealand, USA or Canada so why shouldn't we need one to visit France, Germany, Spain and Holland?

By the same token, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians would require a visa to enter the UK, so why shouldn't the French, Germans, Spanish and Dutch?

Australians, NZ, US and canadians require visas if they are coming to the UK for more than 90 days or in a capacity other than tourism.

As a member of the EEA (not EU) we would also be able to negotiate rights of movement treaties with the EU, like Switzerland and Norway have done.

I'm horrified by the idea that our neighbouring countries like France, Germany, Spain and Netherlands should require a visa for UK nationals and vice versa.

I'd find it a ridiculous position to have to apply for a visa to transit through Amsterdam airport or to go on a package holiday to Greece.

[Golden Bear]

I can think of far more negatives than positives.

It does concern me that the so called "European Union's" Annual Accounts have consistently failed to meet with the approval of their Auditors.

The original concept of a free trade area disappeared many years ago and its place we have a number of maverick Eurocrats whose sole intention is the creation of a single European state. This would no doubt lead to the creation of yet more loony policies (a la straight bananas!)

Public opinion seems to count for nothing, (re the recent Irish referendum), but for what it's worth I say "No thanks to Europe" - - we've more than enough bureaucrats as it is and the gravy train has got to stop somewhere!


:grr:

[Onceinawhile]

I can think of far more negatives than positives.

It does concern me that the so called "European Union's" Annual Accounts have consistently failed to meet with the approval of their Auditors.

The original concept of a free trade area disappeared many years ago and its place we have a number of maverick Eurocrats whose sole intention is the creation of a single European state. This would no doubt lead to the creation of yet more loony policies (a la straight bananas!)

Public opinion seems to count for nothing, (re the recent Irish referendum), but for what it's worth I say "No thanks to Europe" - - we've more than enough bureaucrats as it is and the gravy train has got to stop somewhere!

:grr:

The original idea of the European Union was not simply to lead to a free trade area. The main pillars of the first treaty (1955) was signed to ensure that Countries wouldn't suffer from famine etc... in the post war depression. It was also done to ensure that war would be highly highly unlikely to start from the European area as there was a created interdependence between the original states (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, France and Germany). The UK decided to join because it saw the benefits that a single free trade area provided.

Ask Iceland if they think they're idea to withdraw from the European Union was a good idea. I think you might find they would say it wasn't.

The EU does has problems - for example the CAP - was and continues to be a bit of a problem. But if we were outwith the EU we would have a lot more problems.

Clearly we are entering a recession which means that people will look out with our own economy to find solutions but the EU is the wrong place to look.

[LiverpoolHibs]

I can think of far more negatives than positives.

It does concern me that the so called "European Union's" Annual Accounts have consistently failed to meet with the approval of their Auditors.

The original concept of a free trade area disappeared many years ago and its place we have a number of maverick Eurocrats whose sole intention is the creation of a single European state. This would no doubt lead to the creation of yet more loony policies (a la straight bananas!)

Public opinion seems to count for nothing, (re the recent Irish referendum), but for what it's worth I say "No thanks to Europe" - - we've more than enough bureaucrats as it is and the gravy train has got to stop somewhere!


:grr:

Except that was pretty much a complete fabrication.

I'd say pretty anti-EU, but from a socialist position. Not that the loss of economic sovereignty really makes much of a difference with the prospect of a Conservative government and the way New Labour have conducted themselves.

[kollontai]

No its a bosses europe and workers should take no part in it.

[Dashing Bob S]

Personally, I'm all for Europe. Can't be bothered with all those Little Britian muppets who want to live in the last century.

Brussels rule - bring it on!