EU or not?

[wales01man]

Looks like we are going to be bombarded by the media with the big question promised to be voted on in a referendum in 2017.

My question is under what terms do we stay in or why do we get out????????

[Kati]

Re: EU or not?

just putting this up here http://www.the-eu-and-me.org.uk

A No-Nonsense Guide for UK Citizens to what the European Union Delivers.

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do you want this to be a poll [MENTION=30456]wales01man[/MENTION]?

[stevemLS]

Re: EU or not?

As you say, we will be bombarded.

No-one knows what the terms will be - that is what our blessed Prime Minister is schlepping round Europe now for, to make a start on trying to negotiate terms.

[wales01man]

Re: EU or not?

just putting this up here http://www.the-eu-and-me.org.uk

A poll would be interesting I think an undecided option would be good so we can have another in a year to see how minds may change thanks for thinking that kati
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do you want this to be a poll @wales01man?

poll would be interesting I think an undecided option would be good so we can have another in a year to see how minds may change thanks for thinking that kati

[Kati]

Re: EU or not?

poll would be interesting I think an undecided option would be good so we can have another in a year to see how minds may change thanks for thinking that kati

done

[enaid]

Re: EU or not?

Well I voted yes, I can not understand why anyone would want to be a main player in a group that is skint.
The EU is falling apart Greece is knackered and I did say when they were being allowed in 'what can they bring to the EU except tourism and olives' 'appen they had a bad crop on both.
We can't even guarantee we will be the UK in the near future let alone should be part of a bigger group.
Anyway if someone can in 'simples' explain to me the real benefits to me and mine and all of us on ground level of being IN then and only then may I change my mind.

[Kati]

Re: EU or not?

Anyway if someone can in 'simples' explain to me the real benefits to me and mine and all of us on ground level of being IN then and only then may I change my mind.

try this http://www.the-eu-and-me.org.uk/

[enaid]

Re: EU or not?

The UK, as most of us know, is a net contributor to the EU budget. Therefore it’s understandable that people in this country want to learn more about how we benefit from our collective contribution. On this website you can find out how the EU helps with:

• Moving around Europe freely and safely
• Giving UK consumers a fair deal
• Making our food and environment safer
• Fighting crime and policing borders

If this is to convince folks to stay in then imho they failed and miserably.

[wales01man]

Re: EU or not?

Get rid of any Political interference with OUR country we can stay in a Europe trade body without more tiers of government we have no real control over.

[Fred]

Re: EU or not?

I have to work in fellow EU countries & I have the view that the whole EU has gone to far now for the UK to back off...........sure keep some of the stuff we as a country like but am afraid my personal common sense tells me there is little point in being a radical nation, moreover accept we are all human beings & have the very same rights as such.

I am not at all sure it is best to let/push some of the members who are less financially able to cope into obscurity as it is in the end only ordinary folks who suffer.

[Kati]

Re: EU or not?

http://proeuropa.org.uk/twelevereasons/

Reasons to Stay


REASONS WHY BRITAIN’S FUTURE IS IN THE EU

1. Jobs
Around 3.5 million British jobs are directly linked to British membership of the European Union’s single market – 1 in 10 British jobs.

2. Exports & investment
The EU buys over 50 per cent of UK exports (54 per cent of goods, 40 per cent of services).
Over 300,000 British companies and 74 per cent of British exporters operate in other EU markets.
American and Asian EU firms build factories in Britain because it is in the single market.

3. Trade
The EU negotiates trade agreements with the rest of the world. Outside the EU Britain would have to renegotiate trade deals alone. While the EU is the world’s largest market, a UK outside the EU would not be a high priority for other counties to negotiate a trade deal.

4. Consumer clout
British families enjoy lower mobile phone roaming charges, lower credit card fees, cheaper flights and proper compensation when flights are delayed or cancelled. These sorts of benefits could not be achieved by Britain alone.

5. Clean environment
Through commonly agreed EU standards, national Governments have achieved improvements to the quality of air, rivers and beaches. Good for Britain and good for Britons holidaying or living abroad!

6. Power to curb the multinationals
The EU has taken on multinational giants like Microsoft, Samsung and Toshiba for unfair competition. The UK would not be able to do this alone.

7. Freedom to work and study abroad – and easy travel
1.4 million British people live abroad in the EU. More than 14,500 UK students took part in the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange scheme in 2012-13. Driving licences issued in the UK are valid throughout the EU.

8. Peace and democracy
The EU has helped secure peace among previously warring western European nations. It helped to consolidate democracy in Spain, Portugal, Greece and former Soviet bloc countries and helped preserve peace in the Balkans since the end of the Balkans War. With the UN it now plays a leading role in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and democracy building.

9. Equal pay and non-discrimination
Equal pay for men and women is enshrined in EU law, as are bans on discrimination by age, race or sexual orientation. This benefits Britain and British people who live in other EU countries.

10. Influence in the world
As 28 democracies, and as the world’s biggest market, we are strong when we work together.
Britain is represented in many international organisations in joint EU delegations – giving Britain more influence than it would have alone. The EU has played a major role in climate, world trade and development.

11. Cutting red tape
Common rules for the common market make it unnecessary to have 28 sets of national regulations.

12. Fighting crime
The European Arrest Warrant replaced long extradition procedures and enables the UK to extradite criminals wanted in other EU countries, and bring to justice criminals wanted in the UK who are hiding in other EU countries.
Eurojust helps UK authorities work with other EU countries’ to tackle international organised crime such as drug smuggling, people trafficking and money laundering.

13. Research funding
The UK is the second largest beneficiary of EU research funds, and the British Government expects future EU research funding to constitute a vital source of income for our world-leading universities and companies

http://www.betteroffout.net/the-case...etter-off-out/

Why we should leave:
The top ten reasons we would be BETTER OFF OUT…

1. Freedom to make stronger trade deals with other nations.

2. Freedom to spend UK resources presently through EU membership in the UK to the advantage of our citizens.

3. Freedom to control our national borders.

4. Freedom to restore Britain’s special legal system.

5. Freedom to deregulate the EU’s costly mass of laws.

6. Freedom to make major savings for British consumers.

7. Freedom to improve the British economy and generate more jobs.

8. Freedom to regenerate Britain’s fisheries.

9. Freedom to save the NHS from EU threats to undermine it by harmonising healthcare across the EU, and to reduce welfare payments to non-UK EU citizens.

10. Freedom to restore British customs and traditions.

[PAWS]

Re: EU or not?

The first reason I believe we should stay in the EU is free trading. UK companies have the opportunity to sell goods to all EU member states without the burden of duty or indeed the usual red tape associated with foreign trade. Now Norway is not part of the EU but does enjoy free trade privileges but it is regulated by EU trading rules without having a say in what those rules are or how they are implemented. Although the strength of sterling can often hamper trade to the Eurozone supplying goods and services to EU countries accounts for approximately 14% of our annual GDP. 50% of our exported goods go to Europe. I do not think we can just toss that away.
Many Asian and US companies have their European bases in the UK. Should we leave the EU these bases would also move to mainland Europe.
EU subsidies to farmers can often make the difference between life and death.
Hundreds of thousands of UK citizens live or spend a significant part of every year on mainland Europe. Think of the more than 300k retired Britons who now live in the milder climate of Spain for example. Restriction on free movement works both ways.
There is a lot of debate going on at the moment about scrapping the EU human rights Act and replacing it with a British Bill of rights. If this goes ahead then even if we stay within the EU the European Court of Human rights could not over rule the UK Supreme Court or Parliament. Now we may not like the idea of Johnny foreigner telling us how to live but if a government organisation such as the NHS or department of Education violated your human rights would you feel confident that another cog of the same machine will give you a fair hearing?

[wales01man]

Re: EU or not?

When the talk is subsidies the truth is we as a nation give say a tenner and get back 8 quid in subsidies ?????? we could in theory give a subsidy of a tenner to a business or a farmer and avoid give=ing the EU the other 2 quid seems strange being told how we get subsidies from the EU am I right or does my thinking not add up.

[PAWS]

Re: EU or not?

I do believe that in actual cash contributions we seem to be worse off and your numbers seem right but our government probably wouldn’t give the tenner to the farmers –they would plough it into something like saving the Lundy cross eyed snail!
We do however enjoy a lot of indirect financial benefits though. Not only do we have the advantages of free export but importing goods and raw materials cost us less as well.

[enaid]

Re: EU or not?

This is how I see it, not being the sharpest knife in the drawer please put me right in 'simples' if I am a mile away from the truth.

Firstly Cameron has not a cat in hells chance of getting all of the sanctions he is requesting, if any. If he does get any am sure they wont benefit us very much and probably be too complicated for such as me to grasp what benefits exactly.

Secondly the big businesses have milked the system for their own ends in the EU trading system, have we positive proof they plough that profit back to us ?

Thirdly about the freedom of movement, I wonder why exactly anyone from here would swap places with half of the folks (and half maybe a reserved number) in the EU to live and work.
Just as an example in Spain about the Brits living there, probably for the climate more than anything else. These people are spending their pensions over there helping their economy not ours.

Fourthly as for laws and the such are we no longer capable of making our own? can we no longer make sure that crime and punishment is dealt with appropriately?