Current Affairs EU In or Out

[Barnfred 55]

It's in the interests of the EU in a sense to keep it all or nothing. They don't want to be seen polluting the four freedoms for the UK in order to dissuade Italy, France or The Netherlands from bailing out.

I'd love them to negotiate over it, I think it's one of their flaws, but they need to try to keep the whole union together as best as possible now.

Possibly. I'm looking at it merely from an economic view, not political. We have a large trade deficit with the EC so they stand to lose much more than we do

I agree with you as to the cause of the increase in deficit. It is surprising though that exports did not increase after the fall in value of sterling.

Are these figures quoted new orders or actual completed sales of orders that may have been made a number of months ago?. If it's the latter, it may take some time before we see the impact of the cheaper pound. If it's the former, then I agree with you.

 

[Barnfred 55]

It's in the interests of the EU in a sense to keep it all or nothing. They don't want to be seen polluting the four freedoms for the UK in order to dissuade Italy, France or The Netherlands from bailing out.

I'd love them to negotiate over it, I think it's one of their flaws, but they need to try to keep the whole union together as best as possible now.

Addition to previous one mate. Didn't realise the site had gone off air for a few moments and not all of my post uploaded

There's also the effect of tourism too. Spain, Italy, France Greece and even Portugal would be massively affected. Together with Germany, I think these countries will come under immense pressure from their own people to try and negotiate some concessions with the UK.

I may be completely wrong but in my experience the purse strings are always at or near the top of peoples priorities.

 

[Pienaar's gloves]

Addition to previous one mate. Didn't realise the site had gone off air for a few moments and not all of my post uploaded

There's also the effect of tourism too. Spain, Italy, France Greece and even Portugal would be massively affected. Together with Germany, I think these countries will come under immense pressure from their own people to try and negotiate some concessions with the UK.

I may be completely wrong but in my experience the purse strings are always at or near the top of peoples priorities.

I agree with regards to the economic necessity hitting home. As mentioned, they'll have to weigh this up against the political reality that they need to look strong.

I expect we'll all be able to holiday just fine but I wouldn't be surprised by time consuming visa regulations or having to pay a small fee on entry.

Personally, I think if we make concessions on freedom of movement, we stand a better chance of almost unchanged access to the single market. I'd be fine with almost removing the entitlement of access to welfare system to new EU migrants and vice versa for UK citizens who wish to live in Europe in order to retain free movement. With this, I think access to the market becomes far easier.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I agree with regards to the economic necessity hitting home. As mentioned, they'll have to weigh this up against the political reality that they need to look strong.

I expect we'll all be able to holiday just fine but I wouldn't be surprised by time consuming visa regulations or having to pay a small fee on entry.

Personally, I think if we make concessions on freedom of movement, we stand a better chance of almost unchanged access to the single market. I'd be fine with almost removing the entitlement of access to welfare system to new EU migrants and vice versa for UK citizens who wish to live in Europe in order to retain free movement. With this, I think access to the market becomes far easier.

Not sure this will satisfy some of the people who voted leave. But had the EU conceded on this point when Cameron went to them initially then we'd never have got as far as a referendum in the first place. It's a pity we can't turn the clocks back 12 months.

the whole thing has turned into a nightmare for everyone apart from the far right activists who are probably loving it.

 

[Pienaar's gloves]

Not sure this will satisfy some of the people who voted leave. But had the EU conceded on this point when Cameron went to them initially then we'd never have got as far as a referendum in the first place. It's a pity we can't turn the clocks back 12 months.

the whole thing has turned into a nightmare for everyone apart from the far right activists who are probably loving it.

If your point is that Cameron and his European colleagues cocked this up twelve months ago, I totally agree. The EU needs more than a facelift to remain relevant and beneficial rather than outdated and a major hazard.

I'm not sure that their top brass recognise this.

 

[tsubaki]

I'm not sure that their top brass recognise this.

They absolutely don't, and whats worse the quality of leadership over there (domestically and at the European level) is so bad I am not sure that they are even capable of recognizing it. They fail every test that they are set - the Euro crisis, the migrant crisis, NATO, even that VW emissions thing.

 

[Pienaar's gloves]

They absolutely don't, and whats worse the quality of leadership over there (domestically and at the European level) is so bad I am not sure that they are even capable of recognizing it. They fail every test that they are set - the Euro crisis, the migrant crisis, NATO, even that VW emissions thing.

Wholeheartedly agree. I'm struggling to think of a major topical and critical issue in recent years that they've got right.

 

[peteblue]

They absolutely don't, and whats worse the quality of leadership over there (domestically and at the European level) is so bad I am not sure that they are even capable of recognizing it. They fail every test that they are set - the Euro crisis, the migrant crisis, NATO, even that VW emissions thing.

No problem, now that they have just voted for the Eu army it will miraculously all fall into shape, more Europe always solves the current problems. They are now going to standardise procurement (great news for French and German arms manufacturers, not so good news for east Europeans), review all countries military planning (because they were so good at reviewing all countries economic plans) and have a brief to function in parts of the world where NATO doesn't want to lead (which basically means meddling for the sake and 'prestige' of it). It is now just a matter of time before they pick an argument with NATO, over who controls what, and then cause armed conflict with Russia........

 

[Joey66]

Lots are/will - but food sizes have decreased consistently for a long time. It's not a new phenomenon because of brexit...

yes remember Wagon wheels they seemed massive when I was a kid 3d 1& 1/2 p - they look the size of a xmas tree decoration nowlol

 

[peteblue]

That's the job of the civil service. Aren't these meeting about establishing what we are actually going to negotiate? Taking soundings from each other to see what's achievable? Which is going to be very little if both sides are playing it like poker

Or negotiating via twitter....

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

yes remember Wagon wheels they seemed massive when I was a kid 3d 1& 1/2 p - they look the size of a xmas tree decoration nowlol

You could literally stick them on a wagon back then!

 

[Joey66]

Or negotiating via twitter....

Exactly all this let parliment debate article 50 rubbish with statements like that what is the point we wan this we want that - there's you answer in that tweet its been like that since June the 24th -
that's why its important we get deals in the pipeline with the uSA other big countries to negate this typical rhetoric which one would hope a climb down by them will happen - it just makes me hope we leave this done for this obnoxious political union!

 

[tsubaki]

No problem, now that they have just voted for the Eu army it will miraculously all fall into shape, more Europe always solves the current problems. They are now going to standardise procurement (great news for French and German arms manufacturers, not so good news for east Europeans), review all countries military planning (because they were so good at reviewing all countries economic plans) and have a brief to function in parts of the world where NATO doesn't want to lead (which basically means meddling for the sake and 'prestige' of it). It is now just a matter of time before they pick an argument with NATO, over who controls what, and then cause armed conflict with Russia........

That is the thing pete - a pan-EU military could be strong, capable, a stabilizing force in the world (as the US wouldn't be so dominant) and would be a very good way of strengthening the union.

The pan-EU military that they come up with will be none of those things.

 

[Joey66]

That is the thing pete - a pan-EU military could be strong, capable, a stabilizing force in the world (as the US wouldn't be so dominant) and would be a very good way of strengthening the union.

The pan-EU military that they come up with will be none of those things.

the EU army without us consist of the French and who else Poland maybe the other 25 offer very little !

 

[peteblue]

That is the thing pete - a pan-EU military could be strong, capable, a stabilizing force in the world (as the US wouldn't be so dominant) and would be a very good way of strengthening the union.

The pan-EU military that they come up with will be none of those things.

Oh I'm sure it could be strong, but who would be in control of it, one of the 5 EU Presidents, the EU Council by unanimous or majority vote. Will France give up its independent nuclear defence and its seat on the UN Security Council to the EU. It will be a shambles and within 3 or 4 years it will try to flex its muscles. The world needs another superpower like a hole in the head.......