The UK in the EU

[Tubey]

I like Great Britian - and I'm sure most Europeans do. But I don't like the way your government (since Thatcher) is handling with the EU. Of course the EU isn't doing everything right and has of course negative aspects. Austria is also paying more money in the EU-budget than we get. But without these countries the commission has no money for the under-developed countries in Europe. I think it has come to a point where the UK should decide if it wants to be a part in the union or if they want to leave it and strengthen the connection with the USA.

By the way: What's the opinion of Labour and the LibDems in this case?

Austria don't want to pay any more money to the EU for the budget in 2014 either

In tough economic times, seven Member States (Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) argued during the 26 March General Affairs Council meeting that the EC’s proposed overall amount for the EU budget should be reduced by €100 billion, or in the case of Sweden, by more than €100 billion.[9]

Also, nobody cares what the Lib Dems think. Not even Nick Clegg's mum.

 

[flo]

Austria don't want to pay any more money to the EU for the budget in 2014 either

Well that's true. I guess most countries don't want to. But both Britain and Austria are net contributors. And you have the UK rebate

Also, nobody cares what the Lib Dems think. Not even Nick Clegg's mum.

Do they have anything to decide in the Torie government?

 

[roydo]

I like Great Britian - and I'm sure most Europeans do. But I don't like the way your government (since Thatcher) is handling with the EU. Of course the EU isn't doing everything right and has of course negative aspects. Austria is also paying more money in the EU-budget than we get. But without these countries the commission has no money for the under-developed countries in Europe. I think it has come to a point where the UK should decide if it wants to be a part in the union or if they want to leave it and strengthen the connection with the USA.

By the way: What's the opinion of Labour and the LibDems in this case?

Mate, by and large, the EU is not really an issue divided down party lines, in the way that economic policy might be. (Except the Lib Dems, who just love the EU), but more about a lot of people in the UK getting pretty hacked off by the general incompetence/waste, and the move from a trading body to a creeping political body.

The latest Gender neutral insurance rules, that mean insurance companies cannot have different rates for insurance between males and females is a case in point. Utter bo88ocks, that will cost UK plc a ton of cash.

 

[carlos21]

Nice one

no problems kid.

 

[roydo]

I like Great Britian - and I'm sure most Europeans do. But I don't like the way your government (since Thatcher) is handling with the EU. Of course the EU isn't doing everything right and has of course negative aspects. Austria is also paying more money in the EU-budget than we get. But without these countries the commission has no money for the under-developed countries in Europe. I think it has come to a point where the UK should decide if it wants to be a part in the union or if they want to leave it and strengthen the connection with the USA.

By the way: What's the opinion of Labour and the LibDems in this case?

Oh, and I like Austria too. Spent 3 weeks near Klagenfurt, and some ace lakes, years ago. Ace place.

 

[flo]

Mate, by and large, the EU is not really an issue divided down party lines, in the way that economic policy might be. (Except the Lib Dems, who just love the EU), but more about a lot of people in the UK getting pretty hacked off by the general incompetence/waste, and the move from a trading body to a creeping political body.

The latest Gender neutral insurance rules, that mean insurance companies cannot have different rates for insurance between males and females is a case in point. Utter bo88ocks, that will cost UK plc a ton of cash.

I agree that that some stupid laws have been adopted. But I think the most important point of the EU is still that since it's foundation it's not likely that there will be big wars in Europe (especially between France and Germany). You can discuss which laws should be adopted in Brussels and which in the single states. And in politics Europe has much more influence if it acts as a union than as 27 states, especially in global political questions like the clima issue. Of course the United Kingdom is still a big and mighty nation so I understand you are sceptic.

 

[Royal]

I don't mind the concept of a European union, it's just that this particular one are ****e.

 

[Mrk]

The reason people in the UK are so hostile towards the EU is they see billions of their tax money being sent to an undemocratic, bloated, wasteful superstate and they don't see the benefits.

Does anybody recognise these people? And more importantly, does anybody recall voting for them?

They're 3 of the most powerful people in Europe, and not one of them was elected by the people of Europe.

 

[somuchfun]

Tubey, Austria is a net spender, check your facts, you sound badly Gerrard. Also you should scale these numbers by population, GDP, cost of living and median income to see how they affect a net paying country if you want to feel supremacy about who pays the most.

I agree with EU transfering funds from the richer nations to the poorer ones to spur growth and stability so that the area as a whole can prosper. I feel like the EU did expand too fast and didn't regulate itself properly with the big nations UK included being the main culprits.

I think Delooded had a pretty good pros and cons post.

 

[Tubey]

Tubey, Austria is a net spender, check your facts, you sound badly Gerrard. Also you should scale these numbers by population, gbp, cost of living and median income to see how they affect a net paying country if you want to feel supremacy about who pays the most.

I agree with EU transfering funds from the richer nations to the poorer ones to spur growth and stability so that the area as a whole can prosper. I feel like the EU did expand too fast and didn't regulate itself properly with the big nations UK included being the main culprits.

I think Delooded had a pretty good pros and cons post.

I know they are - in fact, I quoted from the Wiki page that details just that

But they're not a big net spender, so they don't see the downsides as badly as we do.

Net spend isn't a good indicator anyway, as it doesn't show the return (E.G. the french bias with the CAP etc.)

 

[TheFinnFan]

wtf is UK coming into EU?

 

[roydo]

I agree that that some stupid laws have been adopted. But I think the most important point of the EU is still that since it's foundation it's not likely that there will be big wars in Europe (especially between France and Germany). You can discuss which laws should be adopted in Brussels and which in the single states. And in politics Europe has much more influence if it acts as a union than as 27 states, especially in global political questions like the clima issue. Of course the United Kingdom is still a big and mighty nation so I understand you are sceptic.

What, and that is down to the EU? Not the general improvement and maturity of democracies in the region, (the same democracies that the the EU is currently dismantling; Greece, Spain, Italy, Ireland). Oh, and let us not forget the EUs brilliant handling of the break up of Yugoslavia, and the ethnic cleansing that took place on their doorstep, which they did NOTHING about until NATO/UK/US actually had the balls to get some boots on the ground.

Climate change??? Do not make me actually split my sides pi**ing myself! EU make us have sh**e light bulbs, and crap wind farms, whilst trying to get China to buy our steel/copper/concrete etc etc so they can build 10 cities a year and 10000 miles of motorways. Really feckin "green"!!

Not a sceptic mate, a realist. If you let these idiots pretend the success of their project is based on "no war for 60 years", then they have well and truly fooled you pal.

 

[somuchfun]

I know they are - in fact, I quoted from the Wiki page that details just that

But they're not a big net spender, so they don't see the downsides as badly as we do.

Net spend isn't a good indicator anyway, as it doesn't show the return (E.G. the french bias with the CAP etc.)

It's true that the money goes in weird ways and it's unefficient at best. In Finland we're pro EU, mostly, but see that we pay net and only the big nations get the benefits and use the political power and the regulations are mostly stupid. Like those energy saving lamps that cost ten times as much, basically have the same lifetime, don't illuminate as much with a bad colour, are problem waste and the 'waste heat energy' thing isn't really applicable here up north where you don't need them in the summer since there's a lot of light around and in the winter when it's dark the excess heat just goes of your leccy bill for heating.

I too feel like it's a good thing but it leaves a lot to be desired in it's execution. Like we have beggars on our streets now from Romania or whatever. We're not the UK, were not used to such problems in our nice lcomfy little wellfare state. Ffs.

 

[TheFinnFan]

Finland is too Pro in EU, and thats the problem...like..really

we pay and pay and pay, kind class mate who is too gullible

 

[paulbefc]

**swings in**
hey wiseguy are you lecturing europeans from a pedestal there?? youve always played your part in a strong europe man. like in 1939. you showed your solidarity then chum.

I can't help but read these in batman's voice.