Soldato
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I've never said we have no influence. But having said that, it's totally possible to be used for our big fat contribution.
Poll: The EU Referendum: How Will You Vote? (April Poll)
- Thread starter Burnsy2023
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Austria with their concerns on economy and immigration have just broken their typical voting stance for the presidential elections. Typically voting centre left or centre right parties since 1945 they have moved to the extremes and there will be no centre party elected.
Barack Obama arrives in Germany to huge protests. The protests are against any EU-US trade deal.
Barack Obama arrives in Germany to huge protests. The protests are against any EU-US trade deal.
Soldato
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Yep, the EU and now Europe itself is a total dumpster fire.
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There's a difference between INFLUENCE (i.e. while we're within the group we influence and change the decisions of others or make the policies we want come out on top more often than not) and IMPORTANCE. We're important to the EU because we contribute to the BUDGET and we're one the net contributors along with still being a trade partner and having good relations with America / political clout (in some regards) which is usually stronger when it's backed up by other countries. As others pointed out quite clearly we have a trade deficit which leads us to be benefiting others more, we contribute one of the larger parts of the budget, we're still seen as a decent figurehead somewhat of europe along with france and germany. This however does not contribute to real world influence, we don't majestically stride along a wave of british glory with all the other nations watching our hair shimmer white, blue and red as they envy and support our decisions. Real terms, we're just not necessarily a huge influence on the system.
It's really simple, you're talking about two different words so just understand the differences. We're important to keep the cogs spinning but that doesn't mean they shine our shoes on the way out, the referendum was clearly a sign of this with the negotiations being quite weak and yielding low compromise even during migration crisis and financial crisis. It didn't really matter how much they needed to resolve the issue, they just don't compromise much.
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So the 55 times times we've objected and been ignored aren't enough. Nor the fact we have less than 10% of MEP's in the Parliament (to be further reduced When Turkey, Albania etc join), nor qualified majority voting which means we're grossly under-represented. What about the fact law originates from the Commission, which is completely unelected.
You can point to us agreeing to a number of motions in a consensus system, where decisions are made in advance, but at heart the EU is undemocratic and doesn't represent the interests of its people. Another example of increasing nationalism, as if there weren't enough.
Page 17, top left graph, shows India and China growing the fastest in terms of UK services exports. I added the fact both countries are seeing a larger middle class, but I assume you're not disputing that.
Ernst & Young not good enough for you?
Too late for that I'm affraid, you already live in that country. Just look at NR and most train companies
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...ritish-train-companies-revenue_n_8003970.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/b...vatising-british-public-services-9874048.html
e: just to make it clear, these companies can and do sue NR for any disruption to their service if there's a problem on the network
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Sure
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I'm actually inclined to agree - I am on the remain side but I don't think trade deals with non EU nations are a particular issue at all. We currently don't enjoy tariff free trade with anyone outside of the EU and setting up new deals to maintain trade with similar tariffs to those we pay/collect now don't look like they'll be that difficult.
The trade risk is with EU nations - we currently enjoy tariff free trade and the benefits of the single market and if we vote to leave we will not unless we make major concessions which would question the entire point in leaving anyway. Why vote to leave to then give back most of the things you wanted out for in order to secure the sort of trade access Switzerland has?
Which other country on the planet has negotiated access to either the single market or secured tariff free trade with the EU without conceding to some of the EU's requirements?
That'd be 'not a single one'.
What is the benefit to the EU of allowing us tariff free trade without anything in return?
TTIP is an inevitability at this stage, irrespective of which way you vote. that subject, is one where we should all agree that it's the most shady, undemocratic series of negotiations to have taken place in the entirety of history, and is in the best interests of an American corporatocracy.
So basically, UKGOV Will have no problem with it, being the facist sh*tlords that they all are.
So basically, UKGOV Will have no problem with it, being the facist sh*tlords that they all are.
The problem is some of the documents are not available to the public, in fact they are doing their best to hide them from us. On that basis, how can we make an informed decision?No. I've bothered to look at the source material/actual EU documents/etc. I've always said we should be wary of parts of TTIP, but prejudging it as being some awful thing is ridiculous... why assume it's going to be bad? We'll see the full text before it's approved... then it has to be approved by every single member state and the European Parliament... it's not going to be written in secret and then magically come into force without scrutiny. It's scaremongering.
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Lol, no. It doesn't happen if you are outside the single market. Why doesn't Canada have it?
Stop confusing free trade with tariff free trade.
Huh? What's the difference? If you don't know what on earth have we been arguing about?
Free trade agreements do not mean trade is free from any costs - so even under a free trade agreement such as say NAFTA or the agreement Canada has recently negotiated with the EU, trade between the countries still incurs certain tariffs.
Whereas tariff free trade, like that offered as part of the EU single market, does not. So if you buy something from a country with whom we have a free trade agreement you'll usually pay import tariffs and duty, whereas if you buy something from within the single market you do not.
Free trade agreements do not mean trade is free from any costs - so even under a free trade agreement such as say NAFTA or the agreement Canada has recently negotiated with the EU, trade between the countries still incurs certain tariffs.
Whereas tariff free trade, like that offered as part of the EU single market, does not. So if you buy something from a country with whom we have a free trade agreement you'll usually pay import tariffs and duty, whereas if you buy something from within the single market you do not.
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