Divorcing Europe

[ElasticMan]

There's a lot of talk about Britain leaving EU - but probably not a lot of understanding on what it would really mean, and how it could be done.

 

There's a great podcast on the BBC Site about it right now - well worth a listen - the idea of leaving is much more complicated than UKIP and Daily Express would have you believe.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/analysis

[Mecky]

No sheet Sherlock

[ElasticMan]

No sheet Sherlock

 

True - but all people hear and read each day from the press is unqualified 'anti-Europeanism' (is that a word?)

 

Right now I suspect a straight in/out referendum would result in a vote to leave the EU - even though most people don't understand the consequences.

[mj.scuba]

I don't think anybody is claiming it wouldn't be a complicated business, that doesn't mean it couldn't be done.

[ElasticMan]

I don't think anybody is claiming it wouldn't be a complicated business, that doesn't mean it couldn't be done.

 

I take you haven't listened

 

Even if we could leave, we would be in a worse situation - because in order to enjoy free trade and free movement within Europe, we would still have to be bound by its rules - only without any say in how they were created.

[mj.scuba]

I take you haven't listened

 

Even if we could leave, we would be in a worse situation - because in order to enjoy free trade and free movement within Europe, we would still have to be bound by its rules - only without any say in how they were created.

 

In terms of trade with the rest of the EU, we're already bound by them, so it will mean little difference anyway if we continue trading in the same manner than Norway, Iceland and Switzerland also enjoy even as non-EU members.

[ElasticMan]

In terms of trade with the rest of the EU, we're already bound by them, so it will mean little difference anyway if we continue trading in the same manner than Norway, Iceland and Switzerland also enjoy even as non-EU members.

 

That's right, but in order to do that Norway (for example) have to abide by all the same rules as those within the EU - they are still bound by the rules, but have absolutely no influence over them.

[mj.scuba]

That's right, but in order to do that Norway (for example) have to abide by all the same rules as those within the EU - they are still bound by the rules, but have absolutely no influence over them.

 

It's a fair trade off. They don't have the financial burden of EU contributions.

[I1L2T3]

We won't be leaving. None of the main parties is officially committed to that. LibDems never, for all the posturing Tories would bottle it and Labour eurosceptics are completely ineffective these days (not like in the late 70s/early 80s).

 

If the electorate had a say (which the parties would never allow) then maybe it would be in favour of leaving.

[lolli_pop]

In terms of trade with the rest of the EU, we're already bound by them, so it will mean little difference anyway if we continue trading in the same manner than Norway, Iceland and Switzerland also enjoy even as non-EU members.

 

But we would have no influence in how Directives were drawn up, which could be hugely damaging to us. At present the UK is able to influence how Directives we are bound by are written and applied to UK industry.