tzijlstra   11 #3337 Posted September 20, 2018 One for the remainers if the EU has such appeal why haven't Norway who had an referendum on joining said no , Iceland toyed with the idea but put negotiations on hold. Switzerland the one country I really thought would go for it with their banking but no. They have agreements with the EU yes but not really interested in going the full hog. The counties that have recently joined are poor ones I hear Ukraine is wanting to join the club I wounder how Putin feels about that ?  Norway: Put it to the vote and the outcome was no. Reasons relate to a fear that the social system would be put under pressure due to free market interventions and a fear that fishing would be undermined. Reality is that Norway is effectively an EU member, they just don't have any democratic influence on the decision making.  Iceland: The financial crisis destroyed the confidence in politicians and poo-pood any initiative by the Icelandic government to approach the EU. The 'new progressives' that took over swung the country in the other direction and improved the status of citizens by introducing a wide range of financial reforms and now they have no need to join the EU (yet).  If you thought Switzerland was to join I suggest you brush up on your ancient history. The Swiss economy thrives on independence and secrecy.  As for what you call 'poor countries' - each one of the Eastern European countries that joined has a much better outlook for government finances, the GDP per citizen is shooting up in all of them and, if you were prepared to, I can guarantee that the quality of life in a place like Poznan, Plzen or Cluj for highly skilled workers is considerably better than it would be here. An income of 20K a year there doesn't just put a nice spread on the table each day, it allows you to live in a quality house and drive a decent car. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
steve68   66 #3338 Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) How do you work that out? ---------- Post added 04-09-2018 at 13:36 ----------   The ones who voted leave are mainly ukip...the ones who voted remain (in that link you gave) are mostly Labour...does that mean Labour MEPs aren't honourable?  Sadly when we do leave, Europe will just get more Gammon and Racist without us.  https://www.ardi-ep.eu/the-eu-is-too-white-and-brexit-likely-to-make-it-worse-meps-and-staff-say/  What Europe looks like https://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MEPspreadweb.jpg Edited September 20, 2018 by steve68 Add link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
truman   10 #3339 Posted September 20, 2018 Sadly when we do leave, Europe will just get more Gammon and Racist without us. https://www.ardi-ep.eu/the-eu-is-too-white-and-brexit-likely-to-make-it-worse-meps-and-staff-say/  What Europe looks like https://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MEPspreadweb.jpg  Can't get your second link to work.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
steve68 Â Â 66 #3340 Posted September 20, 2018 Can't get your second link to work.. Â Try this one https://www.politico.eu/blogs/playbook-plus/2017/12/brussels-bubble-reacts-to-accusations-of-being-too-white-brusselssowhite/ same image of the make up of Brussels Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
lil-minx92 Â Â 10 #3341 Posted September 20, 2018 Rather like Mr Putin and his treatment of traitors, the EU has to make it difficult and punishing to the leaving member as a warning. I hope the remaining member states are taking note of what happens if you try to leave the gang! The weak ones dont have a chance of getting out intact! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
tzijlstra   11 #3342 Posted September 20, 2018 Rather like Mr Putin and his treatment of traitors, the EU has to make it difficult and punishing to the leaving member as a warning. I hope the remaining member states are taking note of what happens if you try to leave the gang! The weak ones dont have a chance of getting out intact!  Why should it do that? Can you imagine Scotland seceding from the UK and then demanding it continues to have access to the English market whilst simultaneously banning English people settling in Scotland?  There has been nothing unclear about the EU's position and May's proposal has repeatedly been called unacceptable and untenable. Perhaps your ire should be aimed at May and the Tories. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
melthebell   863 #3343 Posted September 20, 2018 Rather like Mr Putin and his treatment of traitors, the EU has to make it difficult and punishing to the leaving member as a warning. I hope the remaining member states are taking note of what happens if you try to leave the gang! The weak ones dont have a chance of getting out intact! sigh  they ARENT punishing us, they arent bending over backwards to help us like they shouldnt, they are protecting the union of 27 other countries, WE dont have anything to bargin with Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Bob Arctor   11 #3344 Posted September 20, 2018 The Chequers proposal is officially dead. The lie that the EU27 would buckle when it came to the wire is dead with it. The EU hold all the cards and if an agreement on the Irish border can't be reached within the month we risk a hard border by next year and the resumption of Republican violence alongside Daesh, and all because May can't defy Johnson and Rees-Mogg. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
80peter   10 #3345 Posted September 20, 2018 The Chequers proposal is officially dead. The lie that the EU27 would buckle when it came to the wire is dead with it. The EU hold all the cards and if an agreement on the Irish border can't be reached within the month we risk a hard border by next year and the resumption of Republican violence alongside Daesh, and all because May can't defy Johnson and Rees-Mogg.  The Chequers plan is unworkable anyway if the Tories had a stronger leader Johnson and Mogg would have long been given the boot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Penistone999 Â Â 10 #3346 Posted September 20, 2018 The Chequers proposal is officially dead. The lie that the EU27 would buckle when it came to the wire is dead with it. The EU hold all the cards and if an agreement on the Irish border can't be reached within the month we risk a hard border by next year and the resumption of Republican violence alongside Daesh, and all because May can't defy Johnson and Rees-Mogg. Â Good. It was a white flag waving exercise from May. The ONLY was of delivering the result of the Referendum is a No Deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
80peter   10 #3347 Posted September 20, 2018 Norway: Put it to the vote and the outcome was no. Reasons relate to a fear that the social system would be put under pressure due to free market interventions and a fear that fishing would be undermined. Reality is that Norway is effectively an EU member, they just don't have any democratic influence on the decision making.  Iceland: The financial crisis destroyed the confidence in politicians and poo-pood any initiative by the Icelandic government to approach the EU. The 'new progressives' that took over swung the country in the other direction and improved the status of citizens by introducing a wide range of financial reforms and now they have no need to join the EU (yet).  If you thought Switzerland was to join I suggest you brush up on your ancient history. The Swiss economy thrives on independence and secrecy.  As for what you call 'poor countries' - each one of the Eastern European countries that joined has a much better outlook for government finances, the GDP per citizen is shooting up in all of them and, if you were prepared to, I can guarantee that the quality of life in a place like Poznan, Plzen or Cluj for highly skilled workers is considerably better than it would be here. An income of 20K a year there doesn't just put a nice spread on the table each day, it allows you to live in a quality house and drive a decent car.  Iceland and Norway both have large fishing fleets which if they joined the EU would suffer like the UK fishing industry did most fisherman voted leave down to the fact they can only catch so much. If they had caught more they had too throw it back so loseing money which sadly put many out of business. Another issue is fish stocks if anyone is allowed to fish in the same area the fish population would fall fast only recently French and British fisherman clashed they know fish population is limited due to others entering British waters Brexit or no Brexit this does need too be looked into or be faced with choric fish shortages in the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
melthebell   863 #3348 Posted September 20, 2018 General election coming up now? https://evolvepolitics.com/another-general-election-could-be-imminent-after-eu-leaders-completely-rule-out-theresa-mays-chequers-brexit-proposal/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...