Originally Posted by
ImmortalPig
All of which can exist without being in the EU...
What exactly is stopping the UK from reducing their paperwork without being in the EU? Nothing, eg UK has visa exchange programs for many non-EU countries.
What is stopping the UK from using international standards without being in the EU? Nothing, eg many countries have/are adopting 230v standard.
What is stopping the UK from allowing citizens to move freely? Well the UK isn't even in the Schengen region.. So do they even care about this? Regardless, visa exchange as mentioned above...
So really, all of the benefits you think the EU has, are completely imagined!
No, you misunderstand, trading outside the EU requires more paperwork than trading inside. Thats not the UK deciding "lets use more paperwork" its because they have to.
Free movement is more about the movement of a workforce than of individuals, less so in the Schengen region. An example is that the UK is currently short on nurses (which Im sure you know is pretty important) so it needs to get qualified nurses in, its very easy and quick to get them in from the EU because of this free movement between the countries where a huge amount of extra paperwork is needed. To answer your question, yes the UK does care, because it has a direct impact on its workforce in quite a few important areas.
So really no they are benefits.
Originally Posted by ImmortalPig
And I'm sure that reason is because of easier trade and not because the EU is right next to UK?
Your logic is CLEARLY not true when the second biggest export is to US, and the biggest import is from China... Your logic is clearly not true mate!
Partly of course, but also because of being in the EU, if you dont think that being in the EU makes trading with EU member states easier there is honestly no point discussing this since thats one of the core parts and functions of the EU - which is why it is often regarded as a single market.
Youve CLEARLY made up the second paragraph because China is the 4th biggest import, despite being the largest exporter of good in general in the world.
It is because of immigrant sharing, and it's particularly harmful to the UK since they have to spend money to fund member states who clearly have no interest in stemming the flow.
If you don't think that mass immigration is a huge cultural problem, then maybe watch the news every now and then? EU interior countries do not have strong boarders and can't stop immigrant flow.
The mass immigration isnt even from an EU member so there is no obligation to accept large numbers of refugees, Germany in particular are accepting way more than they need to. The UK has no interest in stemming the flow either, our government sees to humanitarian issues as well as economic ones and this is a humanitarian issue which can be made a lot better by accepting many of these refugees.
Fuck dude no they CAN stop it, that doesnt mean they will. And it also doesnt mean the UK is trying to.
No way, as above, trade can be as unrestrained WITHOUT being in the EU, without actually being in it. As a result of the EU, every country within has racked up debt and spent a lot "helping" out weaker states. For a country with a strong economy, there is no benefit. How exactly does France, Germany, etc, benefit from lending 10's of billions of euros to failing economies, money that they will never get back because the country will eventually default? Germany in particular has suffered because of this, because they have the strongest economy.
Sorry, I guess you don't watch the news in the past 10 years :P At this stage you can take "economic and cultural issues" to refer specifically to strong economies forced to support the weak, and to the immigrant crisis.
No, it fucking cant you are wrong. Lets take Norway as an example, after leaving Europe they struggled to find trade, and now they are bound by EU regulations and directives, and also pay dues, because otherwise they would not be able to find enough trade to have a strong enough economy to support itself. Where do you think the UK would get its trade from? Do you think that suddenly the US would want to buy a load more thing? Do you think that the EU would think "oh shit, youre struggling to find trade dont worry well bend over backwards for you after you ditched us"? No, neither of these things would happen, because why would they?
Do you even know what the core principles of the EU are? Im 100% sure you dont because "No way, as above, trade can be as unrestrained WITHOUT being in the EU, without actually being in it." So theres no point in discussing this topic with you, cheers. (Im honestly unsure whether your trolling and playing devils advocate again, either way you misunderstand the EU's principles entirely so keeping up this discussion with you is pointless)
