Is the EU going to dissolve to a simple free trade area?

[Dinner]

If the Finnish government would cut government spending, cut taxes, and make it easier for people to start businesses then you'd find employment and economic growth would greatly improve. Right now I'm not sure very many people would want to start a business in that regulatory and tax enviroment. It's a shame because Finns proved how good they can do with the start up of Nokia. I just don't see such successes coming in the future.

[Sandman]

Well, if UKIP have their way, it will dissolve into a simple web of protectionism. Despite the CAP taking up 50% of the EU budget, they favour keeping and probably expanding farm subsidies, because it's part of our 'heritage'. The British public and developing world farmers get ripped off, whilst a handful of landowners reap the rewards.

The heritage argument is total crap. Why not subsidise shipbuilding and steel as well? They're just as much a part of our 'heritage'. And you could argue that free trade is also part of our culture. It's a complete non-starter.

[Dinner]

Down with rich countries' subsidies for farmers!

[Solly]

Well, if UKIP have their way, it will dissolve into a simple web of protectionism.

That is a bull**** lie.

[Pekka]

alva, I can say that honestly. Has it slowered the advancement? Maybe not that either.

Oerdin, Many people wonder what you wonder too man.. it's not exactly appealing to start businesses and be enterprauner.. when they take half away *Sssccinhg* just like that. It doesnt' appeal to young folks especially. They've done some research in business schools and other academics too, and it seems like no one wants to do that anymore. Then they're surprised to these results. The message is so clear. Taxes are TOO high to start your own business. Still nothing happens and they think of some excuses like 'well they just don't want to start businesses because they don't have the commitment'. Maybe so, but still the reason #1 is taxes and they refuse to admit it. Everyone knows it though.

[Pekka]

Also what is very bad in starting a business here is that the cost of employing someone is horrible. So basically you're stuck with yourself, and you better not get sick in the next 20 years and miss a day or you'll be screwed. This I think is the same in most countries but... don't take half from small businesses, that's just too much, they can't bloom..

We had a long and big business course we had to do and we virtually ran our own company for the whole year doing lots of things, and the taste we were left was 'don't ever start your own business' . Why? Because well.. uh hey I don't have to reason why I don't want to be shot in the back so I shouldn't have to reason with this either.

What they have done now, every party has been saying it the longest 'we will help small businesses especially' but no one really does anything. It's just the party powerplays.. fighting each other, not the issues.. yes, it's very easy to register your business these days, that's something that's done, but nothing to taxes and THE REAL ISSUES.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
That is a bull**** lie.

Sure, like they won't extend the 'special case' of agriculture to other areas.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I doubt there will be any change any time soon though because the way the EU is structured Franch citizens essentially have votes that are worth more then German or British citizens. Each of the big countries get equal numbers of votes but the French have fewer citizens.

France has the same population as the UK, or maybe a half million more. So your statement isn't really true.

[Cruddy]

Re: Is the EU going to dissolve to a simple free trade area?

Originally posted by Park Avenue
After the latest bout of elections, what does everyone think? The press are acting like the turnout was high in the UK..yet it was still less than half. Lower in most other countries too..

Turnout was higher in those areas with postal voting.

Originally posted by Park Avenue

Without the EU it's not like we're going to return to war.

Hmm... you don't remember the Icelandic cod war, do you.

Originally posted by Park Avenue
And we can keep the essential part of it, the free trade. Everything else is just a waste of money and bureaucracy.

I see no reason why we can expect to keep the free trade while rejecting the rest.
Look around you at how many projects get money back from the EU - and did you check the papers this morning?

Cost to UK of leaving EU - estimated £23 billion.

No thanks.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Dauphin
France has the same population as the UK, or maybe a half million more. So your statement isn't really true.

Ok, sorry. Now compare either countries' population to Germany and ask yourself why Germany gets the same number of votes yet has a larger population.

[Spiffor]

Actually, those who are really favored by the system as it is are the medium countries (Spain and Poland, who have as many votes as the big ones), or the tiny countries that are vastly overrepresented.

The idea of a "French-German diktat" on the EU is false. The French and Germans exert their influence with more success than the others, because the others can't be arsed to make a solid block. Fundamentally, UK+Italy could have exactly as much weight on the Union as France+Germany, if they could make the effort to agree.

[VetLegion]

EU is built on the strong fundation of German humility and submissiveness.

The German state I mean. They have compromised the most and given up most for the Union, in my opinion.

[Bereta_Eder]

The EU is going on on a short of a crisis. Wether this recent disagreemnt will make it emerge stronger (happened before the exact same scenario during events in middle east) or will the crisis continue we'll see.
If there is no agreement on the constitution things will go downhill. It won't be dissolved into anything than what it is but the procees will be almost halted.
The bad thing I notice is that most and most countries react now on a national level. The spirit of compromise that existed earlier is lacking now.

[Pekka]

Yes and that's the whole point of it. And France + Germany knows it . Thus the conspiracy remains!

It's like saying "well I have this great set of different foods in the table I made, but unless you say you want it, you can't have it" to a MUTE!

[VetLegion]

WHAT!?!? Paiktis weren't you banned for a WEEK??


****ing Greeks always have a special treatment on this site!