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

[Bereta_Eder]

It has been a week. (minus a day). I pleaded Ming to let me out earlier so I could post on the euro2004 predictions thread before the match with Greece as I did before and we won. In his magnanimity he agreed and I am on probation.

[VetLegion]

Btw why I aren't you flying the flag and other insignia like a real football supporter should right now?

[Bereta_Eder]

I want to keep a low profile. Not tempt the fates

[Pekka]

paiktis, oh by the way congrats for the win.. today again eh?

[Bereta_Eder]

We'll see...

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Its probably the most idiotic of all schemes I've ever seen. Taxpayers pay farmers to produce food that we could import from people at a fraction of the cost. Those people are starving because of the political clout that a few thousand people, who would cope if their industry collapsed, as opposed to entire communities and peoples that have no money, no social security safety net and no jobs to fall back on if theirs falls through. The injustice the CAP perpetuates is frankly offensive.

I don't think I've ever given you an before, but you've managed to make me smile and realise why I do economics, less than 3 hours after I finished the most important exam of my life, that just happened to be on international and developmental economics.

It's one of the few pieces of legislation that deserves the Archer treatment (after the spoof drama, The Truth). "No, we should not vote this legislation down. We should salt it, set light to it and let is burn" (said as he takes out a lighter and does just that). Complete fiction, but I'd sell my soul to be able to do that to the CAP

[Pekka]

Hear hear!

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Spiffor
So far, the question is mainly whether there will be a two-tier EU, with some countries integrating politically while others do not, or a one tier EU, in which every country follows the same evolution, which will be slower or even stagnating.

The former would be fantastic, but I can't see France or Germany going for it. Unless the UK dropped out and put pressure on the rest of the EU to let it keep the free trade. That could spurn others to, and let the core nations do their political integration.

[Pekka]

hear hear!

TO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARMMMMMMMSSSSS!

[Pekka]

Uuh Uuh can I make our war flag pleaaassee??
Also I want to be in charge of the victory parade plus I want to be in charge of at least one major offensive.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Drogue
The former would be fantastic, but I can't see France or Germany going for it.

"Core Europe" was a project of prime Minister Balladur and chancellor Kohl in the 90s. And today, some accuse Chirac of having deliberately allowed Poland and Spain to ruin the constitution discussions, to further the cause of a two-tier Europe.

There will definitely be a debate about it, even in Britain (because many Brits will understand there are more benfits to be in a political area than in a mere free trade zone). But I don't think there will be a kind of unbearable opposition from France and Germany.

[Solly]

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



Link?

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
"Cost to UK of leaving EU - estimated £23 billion."



Link?

Including the free trade area, that seems a little low to me. If we can keep free trade, we might lose a couple of billion a year though EU investment going to other nations, but we'd gain much of the £10 billion we spend.

[Solly]

"Including the free trade area, that seems a little low to me. If we can keep free trade"

And why the hell would we lose it.

"we might lose a couple of billion a year though EU investment going to other nations"

Why do they invest here as a result of our membership of the EU (free trade aside, as that will remain under the UKIP's policy)?

"but we'd gain much of the £10 billion we spend."

All of it. And we can distribute it a whole lot better than EUrocrats can.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Oerdin


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.

Compare it to the small countries.

Votes per million population:
Germany 0.35
UK 0.49
France 0.49
Netherlands 0.82
Greece 1.13
Ireland 1.88
Estonia 2.77
Malta 8.33

As you can see, votes per person increases in favour of smaller countries. It is done so to negate the power that larger countries inherently would have.