David Cameron speech: UK and the EU

[Deleted]

"Most EU countries have tacitly agreed to build Europe over the heads of people. Motto: The European project is simply too important for democratic participation. And then comes along this Cameron!"
Quote sums it up, people in Britain for the last 6-7 years have consistently been asking for a referendum,it is up to us as to whether we stay in Europe.

Europe has decided what it believes is necessary for people of member countries without consulting the countries people. I believe there is actually support for the UK's stance in many countries, because we aren't laying on out backs and taking it when it comes to poor policies.

[Deleted]

I came to the conclusion that Britain shoudl leave ...

I mean on a neutral point of view, the majority of the british don't want to be in the EU ... UK is one of the countries who are always stopping the EU from evolving and changeing because of veto.

So personally the best thing that could happen is the UK leaving, leaving Germany and France to be the top leaders of the EU and maybe finally able to form the EU into something better.

I mean if more than 2/3 of the people of a country don't want to be part of the EU why even trying?

The UK position is actually not all that unpopular in Europe. Finland, Netherlands, Ireland, all are wary of greater federalisation. The EU has traditionally been a tug of war between the fedaralist french and germans and those countries in favour of a more looser relationship based on trade. and thats good, many views means that the proper debate is had and better decisions are made.

I agree we need to reform brussles, its incredibly inefficient, and lacking in meaningful democratic representation. However lets be clear, the EU does nnot impose anything on the UK, we have MEPs who vote on stuff and no EU law is enacted until the relevant British Minister has signed off on it.

We would be better to stay in and encourage a reformed stronger EU from within, than surrender all our influence and have a petulant hissy fit an threaten to quit.
Sure teh tabloids go on about the EU, and there may be some anti-EU sentiment, but its not nearly as strong as its portrayed, and its largely based off misinformation from UKIP and the tabloids.

As for a Norway arrangement.....no power, a big bill and still bound by EU decisions....as the main arguemetn for leaving the EU is self determination, why would UKIP and others argue for an arrangement that means we had less say on decisions that affect us?
Also, I expect all UKIP candidates will not stand at the next election? after all teh Conservatives have promised a referendum, so they should campaign to get the conservatives re-elected surely.....
fat chance of that happening anyway.

[Reeve]

"Most EU countries have tacitly agreed to build Europe over the heads of people. Motto: The European project is simply too important for democratic participation. And then comes along this Cameron!"
Quote sums it up, people in Britain for the last 6-7 years have consistently been asking for a referendum,it is up to us as to whether we stay in Europe.

Europe has decided what it believes is necessary for people of member countries without consulting the countries people. I believe there is actually support for the UK's stance in many countries, because we aren't laying on out backs and taking it when it comes to poor policies.

States' Rights!

[Frozenbeef]

What do we gain from leaving , what do we gain from staying?

[Zhangfei]

So, if you could remind me why I should trust the opinion of an (almost) far right French president over pretty much every Large business CEO based in London agreeing we need to renegotiate a deal with the EU? The only issue any of them brought up was the uncertainty five years will cause to investment in London.

What you linked just makes Hollande sound like a kid wanting to take his football home because he doesn't like how the game is going...

Sorry, am I supposed to take your opinions seriously about Europe when you don't know who the Socialist President of a major world player and economic partner is?

This seems to be fairly standard with anti-EU people, a willful ignorance and hatred for the EU without even knowing how it works, what it offers and who actually leads it. Arguments based on ignorance are inherently illogical and irrational.

[ati87]

My issue with the UK stance is that they want to benefit from the good stuff while not suffering any of the bad stuff, the EU isn't called Union just for the joke of it.

Also in the case of the UK it seems to me that the government (and other parties) want to distract people from their own economical issues. They tried to failed approach of cutting yourself to prosperity and since that obviously didn't work they have to come up with a new enemy.

The EU has benefited us to such a point where we just can't life without it. The simple thing of not having physical borders between countries has saved our businesses so allot of time and money and has allowed for citizens to travel abroad without waiting for hours.

[Deleted]

the UK wont leave the EU, Cameron is just trying to ensure he gets re-elected because he knows his chances are slim.

---------- Post added 2013-01-26 at 12:04 AM ----------

My issue with the UK stance is that they want to benefit from the good stuff while not suffering any of the bad stuff, the EU isn't called Union just for the joke of it.

thats basically correct.

Also in the case of the UK it seems to me that the government (and other parties) want to distract people from their own economical issues. They tried to failed approach of cutting yourself to prosperity and since that obviously didn't work they have to come up with a new enemy.

this one not so much, EU has been a big topic here for a long time, the current government is basically using it to try and ensure they win the next election

[Deleted]

"Most EU countries have tacitly agreed to build Europe over the heads of people. Motto: The European project is simply too important for democratic participation. And then comes along this Cameron!"
Quote sums it up, people in Britain for the last 6-7 years have consistently been asking for a referendum,it is up to us as to whether we stay in Europe.

Europe has decided what it believes is necessary for people of member countries without consulting the countries people. I believe there is actually support for the UK's stance in many countries, because we aren't laying on out backs and taking it when it comes to poor policies.

Oh gimme a break. Everyone was touching their dicks when everything went fine and the sun was shining bright but now that we're in a bit of a pit (Hey, thanks Greece) the UK's screaming murder and rape.

I agree some policies are terrible like throwing even more money into Greece when it's all gone to hell to begin with. Having all these Polish people move out of Poland instead of fixing Poland itself isn't helping either. The Netherlands has some retarded politicians as well mostly those that didn't get elected. They're using the "look at Europe, look at Greece, vote for us and we'll get out of the EU, get rid of the Euro and bring back the Gulden!" and people are biting too because this is the first recession they witnessed so the "recession must be the EU and Euro's fault, this didn't happen with the gulden!" and they lack basic knowledge of the economy thus an easy bait. Then again, the leaders of my country's definition of "less spending" equals "let's raise taxes, wage tax, gas tax .. fuck it, raise taxes on everything!" which is pissing people off too, but seeing as my country is too fat and lazy to protest against it and rather puts some vasaline on their bums they're easy pray.

Yeah, we might be in a bit of a pickle at the moment but we'll get out of it as long as we work together torwards it rather than picking fights.