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EU Membership - Viv Ritchie (26th Jun 2011 - 18:03:12) Hello! Is anyone out their as cross as I am with not being given a say on membership of the EU? Please, if you want a say, sign this petition, and by the way the MP for Waverley Jeremy Hunt is not interested in letting you ever have a vote on this subject. http://www.eupledge.com/sign_up_now.html

Re: EU Membership - Dawn Hoskins (29th Jun 2011 - 13:33:59) The end of war between European nations While rows between England, France and Germany have been a feature of EU summits, war between Europe's major powers is now unthinkable. The fact that the two world wars that shaped the last century now seem so remote is, in itself, tribute to a visionary project that has permanently changed the landscape. Democracy is flourishing Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the EU's 10 ex-Communist countries are parliamentary democracies. None of these nations were truly free in the decades following the Second World War. Each is now a democracy anchored within the EU and is unlikely to change course. Shopping without frontiers has given consumers more power European consumers can buy goods for their own use in whichever EU country they choose - in person, on the internet, over the telephone, or by mail order - without paying additional taxes. This competition is driving down prices and increasing quality Co-operation on continent-wide immigration policy Though EU countries set immigration levels the EU is increasingly active in the fight against illegal migration and in trying to match the labour needs of European countries to the supply of migrants. On the downside, the EU is increasingly an impregnable fortress and many lose their lives trying to get here by boat from Africa Crime-busting co-operation, through Europol This provides a clearing house for EU police forces. The police in EU member states can now use an EU arrest warrant to get suspects moved from one country to another where they will face serious charges without lengthy extradition procedures. Laws which make it easier for British people to buy property in Europe It may not be good for the environment but access to second homes a short-haul flight away has fulfilled the dreams of millions of Britons. Retirement or regular holidays from the south of Spain to the east of Bulgaria has become a reality for many and a legally safeguarded one at that. Cleaner beaches and rivers throughout Europe EU law and peer pressure - including annual reports - have forced the UK to clean up its act, for example bringing the once-dirty waters off Blackpool beach up to standard. The first EU legislation was passed in 1976 with two more pieces in 2002 and 2006. Now you can monitor the quality of bathing water by checking on a website. Four weeks statutory paid holiday a year for workers in Europe The EU Working Time Directive ensures that all Europeans get at least four weeks of paid holiday per year. In the US many workers get a fortnight. The same directive provides for 11 hours rest in every 24 and one day of rest per week plus a rest break if the working day is longer than six hours. Minimum standards are set for paid maternity and paternity leave. No death penalty (incompatible with EU membership) No EU member state has the death penalty and reintroduction of capital punishment would not be compatible with EU membership. Even countries outside the EU are having to review their policies if they want to be considered for membership of the club, most notably Turkey. Competition means cheaper phone calls Since the liberalisation of telecommunications in the 1980s loosened the grip of the monopolies, prices have plummeted. The European Commission says the cost of international calls in the EU has fallen by 80 per cent since 1984. Small EU bureaucracy (24,000 employees, fewer than the BBC) Despite the eurosceptic claims, the number of EU officials is surprisingly small. After the scandal of 1999 when the Brussels based European Commission resigned, strict new rules were imposed on spending. Making the French eat British beef again When the BSE crisis subsided and British meat was judged safe, the European Court of Justice ordered France to resume imports. France contested the ruling but had no alternative in the end. By contrast, the US retains an embargo. Minority languages, like Irish, Welsh and Catalan recognised and protected Minority languages are gaining recognition. Be it Irish, Welsh or Catalan, minority languages are getting a greater role thanks to the EU which even has a Commissioner for Multilingualism. Irish became an official language of the EU this year. Catalans have lesser language rights because their tongue is official only in one part of Spain, their member states. The EU - with 23 official languages - is doing more to keep lesser tongues alive than some individual member states. Europe is helping to save the planet with regulatory cuts in CO2 The EU has announced the most ambitious targets for curbing carbon emissions, promising a cut of at least one-fifth on 1990 levels by 2020. Other parts of the world are being challenged to follow suit. The EU also has blazed a trail with its carbon emissions trading system which, despite teething troubles, is still a model for other parts of the world. Europe wide bans on tyrants like Robert Mugabe Smart sanctions on the Zimbabwean President and his cronies have been negotiated through the EU and prevent those on a list from visiting all nations. Though countries differ in the way they believe the EU should treat the government in Harare, they all agreed to renew the sanctions for another year. Strict safety standards for aircraft Airlines deemed to be unsafe are now banned from travelling into any EU country. Recently some of Pakistan's national carrier were barred because of safety fears. Free medical help for tourists Any citizen of a European country is entitled to free medical treatment if he or she is taken ill or suffers an accident in another member state. So long as you carry the correct form from your national health service, no questions will be asked. EU peace-keepers operate throughout the world The EU is building its crisis intervention force and has taken over operations in Bosnia from Nato. EU forces have also been in action in Africa helping avert humanitarian crises. In addition the EU has a big policing project. easyJet and Ryanair can fly anywhere without national rules protecting high cost flag carriers due to liberalisation of air travel easyJet and Ryanair can fly anywhere without the national rules protecting high-cost flag carriers due to liberalisation of air travel. Any airlines granted a licence in an EU country - meeting safety standards and other conditions - can operate services anywhere within the EU. Between 1992 and 2000 prices at the cheaper end of the market fell by 40 per cent. Introduction of pet passports Since 2004 travelling across borders with pets has been easier. In addition to pet passports with a vaccination certificate pets require permanent identification which can be either a tattooed code on the skin or a microchip which can be read by a special machine. In the future the microchip is likely to be obligatory. two hours from London to Paris by Eurostar The Channel Tunnel, and high-speed lines in France and now Britain are not, properly speaking, EU projects. However, the tunnel was built partly as a means of reducing the mental barriers between Britain and the Continent. Prospect of EU membership has forced modernisation on Turkey The presence of an affluent and stable bloc to its west has given the modernisers in Turkey the ally they needed to create a democratic constituency for change. That change has been pushed through with the promise of a European future. Unparalleled rights for European consumers Any consumer can send back a product if it breaks down within two years of purchase. Manufacturers often claim that they offer only a 12 month guarantee, but EU law states otherwise and consumers are demanding their rights. Study programmes and cheap travel means greater mobility for Europe's youth Through the Erasmus programme, in the 2003-4 academic year, 7,500 UK students spent between three and 12 months at a university in one of the other member states. Food labelling is much clearer All ingredients used in food products must be listed. Any GM ingredients must be mentioned as must colouring, preservatives and other chemical additives. Compensation for air delays Passengers must get immediate help if their flight is delayed by more than a few hours, cancelled without notice or if they are denied boarding because the plane is overbooked. The carrier must make alternative travel arrangements unless the passenger asks for their money back instead. Depending on the length of the delay they must provide food and refreshments and accommodation if necessary. Strict ban on animal testing for the cosmetic industry Since November 2004 the EU has banned animal testing on finished cosmetic products entirely. Remaining safety testing on animals of ingredients for cosmetics will be ended. Greater protection for Europe's wildlife Tough European laws protect birds, flora and fauna, although the EU bird directive is widely flouted in southern Europe, particularly in Malta where 2m migratory birds are shot each year, including 80 protected species which are shot or trapped by hunters. Regional development fund has aided the deprived parts of Britain Some of the UK's poorest regions have benefited from massive handouts from the EU which has been used to regenerate some of the country's most run-down areas. Scotland's Highland and Islands have benefited enormously as have the Welsh mining valleys, Cornwall and deprived inner cities like Liverpool. European driving licences recognised Driving licences issued in one EU country are valid in any other, providing they are modern, EU-standard, ones with a photo identity. This means that the old days of having to gain translations for a UK permit to drive in Italy are over. Britons now feel a lot less insular A famous newspaper headline (perhaps apocryphal) once read "Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off". Remember the 1960s, when Ostend seemed like an exotic destination? EU membership has not dried up the English Channel but is has helped to remove the psychological barriers between Britain and the continent. Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain The Bosman ruling, based on European law, and other decisions, have freed up football transfers. From Eric Cantona to Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo, British fans have been enjoying watching Europe's finest talent for the past 15 years. Human rights legislation has protected the rights of the individual The introduction of the Human Rights Acts has provided a legal framework to prevent abuses of power. European parliament provides democratic checks on all EU laws The European Parliament, directly elected since 1979, has been given increased powers over the years. The parliament has made a significant impact in areas ranging from the environment to animal rights. EU gives more, not less, sovereignty to nation states Switzerland and Norway, two independent countries have little or no negotiating leverage when they deal with the EU. In fact they have less sovereignty than member states who decide the policy. Britons are more able to control their own destiny - in areas from international trade, to environmental protection, to consumer rights - because they are part of a multi- nation, democratic bloc. Real sovereignty, rather than theoretical sovereignty, is enhanced by EU membership. Maturing EU is a proper counterweight to the power of US and China As it develops common foreign and defence policies, the EU is finding its voice. Europe's interests and those of America and the emerging powers, such as China and India, will sometimes coincide, sometimes conflict. Could Britain's interests be protected if we stood alone or if we became a junior partner of the US? European immigration has boosted the British economy Hundreds of thousands of Poles commute between Poland and Britain. More surprisingly the economies of both countries are booming. The UK economy has benefited from a surge of well-qualified, highly motivated workers. 45. EU common research programme Job opportunities and Europe-wide access to education mean there really are Europeans now who see the need to speak at least three modern languages. Europe has set Britain an example how properly to fund a national health service Some continental countries have health funding problems but several, the Dutch in particular, provide quality care while keeping down costs. It took the EU to rule that British patients had a right to seek care abroad. British restaurants now much more cosmopolitan because of European influences Britain has become - let us admit it - a more continental country in the last 34 years. We now care about what we eat. Nowhere has this been more marked than in the quality and variety of food being offered in our restaurants. Mobility for career professionals throughout Europe Professionals from doctors to architects now have a right to have their national qualifications recognised across the EU. Language and cultural barriers will always remain a problem for professionals but there are can no longer be purely protectionist obstacles to a career in another EU country. Europe has revolutionised British attitudes to food and cooking Despite major drawbacks, the bloated Common Agricultural Policy has enabled small family farmers to flourish in Europe. Its support has led to the birth of the Slow Food movement and arrival in British towns of farmers markets, growing with quality organics produce. Bon appetit!

Re: EU Membership - euronot (2nd Jul 2011 - 01:39:05) Dawn, Where did you get this sunny side up, rosie, happy, happy drivel from? You're strengths are perceived to be (as far as we can figure from your posts on here) that you challenge anodyne crap of the sort that you have just endorsed. The UK is a lesser country to live in because of it's membership of the EU than it was before. The movement from the original trade agreement that Heath signed us up to back in the 70's to where the professional/career politicians would like to take us is almost fictional. We were looking to remove tariffs to facillitate exports and imports to the mutual benefit of all trading nations in Europe. This interdependency would have, on it's own, eliminated the possibility of future hostilities. The Coal and Steel agreement between Germany and France after the war laid the basis for trade harmony after conflict and war. Communications by now were becoming more sophisticated. Every household had a radio. People generally were able to form opinions on the actions of governments ,home and abroad, from news broadcasts, and, as a result, were less likely to accept the official line if they believed otherwise Euro politicians now wish to create a European superstate (without your agreement) with laws that will subjugate ours. The last govt sighned us up to the Euro human rights act. Christ !! wtf were thinking of? Look around you at the result of this. Great if there was a benefit to the man/woman in the street. But it is all detrimental to us. Only benefits those who wish to milk the state for upkeep or would like to adversely change our society by force. The EU did not influence our attitude to food; tourism did. I could go back on you post and correct you on most of your assertations, but I will not. Because.... there is the possibility that you were being ironic. At least I hope so!

Re: EU Membership - John Wingfield (2nd Jul 2011 - 10:34:41) Hear hear "Euronot" !!

Re: EU Membership - Eneida (2nd Jul 2011 - 10:38:18) Good post Euronot...and if people want to read about the next delightful experience the EU has planned for us do Google 'Arc Manche'!!! This is the area that Hampshire, amongst other southern counties, will become part of and will be ruled by France... http://www.arcmanche.com/the-channel-arc/objectives/

Re: EU Membership - Viv Ritchie (2nd Jul 2011 - 15:02:56) Dawn sorry you feel so strongly about our EU membership, I personally believe it is a disaster for this country for many reasons, TOO MANY to list her! However are you not just a little bit cross that you have not been given the opportunity to vote for who governs us here in the UK? So many laws being passed without your knowledge? Well if you still feel this strongly then best you don't sign the Pledge? All the best Viv

Re: EU Membership - liz (4th Jul 2011 - 09:17:03) Dawn seems to have presented just one side of the argument and there is an equivalent counter-argument, but her comments are mostly fact not 'drivel'.

Re: EU Membership - helen (4th Jul 2011 - 10:03:08) This is hopefully seen as a positive posting, I do not think that the increase in our standard of living is down to the eu, it is the combination of cheap imports better technology and lower taxation, cheap travel, but this freedom has a downside which is that our own schoolleavers have no employment thanks to us not producing goods, and to workers able to move freely to gain employment. I think had we been part of the euro currency our recession would have been worse.

Re: EU Membership - Viv Ritchie (4th Jul 2011 - 19:33:42) Seems I am not the only one to agree that the EU is a busted flush! Don't copy the European Union, African leaders warned A group of African law-makers have been warned about the dangers of trying to emulate the European Union. As a model of regional co-operation, EU-type supranationalism would be a "recipe for disaster". Speaking to the East African Legislative Assembly, Prof. Mahmood Mamdani has urged African leaders to avoid the European model of regional integration. Warning Africans about the dangers of handing over their national sovereignty to supranational bodies, Prof Mamdani said Europe had been in the economic slow lane once national governments lost sovereignty over their national currency and handed over policy making to unaccountable regional bodies. Posted on 3 July 2011 by Douglas Carswell

Re: EU Membership - James (4th Jul 2011 - 23:41:20) Here's an interesting example of many MEPs' view of democracy; a video of the Czech president addressing the EU Parliament and politely suggesting that a parliament in which there is no opposition falls some way short of being a true democracy. And he should know, having lived under the yoke of communism. He is rewarded with heckling and a mass walk-out. Youtu.be

Re: EU Membership - Dawn Hoskins (5th Jul 2011 - 13:13:58) sorry for radio silence. That was the basis of a Telegraph article which I threw in to ensure that the debate was not an entirely one sided issue. I personally have very mixed feelings about the whole thing. Some bits are great, particularly the legislative changes that have been forced in the UK which promote equal treatment. The UK were never going to adopt these and only because of EU pressure do women have the right to earn as much a men etc. Also, it is only since the cross border tax levies were lifted which prevented protectionist measures in retailing, that UK shops started selling French / German etc goods. I love these foods and know what a rubbish choice we had generally prior to F.M.O.G was introduced. the only thing I don't agree with is the degree of (not) accountability and the possibilies (ample) of milking the system. There are so many positives that get overlooked.

Re: EU Membership - helen (5th Jul 2011 - 16:42:49) I believe it was Barbara Castle's intervention in the female dagenham car worker's dispute in 1968 which initiated the equal pay act 1970. True amendments were made later by the eec to simplyfy things but it was a British group of female workers who were at the sharp end!

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