Can somone give me a good list on the arguements for and against Britain staying a part of the European Union?

Question

This is an issue about which I would like to be more educated. And As well as the arguments for and against Britain staying a part of the European Union, could you also possibly tell me the arguments for against a fully United Europe? Every political pundit to whom I listen always seems to say exactly the same back and forth, "It's an infringement on national sovereignty!" or "We should work to form a United European community!"

I find the lack of substance in these arguments both irritating and tiresome. Basically what I'm asking is why should/shouldn't Britain remain a part of the European Union, and why should/shouldn't the European Union be a sovereign nation?

Answer 1

Here is 50 reasons for leaving the EU

Answer 2

Close co-operation between the countries of Europe, and harmony in agreements under international law, is essential. However the argument has become polarised. The EU cannot force any Member country to adopt its directives - the enforcement is up to the respective government. There have been cases recently where EU directives were ignored by countries and the EU was powerless to act. One recent example was the lifting of the ban on British beef imports following the BSE scare. The French refused to lift the ban because British beef didn't come up to their standards. The British tabloids were screaming from the rafters about how the French 'had it in' for the UK. The same tabloids that are screaming all the time about 'national sovreignty'.



Can't have it both ways.

Answer 3

Approximately 3 million UK jobs depend on the EU, it also means our goods are cheaper as it's cheaper to import and export goods. It also enables people to move freely between EU countries for work purposes. Those who moan about immigration should realise it is a two way street and approx five million UK citizens either live or work abroad. The downside is of course the cost and no control over immigration from other EU states. That being said, 60% of our exports go to other EU member states, so I believe that, along with the amount of jobs it creates and keeping the price of goods low, makes it far more viable to stay in than to pull out.

Answer 4

Sherlock makes an exceedingly sturdy case. i think of all and sundry who lashes out against Europe ought to question what their perspectives are in step with: fact or what the on a normal basis Mail thinks approximately French human beings? And the shortcoming of guidance being circulated is easily as plenty simply by clicking and persons’s interest simply by fact the government. the ecu suitable now's of course a large number. there is lots of corruption and a multitude of money being wasted. It desires an entire overhaul. however the traditional thought of a eu potential is obviously mandatory. What are the substantial concerns for any western nationwide government? i might say something like climate replace, international commerce, immigration, terrorism and so forth. None of those issues could be tackled top without eu extensive uniform coverage. Europe must be greater sparkling and robust. yet Britain in no way ought to have been and in no way would be back the ruling empire of the international. without completely turning out to be a member of Europe, we are impotent.

Answer 5

It is not surprising to find a lot of people against the EU here since most of the tabloids find it a very easy target to complain about. The simple fact is we can't live without it. The proof lies with Norway and Switzerland two countries NOT in the EU. However these countries have to make sure they adhere to EU regulations if they want to trade with it, they have to follow the same set of product standards, they border EU countries so have to have similar immigration policies, and of course really mainly on the EU for a lot of their exports. Basically they have to do many things that EU countries do without having a say in them. Britain would be even more dependent on the EU than these two if it left as it has been a part of it for a long time so if we left we would still have to follow a lot of EU regulations without any say in them. How's that for sovereign power?

Plus our legal system is so entwined in the EU that it would take a huge amount of admin to untangle it all, resulting most likely in a complete mess. Our economy would still be dependent on the EU unless you plan on stopping all trade with the EU in which case the credit crunch would look like a mild blip.

In short love it or loathe it we are stuck with it so people should stop whining and start trying to change the way the EU works (no easy feat).

Answer 6

Most of the arguments for and against are here,however form the first time and the only time ever asked what we wanted the question was do you want free trade and movement of people around Europe.

Those who voted yes feel very cheated now because we were never asked if we wanted rule by Europe or central control.

Most people will have no problem with trade and travel around Europe,however, the regulation and control by the European central government is not acceptable because we have never been consulted. The monetary arguments also don't hold water because every country in the EU has a different way of working and should control its own financial affairs.Then there's the one sided cost to us for being a member,this was originally mainly for the common agricultural policy which didn't really work. The payments now are for them to make law for us that we don't want or need.

Answer 7

There are a number of EU-haters from the UK on this forum that cant help but spill out bile about it.

They are often distorting the facts.

I have found this a unsatisfactory platform for constructive discussion or valid information.

you might have to look somewhere else for better answers.



But you can put your question into the advanced search bar and see if in the hundreds of similar old questions one or two constructive contributors are of help to you.

Answer 8

The handling of the EU constitution "debate" tells you everything you need to know about the EU Parliament and Commission.



The Constitution devised by Europhiles who assumed everyone shared their enthusiasm. In every almost State where it was put to the people it was soundly rejected.



Only Luxembourg (population 500,000) and Spain that receives 2.2 Billion Euros per year from the EU voted YES.



The UK would have certainly voted NO but was not given the promised referendum.



So what was the EU response to this very clear rebuff by the people of Europe?



They changed the name of the EU Constitution to the Lisbon Treaty and arranged for it to be ratified by member governments only, without reference to the people.



That is the devious and dishonest union to which we belong. And the clearest argument for not belonging.



it is an organisation invented by politicians, run by politicians, for the benefit of politicians. The people do not count.



EDIT: DS, I realise your comment was not necessarily directed at me, but how would you explain the Constitution/Lisbon Treaty debacle?



To me, it looks like a pretty shameless 'fit up' whatever your view of the EU as a whole.

Answer 9

Your question can only really be answered by 'indigenous peoples' of the UK - as others being the result of EU policy are the benefactors of there policies and would put up a different argument in there defence.



So for me being one of the indigenous people of the UK I can only see the EU and all it stands for as a complete waste of time and no advantage too the UK at all - its costing the UK 'billions' each year just to be a member and most people 'never even wanted' it the first place - the public saw all these problems comming but the politicians never did - they were just 'hell-bent' in joining.



The argument against is : Being made to accept mass uncontrolled immigration from any EU country - the loss of the UK sovereignty and way of life - UK people 'don't want' the lifstyle of these eastern european countries - they want to retain the UK lifestyle and way of life - and immigrants being as outsiders seeing the UK as the 'land of milk and honey' and for the masses offering nothing as to the benefit of the UK - except 'their use' of our benefit system - housing - and general 'fee-bee's' - and people who say immigrants offer the UK something are just living in dreamland - the 'right sort of immigration' - maybe - but all the UK got was the 'dregs' from every other country in the EU.



Another point is the UK being controlled by EU countries members who in the own countries are all failed countries and have no idea of leadership at all and add too that these 'cursed' PC/HR groups that have sprung up from immigration and are now 'ruling our daily lives' - the UK had never heard of them until this wretched EU trouble.



In general terms the reason a 'United States of Europe' won't work is because 'most' of the member states are 'despot failed bankrupt countries' who will never change their ways from the past ie: mass corruption etc - as that being a way of life for them all - they just 'jumping on the gravey train ride' of the EU and all the 'handouts' they can get and they contributing nothing at all as they have nothing too offer - and financially better off countries footing the bill for all of these 'dead-beat' countries joining - its just so one sided.



In short these EU despot countries leaders are in a position of dictating policy to other member countries by 'them' voting with these other despot countries and they together 'out voting' sensible rulings from others - thats something the EU never considered would happen in the begining and thats why it will never work.!!



This huge Greece (bankrupt) financial problem is only the start of more troubles to come - there are lots of countries in the same position as Greece but have 'not yet declared' their failed financial problems.!!

Answer 10

The European Union probably means nothing to you & you think it has no affect on your daily lives.



Since 1974 when Britain entered the European Economic Market (EEC), we joined understanding that our Economy would benefit from being part of a Trade Union.



As we now know The European Union was set to become a Political Union all along, this means that 75% of Britain's laws and legislation are made in a foreign land.



The EU costs Britain £45 million a day to be a member. to put that in to perspective we could build a new NHS Super Hospital in the UK every week with the money currently funding the EU project.



Here's the best part Britain is the second largest contributor to the EU. France is richer than the UK yet they do not contribute as much.



The 1st of December last year, Lisbon Treaty came in to force effectively ending sovereignty of 27 European countries, the Lisbon Treaty is in fact the EU constitution. also it is self-amending which means the EU will no longer need to ask for the member states permission.



Consecutive Labour & Conservatives Governments have sold away what we have fought for thousands of years to preserve, France & Germany could never conquer Britain Militarily so now they are doing it Politically.



This list shows the Directives enforced in our country by the EU.



Household:

Home Information Packs (HIPs)

Fortnightly bin collections; Higher household electricity bills,

more wind turbines; Soaring water bills.



Consumer affairs:

Higher food prices; Written and pictorial health warnings on cigarette packets (including what font to be used)

Disappearance of the Crown signs on pints;

Lists of ingredients and warnings on food products; Phasing out of incandescent bulbs; Expensive electrical goods, and higher



Council tax;

New Royal Mail pricing rules; Bureaucracy at the bank; High price of energy saving products; Banning vitamins and minerals; Fewer and more expensive fish; Extinction of wathes of vegetable varieties; The end of selling in pounds and ounces only.



Transport and motoring:

Car booster seats for children; Photocard driving licences; End of many rural bus routes; Creation of Railtrack; Harder and more expensive motorcycle tests; Preventing the return of the Routemaster bus; In future, all new cars will need to keep headlights on during the day.



Law and order:

Government’s inability to expel EU criminals

from the UK.



Media, sport and Entertainment:

TV airtime quotas; Banning caps on foreign football players, higher wages, higher ticket prices for fans;Abolition of the 192 inquiries service and replacement with 118; Television advertising rules.



Workplace:

Banning workers from earning higher wages

instead of taking holidays.



Economy:

The run on Northern Rock; Northern Rock downsizing;

Post office closures.



Health:

Fewer training hours for doctors, compromised

patient safety; Higher costs for the NHS.



Before you dismiss this, all this came from the horses mouth!



Here are all the references to EU Directives implemented in the last decade!



the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

(2002/91/EC),



Fortnightly bin collections. The EU’s Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC)



the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC),



the EU Tobacco Products Directive



Television Without Frontiers Directive (89/552/EEC).



Disappearance of the Crown signs on pints. The EU’s Measuring Instruments Directive

(2004/22/EC),



The EU’s Waste Electrical and

Electronic Equipment Directive (2002/96/EC),



the EU Postal Services Directive (97/67/EC)



The

Insurance Mediation Directive (2002/92/EC),



The Distance Marketing Directive (2002/65/EC)



The EU’s Food Supplements Directive (2002/46/EC)



EU law (Directive 80/181/EEC),



EU Directives 2003/20/EC, 91/439/EC, 98/95/EC, 2003/33/EC, (2001/37/EC), 2003/641/EC.



People in Britain need to wake up, we have to make sure no further powers are transferred to the EU in Brussels.



Our Great Grandfathers & Grandfathers fought for us in the cold trenches in WW1 and stopped Hitler in WW2, luckily we don't have to endure such a horrific fate, the sacrifice they made enables our Democracy to be upheld.



So all we have to do is leave The European Union by not Voting for Conservative/Labour/Liberal Democrats it's as simple as that.



Spread the word about The European Union, knowledge is power.



Use your Vote wisely, and don't take it for granted!

Answer 11

Jack the U K is part of the E U there are countries having big problems now the Greeks the Italians etc we [Americans] are watching how y'all handle it.

I have never thought of the U K are part of Europe my whole life But I know many Brits do and of course that is their business I do hope y'all keep your language as who in the hell could I find to piss off over there?