Divorcing Europe

[HeadingNorth]

If the electorate had a say (which the parties would never allow) then maybe it would be in favour of leaving.

 

The electorate does have a say; it has had a say in every election since 1997 at least. They always say the same thing; "we don't want UKIP to take us out of Europe."

[I1L2T3]

The electorate does have a say; it has had a say in every election since 1997 at least. They always say the same thing; "we don't want UKIP to take us out of Europe."

 

Not quite that simple. Polls are showing that the electorate would like a say. We shouldn't have to vote in a marginalised one-trick pony party to get it. The mainstream parties will listen sooner or later.

[andygardener]

That's right, but in order to do that Norway (for example) have to abide by all the same rules as those within the EU - they are still bound by the rules, but have absolutely no influence over them.

 

Thats not quite right. They agreed to be bound by some of the rules relating to the single market, not all of them. For example they retain full control over their fisheries policy.

 

How the relationship is governed is down to the agreements they made at the time, there is no hard and fast rule that says that agreements much smaller countries mad in very different economic times is the only way it can be done.

 

The appetite for costly red tape is a lot less in times like these than back when the EFTA/EEA treaties were negotiated.

[Tony]

Even if we could leave, we would be in a worse situation - because in order to enjoy free trade and free movement within Europe, we would still have to be bound by its rules - only without any say in how they were created.

Which rules in particular would you like to have a say over?

 

And what tangible difference would it make to UK business?

[Minimo]

There are currently eighteen European countries which are not in the EU, including Switzerland and Norway.

They are clearly happy with their situation, otherwise they would have applied to join, wouldn't they?

 

So life outside the EU is possible.

[LeMaquis]

There are currently eighteen European countries which are not in the EU, including Switzerland and Norway.

They are clearly happy with their situation, otherwise they would have applied to join, wouldn't they?

 

So life outside the EU is possible.

 

Are you saying we should be more like Belarus and Russia?

[Minimo]

Did I say that?