What did the EU ever do for us?

[Jembo]

Column in the press today about You Know What......thought this reader comment was rather good:

"What did the EU ever do for us?
Not much, apart from: providing 57% of our trade;
structural funding to areas hit by industrial decline;
clean beaches and rivers;
cleaner air;
lead free petrol;
restrictions on landfill dumping;
a recycling culture;
cheaper mobile charges;
cheaper air travel;
improved consumer protection and food labelling;
a ban on growth hormones and other harmful food additives;
better product safety;
single market competition bringing quality improvements and better industrial performance;
break up of monopolies;
Europe-wide patent and copyright protection;
no paperwork or customs for exports throughout the single market;
price transparency and removal of commission on currency exchanges across the eurozone;
freedom to travel, live and work across Europe;
funded opportunities for young people to undertake study or work placements abroad;
access to European health services;
labour protection and enhanced social welfare;
smoke-free workplaces;
equal pay legislation;
holiday entitlement;
the right not to work more than a 48-hour week without overtime;
strongest wildlife protection in the world;
improved animal welfare in food production;
EU-funded research and industrial collaboration;
EU representation in international forums;
bloc EEA negotiation at the WTO;
EU diplomatic efforts to uphold the nuclear non-proliferation treaty;
European arrest warrant;
cross border policing to combat human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling; counter terrorism intelligence;
European civil and military co-operation in post-conflict zones in Europe and Africa;
support for democracy and human rights across Europe and beyond;
investment across Europe contributing to better living standards and educational, social and cultural capital.
All of this is nothing compared with its greatest achievements: the EU has for 60 years been the foundation of peace between European neighbours after centuries of bloodshed.
It furthermore assisted the extraordinary political, social and economic transformation of 13 former dictatorships, now EU members, since 1980

[ranski]

Tell that to the millions of EU folk living in poverty.

[buzyg]

Have to agree with every word Jembo. Not looking forward to being out side the EU one bit.

[ben g]

The freedom to travel/live/work across Europe is pretty much the sole reason why the vote to leave won forget all the rest. It's all because of the foreigners

[RustyZ4]

Before I post anything, I voted to stay,,,

But I believe even if we had not been a member of the EU in the first place, a lot of the above would have been implemented or agreed with anyway, its a very bias column,, everyone just assumes that if we weren't member we would still be using Victorian ideals, work ethics, pollution etc and that's a load of tosh

Most of the common EU policies are brilliant, a few very divisive, and some down right stupid

[Flyingfifer]

My politics on this is in a state of flux at the moment to be honest, I voted remain and I fundamentally believe in the idea behind the EU however it is a horrendously mismanaged, undemocratic nightmare that is in dire need of restructure.

Since they voted in the atrocious copyright reforms the other day I'm almost glad we are leaving

[ranski]

forget all the rest. It's all because of the foreigners

You sound as narrow minded as the bigots that carry this ideology. Well done.

[Z4C_er]

I'm so tired of all this tish. So much negative wah-wah. FFS, what do people want? Stop the whole process? Say sorry to the EU, beg forgiveness and ask to return?
In my humble opinion, the EU have shown themselves to be no friend of the UK. How nasty and spiteful they are. They're making this whole process as difficult and ugly as they can. I want more than ever to be rid of them.
...and with respect to 'what could be':
I remember in 2008 in Oz, when we were pretty much isolated from the worst of the GFC and someone stated "look, if you want a recession, you'll have it". In other words, the future and prosperity of your own environment is up to you. If you want to be bleak and stop spending and start talking the economy down, the rest will crumble around you.

[Jembo]

Well see there’s now a number of options on the table.

1. No deal, WTO rules apply
2. A Canadian style deal
3. Hard Brexit
4. The Chequers blueprint
5. Norway plus plus
6. Remain

I just hope us ‘the people’ will be allowed to vote again for which one they want ... missed any?

[mmm-five]

I didn't vote...for 2 reasons.

1. I couldn't work out what each of the options would actually deliver, as the options were really only 'completely in' or 'completely out'
2. I got stuck in traffic coming back north from London and missed the polling station by 35 minutes.

From a purely personal point of view, I'd wish we'd remain as quite like my freedom to travel/work across Europe...but I don't believe any of the "you can't change the system if you're not in it!" crap, because we couldn't change anything when we were in it anyway. Plus you get plenty of other EU members agreeing to the rules and then ignoring them, whilst pointing out the indiscretions of other member states.

I've worked in a couple of EU organisations and seen first hand the gravy train, bureaucracy and general mismanagement that goes on, and the amounts of money that these organisations pilfer are awarded, yet you try to get something simple done and it takes 6 months, 12 committees, and 'back handers' to do so.

[PerryGunn]

6. Remain

I just hope us ‘the people’ will be allowed to vote again for which one they want...

IMO, that option is off the table - there's already been an In/Out vote and, in a democratic society, whatever our personal opinion of the result we have to live by it and get the best deal we can (without being held to ransom)....

A vote on the deal with a 'Remain' option is being pushed for by the people that voted 'Remain' and didn't get the result they wanted. They're showing how EU-like they are by wanting people to keep voting until they come back with the 'right' result - viz. getting the Irish to vote again after they rejected the Treaty of Lisbon - it may be the way the EU works but it's arrogant, insulting and undemocratic.

[Z4C_er]

Since when did 'vote to remain' become an option?

[Smartbear]

I didn’t like the result of the 1990 World Cup penalty shootout, so would like that re-run until I get the result I want.
Does that sound fair?
Rob

[tee.gilding]

I didn’t like the result of the 1990 World Cup penalty shootout, so would like that re-run until I get the result I want.
Does that sound fair?
Rob

It's at the stage now where negativity is producing nothing but unrest and uncertainty. A little positivity from top would go a long way - it would be nice if politicians who aren't in power would stop using every hurdle in the Brexit negotiations as a slating block in which to try push their way into power. Alas, negativity is easier, so that's what tends to emanate from those with our so-called interests in mind.

[Zeld4]

"What did the EU ever do for us?
Not much, apart from: providing 57% of our trade;

It’s actually more like 44% percent of trade, and of course we have most of our trade with Europe, because when we joined he EU we were forced to stop free trading with common wealth countries, and we left them high and dry. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... s-44210833

structural funding to areas hit by industrial decline;

Tell that to factory workers over here who have seen there jobs go to Eastern European countries because of cheaper labour and EU grants. Also the 300 or so porters at Smithfield market who last their jobs because of EU “health and safety”.

clean beaches and rivers;
cleaner air;
lead free petrol;

Would all have happened any way.

restrictions on landfill dumping;
a recycling culture;

Most recycling ends up in landfill.

cheaper mobile charges;

With WiFi doesn’t make any odds now.

cheaper air travel;

Is that good for the environment? It’s only cheap because there is no tax on aviation fuel.

improved consumer protection and food labelling;
a ban on growth hormones and other harmful food additives;

The EU still recommends a high starch low fat saturated fat diet as obesity and diabetes and other immune disorders sky rocket.

better product safety;

What was wrong with the British kits mark?

single market competition bringing quality

Debatable

improvements and better industrial performance;

Very debatable

break up of monopolies;

They don’t do that for the people, they do it to be in comtrol


Europe-wide patent and copyright protection;

Already existed in practice

no paperwork or customs for exports throughout the single market;

Could exist any way

price transparency and removal of commission on currency exchanges across the eurozone;

Why would you have commission when the eurozone is all in euros?! Of course there isn’t commission

freedom to travel, live and work across Europe;
funded opportunities for young people to undertake study or work placements abroad;

Has it’s pros and cons

access to European health services;

You may still have to pay a certain amount so insurance still needed


labour protection and enhanced social welfare;

Zero hours contracts? Huge unaffordable and
rising welfare bills.

smoke-free workplaces;

equal pay legislation;

Has it worked?

holiday entitlement;

I got this as I’m self employed. I got the same amount of money, just on my pay slip is says some of it is now holiday pay. Thanks EU

the right not to work more than a 48-hour week without overtime;

Lazy french policy

I could go on but I think that’s enough

strongest wildlife protection in the world;
improved animal welfare in food production;
EU-funded research and industrial collaboration;
EU representation in international forums;
bloc EEA negotiation at the WTO;
EU diplomatic efforts to uphold the nuclear non-proliferation treaty;
European arrest warrant;
cross border policing to combat human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling; counter terrorism intelligence;
European civil and military co-operation in post-conflict zones in Europe and Africa;
support for democracy and human rights across Europe and beyond;
investment across Europe contributing to better living standards and educational, social and cultural capital.
All of this is nothing compared with its greatest achievements: the EU has for 60 years been the foundation of peace between European neighbours after centuries of bloodshed.
It furthermore assisted the extraordinary political, social and economic transformation of 13 former dictatorships, now EU members, since 1980