h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was just thinking, considering the squillions we pay to be in the EU, what do I get out of it. Apparently it costs me, (and you), £60 for the priviledge. Why don't I at least get a receipt? I don't even seem to have a membership card and I don't remember a monthly magazine.

Well, we the Irish got a Brand New Economy out of it!

you're foreigners. Good for you, we paid for it ! What about Britain?

Britain gets the benefit of increased trade with an economically more prosperous Ireland as a bigger market for its goods

Every factory owned by non-UK, erm, owners is here because we're part of the EU (as well as most of the ones resident here), because we're part of the world's largest trading area. I'd imagine that London's place as one of the world's largest financial centres is related to this fact as well.



AND you don't need a visa to go on holiday to Spain

Trin

Pedro, if we had used the money paid to the EU to give tax breaks to manufacturers locating in the UK, they could have made their products at a competitive price which EU members would have been banging on their doors to buy. If the EU had attempted to block trade or impose unreasonable tariffs, recourse through the WTO could have been sought. In addition, the UK is a net consumer so the EU couldn't impose swingeing tariffs for fear of retaliation.

never been to Spain, full of Dagoes don't you know !!

Er, no. That is incorrect. the reason why mostly American companies locate in the City of London has flop all to do with membership of the EU, in fact, the increasing integration with the EU is a disincentive to further investment.

The UK as a financial centre is special as it is relatively deregulated compared to Europe. that's why Frankfurt and Paris have failed to become the major European centre of finance. EU lawmakers are consistently trying to undermine this, with limited success to date, despite Bliar's support.

RF

strugglingwithlife, tax breaks would be illegal under WTO rules, and even if they weren't, then other EU nations would be quite right to put an import tarriff on subsidised goods. The thinking behind the common market (as opposed to any political stuff) is that it increases the wealth of ALL the countries involved in it.

pedro7, the regularity and frequency with which EU countries break its own rules (stability pact, anyone?) defies belief.

Don't hold the EU up as a bastion of law-abiding regimes.

RF

The Scottish Executive just awarded a contract to build two ships to a Polish Yard, which is subsidised by their Government. Our shipyards cannot compete.

as to tax breaks being illegal, wasn't "Braveheart" shot in Ireland because of the tax breaks given by the Irish Government?

RF, at least they are broken rules. Inward investment is mainly due to the fact that we're part of an enormous market. How many car factories would there be if we weren't in the EU?

PS, will take your word about London.

Well, there are legal tax breaks to encourage investment, and illegal tax breaks to stop French companies going bust.

"Illegality" is defined as whether they break the law, or not. It's just funny that all the ones deemed to be illegal seem to be French.

RF

"at least they are broken rules." so what's the point in them then?

Yeah, didn't really understand that comment either. Can you elaborate on what you meant by that?

RF

Well, they are part of a legal framework (which is, obviously, imperfect). If we weren't part of the EU, then they'd be within their rights to impose import tarriffs. Well, maybe not under the WTO (I'm not sure), but when has that stopped the US, for example.

I do find it hard to believe that the EU is of no benefit to anyone other than Eurocrats and corrupt French farmers.

Well, non-EU countries (Iceland and Switzerland spring to mind immediately) don't seem to suffer from not being members of the EU. EU membership is not a necessary condition for trade with EU countries. The UK, unlike most other EU countries, has a trading relationship that is genuinely worldwide, due to our financial trade with the US, and our relationship with Commonwealth countries.*

So, what benefits do we get from EU membership?

RF

* Which the EU constantly tries to undermine with tarriff barriers.

they employ 35000 people to tell us to weigh sugar in kilos, not pounds.

'Well, non-EU countries (Iceland and Switzerland spring to mind immediately) don't seem to suffer from not being members of the EU.'

Does anyone have any insight as to why certain European countries have elected to not apply for EU membership?