So Much for love with-in the EU

If the rebate has to go then so be it but not without a drastic overhaul of CAP

I could not agree with you more, paulc.

unfortunately the french and CAP it is all take.

Don’t forget the Spanish and the fishing quotas! 🙁

What really annoys me about it all is the way that the minute something looks ‘less than perfect’ to the French, the sector involved downs tools and strikes, how many holidays get wreaked because of French ATC and the fact that flights cannot go over their airspace? (and that’s just one example)

BSE….they were ordered to allow British beef in after the all clear, and still they resisted.

But, we spot something that isn’t all that brilliant for us, we mention it and the first people jumping up and down and telling us that we are not team players is……….the French

which is why the CAP is there is the first place to protect the less efficient farming industry of France – french unions are still a powerful force and any attempt to reduce the amount they get will be met with much resistance – am sure we all remember the sight of british lorries being burnt because they were carrying cheaper lamb / there is also the case of BSE – british beef was declared safe by the eu a year or more before the french lifted their own ban again to protect their own agriculture.

If the rebate has to go then so be it but not without a drastic overhaul of CAP – even after the rebate we still pay in more than france – if they want solidarity then at least discuss reform – politics is a give and take process – unfortunately the french and CAP it is all take.

GA, I agree we get things back from the EU, but I believe we put in far more than we get back. My main interest is the UK. Look after yourself before you look after others.

But Minidoh, unless other countries also get a similar rebate on their contributions – and I have to admit I don’t know whether they do or not – how can it be anything other than a perk?

I regard the CAP in its present form as 100% indefensible, and I quite agree that it represents a massive perk for the French.

So why can’t the EU get rid of all such perks and have a level playing field for all members?

Do remember, though, that the UK (and the regions in particular) have been on the receiving end of fairly substantial EU development grants over the years so financially-speaking it’s quite a long way from being the one-way street that is so commonly portrayed.

I disagree GA, how can it be a perk when others have similar situations with the EU? E.g France and the agricultural policy… It would be a perk if no one else had a similar position, but because countries seem to pay and receive different things from the EU, how can it be a perk?

Ink, calling it a few pennies is a bit out of touch isnt it? And the fact of the matter is the majority of the British want “a few pennies” back in our country spent on what we want it to be spent on rather than what Brussels wants it spent on.

Quite, Sauron.

Let’s not forget – as many on the anti-EU bandwagon in the UK do – that the UK’s rebate is itself a perk.

It’s pretty bad when the newest and poorest members feel that they have to give up some of their aid so that the richer members (old Europe) could keep their perks.

Sauron

This rather heated debate about the EU budget is the stuff breakdowns in economic unions are made of. I feel sorry for all the smaller poorer countries who just want to stay in/get into the EU because it would make their situation easier. The French, Germans and British are all in the top 10 richest countries in the world and yet they’re going to bicker over, what esentially amounts to, a few pennies amongst themselves and potentially ruin the whole show for everyone else. Economically this debate isn’t really a big deal for anyone, on the other hand, politically its a loaded gun with a hair trigger.

Why do you keep saying this, Crazymainer?

What is your big issue with the EU, anyway?

I’m genuinely intrigued.

Ok Folks,

So it looks like the EU is really in trouble.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4106250.stm

It seems that Germany and France just don’t get it at all. Maybe its time to scrape the whole EU idea.

RER

Change the subject still doesn’t change the fact that the so-call great experement called the EU seems to be crumbling around the French and Germans feet.

But it isn’t, Crazymainer – no matter how hard some people might wish otherwise..

All that’s happened is that some European politicians decided to go further with this European Constitution malarkey than their democratic mandates entitled them to.

The people have yanked their chains – and quite right, too.

As I’ve mentioned before, the people of France and Holland have voted against a change in the status quo, not in favour of one.

To surmise from this that the whole EU is about to crumble to dust is, frankly, risible.

This is really nonsense.
much like Scotland isn’t Britain…oh wait… 😀 😀 😀

You want sense? Are you sure you’re in the correct forum? 😉

Thankfully Scotland isn’t Britain, it is an almost independent country within the United Kingdom of England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland (Don’t go there 😡 )

The trend is towards devolution, if not independence (Not for me as an Englishman to comment on that one, it must be the choice of the Scots themselves)

Moggy

However at least we are independent and only loosely part of ‘United Europe’ – unlike Maine which is solidly locked into the American Union and has Bush as its leader :p

Moggy

This is really nonsense.
much like Scotland isn’t Britain…oh wait… 😀 😀 😀

OK Folks,

Change the subject still doesn’t change the fact that the so-call great experement called the EU seems to be crumbling around the French and Germans feet.

As I stated it seems the French Politicians want it their way even thought the Citz vote to not go along with the great idea, I wonder how many other Countrys that the Citrzs, didin’t do the vote would turn down the EU idea.

Moggy as me being a Citz of the State of Maine your correct my Drivers Lisc. is issue by the State of Maine.

Ben whats wrong dud name calling is not your style you really think I’m a Bigot please explain how you came up with this bunk. I’ll give you the Card-Carring Right Wing Neo-Con but a Bigot please get a life 🙁

RER

Definitely (b) 🙂

Moggy.

Ben – can we keep this civil please? A debate on world issues can become as heated as you like, but name-calling is not a valid part of discussion

Then (c) it is…

One simply needs only to name “a” or “b” that’s all. Otherwise, it does get interesting doesn’t it?

Definitely (b) 🙂

Moggy.

Ben – can we keep this civil please? A debate on world issues can become as heated as you like, but name-calling is not a valid part of discussion

Seems like you are just another bigot/flamer.

Now, now, Crazymainer certainly isn’t a bigot.

Troll, perhaps, but bigot – no.

I’m sorry. I realise it is difficult coping with a discussion in a foreign language, but since the question was directed at Crazymainer the word ‘you’ almost certainly refers to a citizen of the state on Maine.

Tricky stuff, I know.

Moggy

Yes, indeed. The English language is highly based on context when sentences are not written explicitly, especially in situations where we are writing more in a spoken language style. Afterall, we are no lawyers here, are you? Then it should be expected that sometimes the exact meaning of written words are not what one thinks or intent it to be. Anyone believing otherwise, is, well…quite arrogant to say the least. Hence, i’ve offered two possible routes in my opinion of what it may mean. One simply needs only to name “a” or “b” that’s all. Otherwise, it does get interesting doesn’t it?

Now Grey Area,

Lets get this right I’m the right-Wing Card carring Neo-Cons. 😀

I see the love fest is getting rather heated now, so the French and Germ,ans want the UK to back off of their Refund Demands now thats interesting nothing like the French saying hey we subsidize are guys but you can’t no wonder the most UK folks don’t want to be part of the great United States of Europe :diablo: :p

RER

You ignoranus nobody is talking about the US of E. We are more original than just copying the draft of the US constitution. Gee, I really though you were a guy I could talk to, what has happened the past few weeks. Seems like you are just another bigot/flamer.

Geforce/ben