I honestly think that’s very wrong and one of the last brexiteer arguments that still seems to be believed by reasonable people.
Under the old terms, the UK was one of the largest net contributors to the EU. And also one of the countries absorbing the most immigrants. In fact, the exemptions they got were all quite reasonable.
Without the exemptions, the UK would have been an even bigger net contributor and would have had even more immigrants.
Just from pure self-interest, the EU would be foolish to demand more than the old terms. In fact, with smart negotiating, I am sure the UK could get even more exemptions than they used to have.
And we, the EU, know this. The war in Ukraine is expensive af. The UK is already helping above and beyond what we could expect from them.
The EU economy isn’t doing all too great either.
The mutual benefits of the UK rejoining will be billions if not trillions of extra economic output on both sides. It would be billions extra budget for the EU.
Why would we drive a hard bargain to squeeze out the Brits?
Friendly terms that make the British politicians look good and that make the UK public feel like winners and which provide direct short term economic benefits are the way to do it.
Unfortunately it is highly unlikely. The EU would not be being punitive in requiring the UK to play by the same rules as everyone else, it would be playing by its own rules and being fair.
They require countries to join the eurozone when ready and they require signing up to the common agricultural policy etc. Member states that did not get to opt out or rebates would not be willing to allow a new member to have those benefits and any country can veto a country joining. It could only be on the same terms as everyone else.
I dont see the UK rejoining for a generation. The Euro, the CAP and immigration remain highly toxic topics in the UK and would derail any attempt to rejoin.
Also leaving the EU has not been as harmful as we thought. Im not saying its been a positive thing but it hasn’t been anywhere as disasterous was being made out on the remain side of the debate. A reduction in growth while the economy is still growing is not being felt by people. Covid also massively muddied the water - some of the side effects of leaving have been attributed in peoples minds to the pandemic instead.
And the biggest issues in the UK - public services and immigration - have little to nothing to do with the EU. So its just not part of the mainstream political discourse 9 years after the vote.
Without the exemptions, the UK would have been an even bigger net contributor and would have had even more immigrants.
When a new country joins the union there’s always a grace period where countries can say “freedom of movement doesn’t apply to them, yet”. This is to avoid migration waves while still kinda poor countries catch up in terms of living standards which then reduces migration rates naturally.
The UK never made use of that. Westminster never used the mechanisms the EU gave them to control the flow of immigration. So, kindly, fuck off with your bollocks. This is precisely the kind of thing why the rest of the EU is apprehensive of the UK rejoining. The rest of Europe doesn’t like to play scapegoat for Etonians.
In my small village of the Netherlands there are graves of RAF pilots. And in NATO, we are still allies.
My wife made scones and lemon curd this weekend.
My favourite heat pump geek (urban plumbers on youtube) is a Polish guy living and working in the UK.
All these attempts by people trying to divide Europeans are pathetic. It’s sad that many people fall for it, because we share a culture and a history.
The UK rejoining the EU in some shape or form (perhaps the EEA) is just a matter of time. Same with Ukraine.
And personally, I think we should already start planning on how to form strategic defense and trade alliances with Turkey, Egypt and a post-Putin Russia. That will solidify a peaceful and prosperous 21st century in Europe and West-Asia.
I honestly think that’s very wrong and one of the last brexiteer arguments that still seems to be believed by reasonable people.
Under the old terms, the UK was one of the largest net contributors to the EU. And also one of the countries absorbing the most immigrants. In fact, the exemptions they got were all quite reasonable.
Without the exemptions, the UK would have been an even bigger net contributor and would have had even more immigrants.
Just from pure self-interest, the EU would be foolish to demand more than the old terms. In fact, with smart negotiating, I am sure the UK could get even more exemptions than they used to have.
And we, the EU, know this. The war in Ukraine is expensive af. The UK is already helping above and beyond what we could expect from them. The EU economy isn’t doing all too great either.
The mutual benefits of the UK rejoining will be billions if not trillions of extra economic output on both sides. It would be billions extra budget for the EU.
Why would we drive a hard bargain to squeeze out the Brits?
Friendly terms that make the British politicians look good and that make the UK public feel like winners and which provide direct short term economic benefits are the way to do it.
Unfortunately it is highly unlikely. The EU would not be being punitive in requiring the UK to play by the same rules as everyone else, it would be playing by its own rules and being fair.
They require countries to join the eurozone when ready and they require signing up to the common agricultural policy etc. Member states that did not get to opt out or rebates would not be willing to allow a new member to have those benefits and any country can veto a country joining. It could only be on the same terms as everyone else.
I dont see the UK rejoining for a generation. The Euro, the CAP and immigration remain highly toxic topics in the UK and would derail any attempt to rejoin.
Also leaving the EU has not been as harmful as we thought. Im not saying its been a positive thing but it hasn’t been anywhere as disasterous was being made out on the remain side of the debate. A reduction in growth while the economy is still growing is not being felt by people. Covid also massively muddied the water - some of the side effects of leaving have been attributed in peoples minds to the pandemic instead.
And the biggest issues in the UK - public services and immigration - have little to nothing to do with the EU. So its just not part of the mainstream political discourse 9 years after the vote.
When a new country joins the union there’s always a grace period where countries can say “freedom of movement doesn’t apply to them, yet”. This is to avoid migration waves while still kinda poor countries catch up in terms of living standards which then reduces migration rates naturally.
The UK never made use of that. Westminster never used the mechanisms the EU gave them to control the flow of immigration. So, kindly, fuck off with your bollocks. This is precisely the kind of thing why the rest of the EU is apprehensive of the UK rejoining. The rest of Europe doesn’t like to play scapegoat for Etonians.
It’s funny how such a small amount of text can fill somebody with so much hope. Thank you stranger for bringing a little light :)
We’re not strangers, we’re Europeans.
In my small village of the Netherlands there are graves of RAF pilots. And in NATO, we are still allies.
My wife made scones and lemon curd this weekend.
My favourite heat pump geek (urban plumbers on youtube) is a Polish guy living and working in the UK.
All these attempts by people trying to divide Europeans are pathetic. It’s sad that many people fall for it, because we share a culture and a history.
The UK rejoining the EU in some shape or form (perhaps the EEA) is just a matter of time. Same with Ukraine.
And personally, I think we should already start planning on how to form strategic defense and trade alliances with Turkey, Egypt and a post-Putin Russia. That will solidify a peaceful and prosperous 21st century in Europe and West-Asia.