An Idiot's Guide to the EU - Pros and cons in a Nutshell

The Tory party has promised an EU referendum should they be voted in at the next election, UKIP are outspokenly anti-EU, and, Labour, are being warned that if they do not offer a referendum they will miss out on vital votes. Wherever you look it is clear our future in the EU is uncertain. But how many of us can actually claim to know what the EU actually does? With the economy at stake, it’s time to brush up on the basics before you make that all important decision.

What Is it?

A confederation of 28 member countries in Europe. The idea is to allow people to move and trade in other EU countries with ease, and to unite the member states with respect of human rights and democracy. It does this through use of a common passport, trading laws, and, agreements of law enforcement amongst other things. The Union must abide by the Lisbon Treaty signed by each member state. The treaty essentially lists what the Union is responsible for, and what the member states must do for themselves. The EU cannot do anything until the member states have voted on a proposal.

How Did It Start?

After the second world war the countries in Europe wanted to live peacefully and help each other rebuild, politically and economically speaking. Coal and steel were the most sought after resources, so West Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg came together to create The European Coal and Steel Community in 1952. In 1957 it created common trade laws and became the European Economic Community.

When Did It Become The EU We Know Today?

In 1993 it changed its name to the European Union and the member states worked together to create umbrella policies for money, justice, and foreign affairs. The Schengen Agreement saw 22 EU countries open their borders to each other so that people could pass freely from one state to another. In 2004 (incidentally the same year the Rosetta Space Probe was launched into space – go us) 10 new countries became member states. Today there are now 28 members.

When Did The UK Join?

Britain first applied, along with Denmark and Ireland, in 1961 when it was still the EEC. This request was denied when French President at the time, Charles De Gualle refused to back the UK saying the British government lacked commitment towards European integration. 12 years later the three countries and Norway are offered accession treaties to join. After renegotiating the entry terms the UK held a referendum in 1975 that saw a two-thirds majority in favour of joining.

When Did It Become The EU We Know And Love Today?

In 1993 it changed its name to the European Union and the member states worked together to create umbrella policies for money, justice, and foreign affairs. The Schengen Agreement saw 22 EU countries open their borders to each other so that people could pass freely from one state to another. In 2004 (incidentally the same year the Rosetta Space Probe was launched into space – go us) 10 new countries became member states. Today there are now 28 members.

When Did The UK Join?

Britain first applied, along with Denmark and Ireland, in 1961 when it was still the EEC. This request was denied when French President at the time, Charles De Gualle refused to back the UK saying the British government lacked commitment towards European integration. 12 years later the three countries and Norway are offered accession treaties to join. After renegotiating the entry terms the UK held a referendum in 1975 that saw a two-thirds majority in favour of joining.

What does ‘Free Movement’ actually mean?

Free movement basically means that any European citizen can live and work in any other EU country without a visa or a work permit. You could move to Greece tomorrow if you wanted to (although I wouldn’t advise it). It also means EU countries can trade with each other freely without needing to pay a special tax. In order for trade to occur safely and fairly, the EU enforces an umbrella product safety law.

Who Makes All The Rules?

There are seven different institutions each with their own responsibilities;

European Council

Based in Brussels it pretty much decides the direction the EU should be going in.

Summit of the Head of government e.g. Prime Ministers.
Chaired by the President of the EU (currently Donald Tusk until 31st May 2017)
Sets out general objectives and policies but does not legislate.
Not to be confused with the Council of the European Union (stupid, I know)

Council of the European Union

Writes laws and based in Brussels.

Made up of government ministers from member states
Works with the Parliament (mentioned next) to create legislature – or law – and enforces budgetary power.
Ensures that all member states enforce and abide by the common economic and social policies. It also sets out guidelines for the Common Foreign and Social Policy (essentially deals with security and defence)
Judges on international agreements
European Parliament

Writes laws with the Council (above) and is based in Brussels, Luxemberg and Strasberg.

Members of the Parliament (MEPs) are elected every 5 years by EU citizens. That means you. Bet you didn’t know that did you?
Shares the budgetary power with the Council and has final say on the EU Budget
Ensures each EU institution is operating democratically including the European Commission (next) and appoints the commission members.
European Commission

Based in Brussels, it is responsible for day-to-day management of the EU.

Acts as the ‘government’
Has one member from each member state
Has a President, Jean-Claude Junker
Submits proposals for new laws to the Council and Parliament
Puts EU policy into practice, ensures compliance with EU law, and spends the budget
Negotiates international treaties

Court of Justice of the EU

Based in Luxemberg.

Makes sure all member states agree on interpretations of the laws and, as such, abide by them.
Has the power to settle disputes between EU member states, EU institutions, businesses and individuals.
European Court of Auditors

Based in Luxembourg.

Acting as a financial auditor it examines the proper use of EU revenue (income) and spending.
European Central Bank

Based in Frankfurt.

Determines monetary policy and ensures price stability in the Eurozone (the group of countries that use the Euro as currency). They do this by controlling the money supply to stop inflation from reaching above 2%.

Arguments for Leaving:

We could negotiate a bi-lateral treaty with the EU. Switzerland operates via this. It has access to the EU single market but is not bound by EU laws on agriculture, fisheries, justice and home affairs.

Small and medium-sized businesses that do not trade with the EU are still bound by EU laws. Pulling out could help these businesses open up 1 million British jobs.

Most EU countries don’t ask for VISA’s upon entry regardless so we coukd still travel freely, yet the UK would have complete control of its own borders.

We would no longer have to pay membership fees or the hidden tarrif that comes with exporting goods into the EU

The UK would remain a key member of NATO

Arguments for Staying:

There is no way the leading EU countries would allow the UK to pick and choose the way it deals with the EU. Switzerland still has to abide by certain EU laws with no influence over how they are formed.

Millions of jobs could be lost as global firms may opt to operate in cheaper EU countries.
UK citizens rights to live and work in EU countries will probably be restricted.

The benefits of doing business in the EU single market could outweigh the cost of being an EU member, especially as the EU is our main trading partner. Also if many businesses move out of the UK into the EU, tax revenue will suffer.

As we would have less influence over key EU nations, America will have little use for the UK. Therefore we may still be a member of NATO but will anyone listen to us?

According to The Observer, “Tax avoidance and evasion will reach crippling levels as our economy becomes increasingly wholly owned by foreign multinationals that make tax avoidance in Britain central to their business strategy,”

EU employment laws and social protection will be stripped from British workers.

POSTED ON BEHALF OF TOMMY

GET BRITAIN OUT sets the record straight on what would happen if Britain gets out the EU:



MYTH 1: Brexit would damage trade with our European neighbours.

Europhiles claim leaving the EU would sour diplomatic and trade relations with other Member States, making it harder for Britain to trade within the Single Market.

TRUTH: British Businesses do not need the EU to trade

In addition to the lucrative trade and investment deals with the rest of the world, Britain imports more from the EU than it exports to the EU.

This means we are the EU’s biggest customer – larger than China and the US –  and no business – let alone the EU – would want to cut off ties with such a valuable customer as Britain.  Can you imagine France wanting to damage sales of French cheeses, wines and champagne to Britain; Germany damaging sales of BMW and Mercedes cars to Britain? No! Trade will carry on as normal, without the political interference we currently suffer from Brussels.



MYTH 2: Britain cannot survive economically outside the EU

We are told Britain cannot compete in the world without help from the EU, and without EU membership we would not have access to the Single Market.
Europhiles argue we need to be part of a trade bloc in today’s globalised world, ignoring successful independent countries all over the world.

TRUTH: Britain WILL thrive economically outside the EU

Britain is a global trading power and exports more to the rest of the world than it does to Europe.
Britain has the world’s 6th largest economy and is set to become the largest in Europe by 2035.
The EU’s share of world GDP is in terminal decline. In 1980, the EU’s world share of GDP was 26%. It is now just 20%, and will have fallen to 15% by 2020.
Currently all Britain’s trade deals must be negotiated by the EU, which on average take twice as long or more to agree and finalise than those negotiated by independent countries, such as Switzerland.



MYTH 3: Britain’s membership of the European Union can be substantially reformed



For the past 40 years, successive British Prime Ministers have tried to make our EU membership work for Britain. So far, whether it was Margaret Thatcher’s hard-line stance, or Tony Blair’s supine grovelling, none have succeeded in positively changing the terms of our long-term EU membership.

TRUTH: Substantial change to our relationship with the EU can only be achieved by Brexit

David Cameron has already stated his intention to stay within a ‘reformed’ EU. Many fear this to be a replay of Harold Wilson’s ill-fated 1975 Referendum, in which largely cosmetic ‘renegotiation’ misled the public into staying.
EU leaders have already ruled out any weakening of the principle of Freedom of Movement and want to retain ‘open borders’.
Once Britain states her intention to leave the EU – by using Article 50 – a 2-year negotiation period will take place. This will include, reinstating border controls for all citizens coming into Britain. Britain will be free to negotiate the more favourable terms we want and need.
Research by Open Europe estimates a free-trading Britain outside the EU could increase its GDP by 1.6%.



MYTH 4: Britain will lose influence in the world

The pro-EU lobby say Britain will lose its influence on the ‘world stage’.

TRUTH: Britain would have more say on trade and regulation

Britain has opposed 55 EU Directives since 1996, and has been outvoted every time – so the myth Britain currently wields any influence in Brussels is nonsense. Our EU membership gets us nowhere.
In addition, it is estimated around 70% of decisions made in the EU Council of Ministers are already implemented before they reach the voting stage.
An independent Britain would regain its own seat within international institutions such as the World Trade Organisation, in which Britain can pursue its own national interests.
(there are no other major international organisations which the EU fully represents us, largely smaller fisheries bodies etc)



MYTH 5: Britain would lose three million jobs

This myth originated from a report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research in 2004.The report incorrectly stated 3.2 million British jobs ‘associated’ with exports to the EU would be lost if we come out of the EU.

TRUTH: Leaving the EU will create far more jobs for Britons in the long-term

This myth assumes the £228 billion worth of goods and services Britain exports to the EU would drop to zero the day after Britain leaves the EU! This was comprehensively refuted by Treasury civil servants in August 2014.
Moreover, the Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in 1999, Martin Weale, has since confirmed the report does not claim 3 million jobs rely on our EU membership, denouncing this Europhile propaganda as “pure Goebbels”.

http://getbritainout.org/eu-myths-facts/

POSTED ON BEHALF OF TOMMY