Which country will be next to follow us out of the EU ?

So what?

Bit rude, Maizie, but I’ll explain.

As you say, had we been in the EU still we would probably have gone with solidarity too.

But we weren’t, so didn’t. Ergo your assertion that our head start had nothing to do with Brexit is incorrect.

Maggiemaybe

But, from the Full Fact article linked to above.

In June, the European Commission called for a “common strategy” between member states and proposed a “central procurement process” for purchasing vaccines. In October, it said it was “imperative that member states follow a common vaccination strategy for vaccine deployment [...] Coordination at EU level is required to align our efforts, to ensure and to show solidarity, and to best ensure the full functioning of the internal market, good public health management for Covid-19 matters and beyond, and the protection of all EU citizens no matter where they live.”

That was a very strong message to the member states, and none of them ignored it.

That was a very strong message to the member states, and none of them ignored it.

So what?

You've missed off the bit that said that if the UK had still been in the UK we would probably have gone for 'solidarity' too.

But the fact remains that any MS could have done what we did, regardless of what the Commission called for.

It's not so long ago that one of the anti-EU arguments was that the UK always followed the rules when no-one else did so it wasn't fair.

Schrodinger's rules, I think...

That is interesting @Petra, though only confirming what many of us suspected.

It’s years ago now, but for a while dh was involved in major infrastructure projects in former soviet bloc countries such as Bulgaria.

Being used to a tight system of tenders being submitted and scrutinised, he was shocked to realise that the EU wasn’t following this path - i.e. finding out how much a major project was going to cost before releasing the funds. Instead there were vast sums being dished out willy-nilly, much of which was evidently finding its way into corrupt pockets.

But, from the Full Fact article linked to above.

In June, the European Commission called for a “common strategy” between member states and proposed a “central procurement process” for purchasing vaccines. In October, it said it was “imperative that member states follow a common vaccination strategy for vaccine deployment [...] Coordination at EU level is required to align our efforts, to ensure and to show solidarity, and to best ensure the full functioning of the internal market, good public health management for Covid-19 matters and beyond, and the protection of all EU citizens no matter where they live.”

That was a very strong message to the member states, and none of them ignored it.

lemongrove

Yes, Jennifer you are right, and we were able to get ahead.

It had nothing to do with Brexit. Ant EU country could have done the same.

The head of the MHRA, Dr June Raine, has been clear that the vaccine was approved under EU law. Asked directly whether Brexit made the process quicker, she said: “We have been able to authorise the supply of the vaccine using provisions under European law which exist until 1 January.”

Preferred Europe when it had currencies for each country, think the Euro ,and the fact the no border situ on mainland Europe with the exception of Switzerland , this has allowed people to cross Europe and try to gain entry into UK .
A few years ago , those countries who had problems with the Euro currency such as Greece ,and Eire looked like possible candidates . I was in the RAF in West Germany in the 70`s prior to us going into EU , and one of my jobs was to do forms for goods to travel back to the UK in about 5 or 6 copy's, so the vehicle with those goods , would at each border give a copy of that document to the border guards.
Mick

Yes, Jennifer you are right, and we were able to get ahead.

Our vaccine approval was compliant with EU regulations which were still in force in the UK.

EU regs. permit countries to give individual approvals.

See Full Fact:

fullfact.org/health/coronavirus-vaccine-brexit/

I think JE is correct, there there was a co-ordinated policy for vaccines, also chemicals and food standards, the UK approving use in the emergency situation was correct. In normal times having one approval body for EU is more efficient than each country doing it.

Vaccines do carry a side effect risk and there have been some adverse affects but so far they have been limited, let’s hope that continues.

Yes individual countries in Europe will arrange their own vaccine rollout vegansrock but the EU medical regulator had to pass the vaccine first and this was done about three weeks later than ours.

Had we not made our escape we wouldn’t have been able to get off to such a good start.

The Isle of Man isn't in the EU either.

www.taxcafe.co.uk/resources/tax_jersey.html

Maybe this clarifies CI advantages

dogsmother

David...I am Channel Islands, not Jersey, however please don’t suggest we are tax havens, we are not. If you did a little homework it is plain to see. Yes you have to prove your wealth to buy and live in Jersey.

An awful lot of companies have offices in the CI, I don’t suppose they are doing it for charity are they, all entirely legal of course.
They are avoiding UK taxation though.

David...I am Channel Islands, not Jersey, however please don’t suggest we are tax havens, we are not. If you did a little homework it is plain to see. Yes you have to prove your wealth to buy and live in Jersey.

welshwife
Many countries convinced EU the place to be
Goodluck with that one

Calendergirl the programmes on Monaco are certainly interesting.

Calendargirl

Monaco not in the EU? Wonder why not.

Watched some programmes about Monaco last week, looked a great place to live.

No income tax, well policed, hardly any crime and what there was clamped down on immediately, subsidised rents for its citizens.
Of course, one in three residents are millionaires....

And Prince Albert seems to be in charge of everything including granting citizenship to potential applicants.

Don’t think Paddyanne would approve somehow.

Last time we drove through Monaco I thought it looked a dreadful place to live. Wall to wall tower blocks for the most part, many of which are obviously empty. Just used for their address.

The vaccine rollout nothing to do with Brexit. The EU aren’t organising the vaccine rollout - it something independent countries within the EU are doing. BTW Billions of £s have been moved from the City of London to the EU on the first 2 days of trading That hasn’t made the headlines.

paddyanne

I really dont agree with tax havens ,of course that was the principle reason Boris'circus wanted out of the EU .Monaco isn't any of my business but I would prefer citizens of this country to pay their taxes ..yes even that new Knight Lewis Hamilton.....

It was the Royals being in charge that I thought you wouldn’t like Paddyanne, not so much the tax exiles.

I really dont agree with tax havens ,of course that was the principle reason Boris'circus wanted out of the EU .Monaco isn't any of my business but I would prefer citizens of this country to pay their taxes ..yes even that new Knight Lewis Hamilton.....

Fennel very interesting list, thanks! I didn’t realise all those countries were European either.

Calendargirl

Monaco not in the EU? Wonder why not.

Watched some programmes about Monaco last week, looked a great place to live.

No income tax, well policed, hardly any crime and what there was clamped down on immediately, subsidised rents for its citizens.
Of course, one in three residents are millionaires....

And Prince Albert seems to be in charge of everything including granting citizenship to potential applicants.

Don’t think Paddyanne would approve somehow.

Just like Jersey and several other Tax havens you have to be mega rich to become a resident, although there is no income tax, there are plenty of other ways they make you pay.

We have already had a taste of the possibilities for us as a totally independent nation with the fact that we were the first country in the world to authorise the Pfizer vaccine, enabling us to get off to a flying start.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by some European countries which have expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in their countries vaccine rollout.

Monaco not in the EU? Wonder why not.

Watched some programmes about Monaco last week, looked a great place to live.

No income tax, well policed, hardly any crime and what there was clamped down on immediately, subsidised rents for its citizens.
Of course, one in three residents are millionaires....

And Prince Albert seems to be in charge of everything including granting citizenship to potential applicants.

Don’t think Paddyanne would approve somehow.

Many countries have a right wing dislike of the EU just because the EU has too many liberal policies. I don’t see Holland remotely leaving the EU the ties are far too close, Sweden has always been independant neutral minded, possibly. Ireland, has received a lot of development aid from the EU but with the UK outside it would mean adopting the same rules as the UK.

Next question, given the history, would the Irish want to be tied to the UK in that way