EU Vote

So, the European Commission met this week after getting the results, knowing the far left and right parties have done very well.

You would have thought that somewhere along the lines a little intelligence would tell them to watch what they were doing and take on board the people's of Europe distrust and dislike for them.

Oh no. Van Rompuy goes and asks for 'another' £3.8 Billion increase to it's budget. As the UK cough's up approximately 8% of the budget to this bloated organisation, that never balances it's books but nobody gives a damn about that fact, that means about another £500 million will be chucked down the drain through the European Commission blowing smoke up it's own backside.

In 2002 Britain paid in £2.9 Billion. 2012 Britain paid in £9.5 Billion.

Sorry but I have read all the post but I cannot see much recognition of why or how the far right/ left parties have shoved 2 fingers up to the European Commission. Perhaps it's the people who walk the walk have talked the talk.

It's one thing to see things from the perspective of having a reasonably comfortable lifestyle, taking advantage of the mantra of free movement, open boarders and living and working where you like, but it's another to see it from the perspective of Joe Bloggs who has to live with the consequences such as not getting their child into a school, getting further and further back on a social housing waiting list, trying to get employment but jobs are advertised abroad not here etc. etc. the list goes on.

It's all been so predictable, the far left and right gaining seats, immigration causing divide, European Commission wanting more and more money from countries going through austerity, the elephant in the room of the EU Commission taking sovereignty away from nations to build the Federal State of Europe. The EU Commission thinking it is too big to go bust. Well it might have to start and think again but I wouldn't hold my breath.

WHO SAID "THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD'. But in which direction will the pen prove to be the mightier? The European Commission getting it's Federal State or the voter starting to say 'Up Yours'

Not sure it would work with the UK or any country which has been part of the EU- reprisals would be severe I think. Switzerland is a tiny country in the middle of Europe which refused to be part of the EU from the start- but was able to negotiate special 'deals', again right from the start.

Thanks for the explanation Granjura. Sounds like a good idea, having cake and eating it. Perhaps if we voted to come out we could have similar agreements!

Thanks for the explanation Granjura. Sounds like a good idea, having cake and eating it. Perhaps if we voted to come out we could have similar agreements!

granjura - I don't actually like him very much (one of the most arrogant people I've ever met) so I wouldn't feel in the least bit sorry for him if he did get caught. He's quite wealthy too, so there's no excuse for that level of penny-pinching.

Ana

Again, I agree with you. It also costs are fair bit too if you have to support yourself whilst job hunting. I just see it as something that benefits the few which isn't such a good deal for the many.

DD2 lived in Tenerife for a few years, and spoke fairly good Spanish within 1 year- and was more or less fluent by the time she left. She was really appalled at the number of Brits who lived totally in a ghetto- and couldn't string 2 words together after years and years there.

As said, just like many Swiss who retire to Spain.

HollyDaze- here near the French border, we actually pay for rubbish disposal by weight. As we avoid buying anything with packaging if at all possible, recycle everything that can be recycled and compost the rest- it is actually much cheaper for us too. Don't know who you are talking about- but if he gets caught by customs with a rubbish bag full in his car- he will be fined heavily- by either side (and quite rightly too).

Thank you, HollyDaze. It's all very well for high-fliers and ambitious, confident young people with a good support network to try their luck in other EU countries, but it's not realistic to think that option is available (or even desirable) to all.

Ana

but many ordinary citizens of EU countries wouldn't be able to relate to it because they would never entertain the idea of leaving their own country to take up a job in another one.

They expect jobs to be available where they live, and however unrealistic that might be in reality, it's also not realistic to expect people to up sticks and work their way around the EU just because they could, in theory, do so. Many haven't the confidence or the qualifications.

I agree with that (and your post following that one). Many countries will want certain skills and have that as a criteria for positions being offered. Many would be very wary of leaving their family and friends (their support network I suppose). It isn't always as easy as it sounds and many return to the UK feeling very disillusioned (there have been a few programmes on tv about that if I remember correctly).

granjura

Many thanks for answering that - I did wonder if he was egging the pudding or not (this is the man who will take his rubbish - in his car - back to France to dispose of it for free rather than pay local Swiss taxes!).

At least now I know for certain

Mamie

All part of life's rich pattern, surely?

It certainly is. I was never fluent in Spanish but knew enough to get by.

Honest answer- I haven't got a clue. Will have to look into this (and will get back to you when I find out more).

4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6WkSKitIpU/U2_H32MZBlI/AAAAAAAADrM/LmF4ZvH5PCU/s1600/UKIP+privatise+the+NHS+for+sale.jpg
UKIP thinks the coalition is right to privatise the NHS.
Is this what you really voted for?

Granjura, how would the TTIP apply to Switzerland?

NfkDumpling- Switzerland has bilateral agreements with the EU- it is not in the EU but has many arrangements with it. If you go to any European airport the queue at customs will say 'EU + Switzerland'.

Yes, quite clever- and yes, trying to have their cake and eat it !!!
It's very complicated and won't bore you with too much detail. But for instance the EHIC European emergency health insurance card works here too, and Switzerland is also part of the Erasmus programme, etc.

So EU workers can come to Switzerland to work, can claim unemployment benefits and social payments, etc- and can't be 'thrown out'. Americans do not have any such bilateral agreements- so if they don't have work, they can be asked to leave, etc.

Oh and the point of going there Nfk is to make money. Just like colonialism!

In principle I agree, but do people who go to places in the Middle East and Far East to work learn the language? My FiL did speak Arabic, but I don't think my MiL had more than a few words, despite living in Egypt for twenty years. The world of the ex-pat working for multi-national is still pretty anglophone. I suspect that is what you are seeing in Switzerland, Granjura. My OH worked a lot with Americans in Holland and Switzerland, I don't think any of them had learned the language. Bit like colonialism, really!

By the way, I think that anyone choosing to live long term in any country should learn the language and try to integrate. Otherwise where is the point in going there in the first place.

We have a lot of Polish people here in the eastern counties. Those that learn English and integrate and want to make here their home are welcomed and their children consider themselves British - and proud of their Polish roots. Some are new to Britain, but some are now third generation (slightly diluted having - shock, horror - intermarried), their grandparents having come here to fight against Germany in the war.

BTW I was listening to Blair on the radio yesterday - arguing that we should stay in the EU because without it we would be powerless. India and China growing in power and EU needs to stick together if individual European nations to have any clout on the world stage. I felt this was valid - but it was a "statesman's" response and not an issue that the voter in the street was all that bothered about. He was also of the opinion, and I agreed with him, that Labour should not respond to UKIP by saying they would have an in/out referendum too.
I am very interested to see whether this election result will stimulate more people to get involved in politics. There has been an upsurge in online activism in the last couple of years and I have noticed younger contacts on FB posting anti-UKIP stuff. Issues like anti-gay and anti-feminist comments by UKIP councillors seem to be hitting home.

Yes I was wondering that too Terribull and whether there is a shortage of locally born builders and cleaners in your neck of the woods perhaps?

Granjura I'm puzzled. Why can Switzerland remove US citizens if it chooses but not British? Did I understand it wrongly?

Just so long as you do not vote for Ukip next year. They have no idea about taxes.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/05/27/ukip-tax-and-the-200-billion-hole-in-its-budget-for-which-farage-has-to-supply-answers/

Terribull, how can you complain about foreigners coming over here, encouraged by Labour, when you employed four of them?

I have four lovely grandchildren. Two of my granddaughters are 1/4 American and 1/4 Norwegian. The other two grandchildren are 1/2 Danish. They were all born in this country, but would not have been if their mother or grandparents had not been allowed into this country.

Well done to your son Riverwalk- and I'm sure that if he stays in Lucern (lovely town btw, hope you will visit) he will make the effort to learn some German- even if just basic conversation