Would the EU ever trust us and want us back???

No paranoia from me, just referring to an article from the FT a couple of months ago when I was following the Sarkozy case.
The sentencing of the former president has set off shockwaves in France. The country has some of the highest levels of political mistrust in Europe. In asurveycarried out in January and February in France, Germany, Italy and the UK, French citizens were the most damning of their political class. Some 65 per cent think that elected members and leaders of political parties are “mostly corrupt”; only 42 per cent take that view in Germany and 52 per cent in the UK. Moreover, only 16 per cent of the French trust their political parties versus 17 per cent in Italy, 32 per cent in the UK and 39 per cent in Germany.

It was Volkswagen. They sell to everyone, not just the UK, and sold the cars in Germany too. As well as pretty much every nation in the world that buys VW.

I don't think the execs of VW got together with Angela Merkel and decided to stick it to the Brits.

Dear God, we're getting into paranoia here, aren't we?

How about the German company that falsified the emission rates from it’s diesel cars so it would sell more to people in UK who wanted to help the environment? That was lies and a breach of trust if ever. Can we ever trust the German government or the car manufacturer?

Aye, it does?

I hope that as long as the EU continues in its present form that the U.K. doesn’t consider rejoining.

lemongrove

That sounds like envy from them though halfpint ?

Envy

????

Is it, aye?

The EU obviously would take us back.

Whilst we were a member of the club we were one of the few member states to be a net contributor.

As in the majority of businesses and that is basically what the EU is, money talks…

It doesn’t matter if the EU trust us or not, or if we trust them or not for the future because we are extremely unlikely to ever join them again.

halfpint1

The general opinion expressed in foreign media is that the UK can't be trusted, thinks that it's far more important than it really is
mThat is so true , and during all the pre Brexit years its how
the French people I talked to viewed the situation, they
constantly asked me 'to explain'.
The headlines in British newspapers frequently / daily use the
words 'World 's Best' 'Leading' etc etc like a foghorn lest anyone doubt it. Its embarrasing

It is embarrassing I keep reading so much along those lines, and only since the referendum, but certainly since the Johnson government.

That sounds like envy from them though halfpint ?

The general opinion expressed in foreign media is that the UK can't be trusted, thinks that it's far more important than it really is
mThat is so true , and during all the pre Brexit years its how
the French people I talked to viewed the situation, they
constantly asked me 'to explain'.
The headlines in British newspapers frequently / daily use the
words 'World 's Best' 'Leading' etc etc like a foghorn lest anyone doubt it. Its embarrasing

Whitewavemark2

Ellianne

WWM2
Can I pick up on something said here please? The European Union can only function if it abides by the rules set done and agreed by all its members. It has a reputation for an absolute stickler to the rule book.
Do you mean big rules or little rules affecting the average man on the street. When we lived in France for several years we saw French people ignoring or breaking little rules daily, far more than in the UK. When my husband discussed business with French people he was pretty horrified to hear what they got up to, and the French were equally horrified to hear how honest and above board he was being in his business!

I mean the rules that govern the SM, freedom of movement, cash and goods.

Without those it simply wouldn’t function and the EU is very careful to keep to them.

Regarding the day to day rules regarding internal tax etc, my previous employment meant that I was totally aware of each countries compliance to their own rules. Some are more compliant than others and believe me France is not the most non-compliant. Neither are the British the most compliant. Look at the level of tax evasion etc.

here is the list of tax evading countries, France,Germany, Italy at the top.
www.statista.com/chart/17133/tax-evasion-cost-to-eu-countries, with U K fourth. May be a surprise for some.

Starting threads ( constantly!) running down the UK sounds like xenophobia to me.It certainly would be I bet if posters constantly started threads running down just about everything about France.
I really don’t know what posters get out of it....kali you say
“There are truly some unpleasant people on here for sure” well I may agree with you on that but would never say so, just because others don’t agree with me.
I have read your threads ( under all your different names) on here for years, and they all do down the UK for various reasons.

The UK thinks that it's far more important than it really is which was in some way related to my comment yesterday. Once the UK can behave with more humility, and the rest of the world can see us as less of a beacon and super power, the better the country might be for it.
It would be nice to take a back seat for a change and let others get on with things.
Having said that, I would probably never have felt like that 30 years ago. The hope is that the next generation can forge strong trade relations with a variety of economic blocks as the world gets smaller and more entwined.

growstuff

I've only skimmed through this thread, which certainly seems to have some nasty comments.

I'll answer the OP (in my opinion, of course). The EU would be absolutely nuts to accept the UK back. The general opinion expressed in foreign media is that the UK can't be trusted, thinks that it's far more important than it really is and that the country has committed some kind of collective suicide. The government is seen as a joke and some kind of historic aberration.

Good post

I've only skimmed through this thread, which certainly seems to have some nasty comments.

I'll answer the OP (in my opinion, of course). The EU would be absolutely nuts to accept the UK back. The general opinion expressed in foreign media is that the UK can't be trusted, thinks that it's far more important than it really is and that the country has committed some kind of collective suicide. The government is seen as a joke and some kind of historic aberration.

lemongrove

There’s certainly xenophobia going on.....about the UK.

Been off line decorating. There are some truly unpleasant people on here- for sure. I have never complained about bullying or goading, bordering on ... xenophobia- but it is there for all to see.

Lemongrove, if you make statements like this, you will have to demonstrate and prove. Because nowhere, but nowhere, have I criticised British people as a whole. I have heavily criticised this dreadful, lying PM and his cabale- and I have expressed concerns that sadly, as far as the EU and the rest of the world are concerned- his and their behaviour is causing massive distrust about the whole nation, not just themselves- and that it is tragic indeed.

I will not continue this discussion which has become most unpleasant and, yes, could be called xenophobic and bullying. I will not run to GN HQ, never have, never will.

lemongrove

This Empire thing is always used as a stick to beat people with.
It amuses me greatly.
Nobody my age (70’s) have ever given Empire a single thought.

My wedding dress was Empire-line

Just thought I'd mention that.
Somehow Commonwealth-line doesn't have the same fashionable ring to it!

Thanks. I guess breaking rules is a timeless and universal activity.

Ellianne I could give you plenty of examples of that in the UK, especially when it comes to small businesses. And here are some:

How many of you pay your cleaners or gardeners, if you have them, in cash? Do you know if they declare their income to HMRC?

How many of you, when having work done by a VAT registered tradesman have asked if you could pay in cash and not be charged the VAT? Or been offered that option?

My OH, who used to be a furniture restorer, was occasionally asked by unscrupulous dealers if he would take cash and reduce his price? His answer was always no because we needed the money in the bank to pay bills. Sometimes a private client would pay him in cash and that was always recorded.

It so happens that I am an accountant with a number of small business clients and I am fully aware of what happens.
When we lived in London I had a client that ran a restaurant.
The takings from one table each evening were always kept out of her records. She did use this to pay her waiting staff, most of whom were students and none of whom wanted to go on to PAYE.

About 25 years ago, to help out the widow of an accountant I took over his clients (and paid her percentage of each fee that I received) Some of them left me because I asked the wrong questions. I didn't mind because they weren't the sort of client that I usually dealt with.

So, bending the rules happens everywhere but I can't think of one in which the either the European Parliament or the Council ave done that.

Kandinsky

There does seem to be a few posters who post endless threads slagging off the UK & it’s government - it’s actually quite boring now.

You despise this country - ok we get it.
Maybe look for a few positives in your life and find a little happiness.

This sounds like a cry for a totalitarian government.

Ellianne

WWM2
Can I pick up on something said here please? The European Union can only function if it abides by the rules set done and agreed by all its members. It has a reputation for an absolute stickler to the rule book.
Do you mean big rules or little rules affecting the average man on the street. When we lived in France for several years we saw French people ignoring or breaking little rules daily, far more than in the UK. When my husband discussed business with French people he was pretty horrified to hear what they got up to, and the French were equally horrified to hear how honest and above board he was being in his business!

I mean the rules that govern the SM, freedom of movement, cash and goods.

Without those it simply wouldn’t function and the EU is very careful to keep to them.

Regarding the day to day rules regarding internal tax etc, my previous employment meant that I was totally aware of each countries compliance to their own rules. Some are more compliant than others and believe me France is not the most non-compliant. Neither are the British the most compliant. Look at the level of tax evasion etc.

WWM2
Can I pick up on something said here please? The European Union can only function if it abides by the rules set done and agreed by all its members. It has a reputation for an absolute stickler to the rule book.
Do you mean big rules or little rules affecting the average man on the street. When we lived in France for several years we saw French people ignoring or breaking little rules daily, far more than in the UK. When my husband discussed business with French people he was pretty horrified to hear what they got up to, and the French were equally horrified to hear how honest and above board he was being in his business!

This Empire thing is always used as a stick to beat people with.
It amuses me greatly.
Nobody my age (70’s) have ever given Empire a single thought.

The next generation will see things in a very different way.

The world will be a group of economic blocks with China, America and EU being the largest.

No country will be able to survive without the support of such a block. We are geographically part of Europe.