Sixty-eight per cent of Spaniards want to remain in the European Union as do 72 per cent of Germans but more than half of Britons want to pull out. So why is there such a big difference between Britain and many other European states? There is no simple answer but the European Union has always enjoyed a bad press in Britain. When you mention Europe in Britain someone will always remember the “straight bananas”, a madcap European Union scheme which stated that bananas had to have the same form and size. But it is only Britain that remembers the straight bananas; in Spain the European Union is part of everyday life. I don’t think Britain has ever been comfortable with the European Union and there is a distinct possibility that it could vote to pullout. But what worries me is the economic uncertainty which would follow if Britain did elect to leave the European Union. Now, many believe that Britain could have a fantastic future if it left the European Union and set up on its own. I do think this is a rather romantic and dangerous view. Britain should be part of the European Union but on its own terms. I don’t think it is a question of Britons not liking the rest of Europe; it must be remembered that the majority of Britons spend their holidays on the European continent. I think it is a question of bad press and a lack of understanding of the European Union and how it works.
Europe
07/01/2016 00:00
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sir , the reason most british people dont like the E U is that we as a nation believed we were signing up to a common market , not to be ruled by a europe parliament . Our laws are being superseded by europe based judiciary , our money is being squandered on projects we have no control over , and these highly paid officials are not being held responsible for the decisions they make whilst feathering their own nest . , the open border policy is creating huge financial and cultural problems, and the "human rights " laws make a mockery of our once proud legal system , the taking in of new member countries who will only ever bleed the E U purse and never contribute shows the concept of a federal europe to be the target of the future . That is why the majority of british people want out ! .
Just to qualify my comment below, when I say that I think we will vote "no", I mean we'll vote no to staying in the EU.
If we in the UK pull out we will be ostracised. UK citizens owning property in Spain and other EU countries will have no protection whatever and other EU governments will be able to tax them heavily - that's a certainty. The E111 medical card will become useless - at the moment, over-70's who cannot be easily insured for holidays can have the E111 protection within the Eurozone - that will go. Our taken-for-granted freedom of movement within the EU zone could become seriously curtailed. We will struggle to create new global markets for goods that once had tariff-free movement within the EU. Given our cap-doffing foreign policy attitude to the USA we will likely become even more hated by large portions of the world and thus even more likely to suffer from terrorism...there will be no modifying influences from the EU. It is highly likely that we will as a nation vote "No" because most people are highly influenced by anti-EU tripe in the popular newspapers. I am not a massive proponent of the EU as it stands because it's a top-heavy structure full of corruption and money-for-the-boys-in-the-club, however even that is preferable to the stark alternative. It is a frightening prospect, and coming closer all the time.
I don’t think it is a question of Britons not liking the rest of Europe; it must be remembered that the majority of Britons spend their holidays on the European continent. I think it is a question of bad press and a lack of understanding of the European Union and how it works. your having a laugh . we know how it works . we give Europe takes . you must think were all bananas but enough is enough . just like they say charity begins at home .