Challenge for the UKIP

[Mich the Tester]

Switzerland has Schengen but we don´t. Isn´t that cherry picking? i.e. the UK has decided not to adopt Schengen.Isn´t not being in the Euro also cherry picking?

That´s a pretty major opt out.

If you recall we opted out of the Social Chapter but the British government changed it´s mind. I can´t imagine it being a huge obstacle to opting out again.

Britain can opt out of most things because Germany wants to keep Britain in and will go a long way to do that.

[BlasterBates]

You´ve hit the nail on the head Mich there´s no-one in Europe in or out of the EU who´s cherry picked more than the UK.

[DodgyAgent]

No it can't. It's been bullied by the EU into signing agreements that undermine its sovereignty, under threat of being shut out of EU trade.

What evidence do you have to support that. The schengen agreement is not an EU agreement.Switzerland is tied to the Euro because it suits it to be and it pays money to the EU for the privilege of taking what it wants. Which is how the EU should be

[Mich the Tester]

You´ve hit the nail on the head Mitch there´s no-one in Europe in or out of the EU who´s cherry picked more than the UK.

Yep, but amazingly the UK seems to cherry pick on some big issues, but thn apply some of the stupid bureaucratic laws with a vengeance, while the rest of Europe ignores them. Add to that you have idiot politicians in national governments who make up crazy busybody laws, and as soon as someone has a reasonable complaint they say 'oh but the EU forced us into it', which is usually codswallop.

[DodgyAgent]

Switzerland has Schengen but we don´t. Isn´t that cherry picking? i.e. the UK has decided not to adopt Schengen.Isn´t not being in the Euro also cherry picking?

That´s a pretty major opt out.

If you recall we opted out of the Social Chapter but the British government changed it´s mind. I can´t imagine it being a huge obstacle to opting out again.

Your point is?

[BlasterBates]

Your point is?

When you´re in the EU you don´t have to adopt everything as you suggest because it is in the EU.

One major gripe "too many Poles" was a unilateral decision by the British government to be the only Western European EU country to allow them freedom of movement, all other EU governments "opted out", they didn´t allow the Poles in.

We still haven´t nailed down the advantage Switzerland has being outside the EU.

[Mich the Tester]

Your point is?

I think the point is this; a lot of the grievances about the EU are valid, but many aren't. You can opt out or in of all sorts of things, as Britain has done in the past, and as others do. That sort of invalidates the claims of those who say the EU dictates laws to its members; it doesn't, it gets the blame when governments of member states bugger up or apply stupid legislation like Olive oil bottle bans. It DOES dictate terms to countries outside the EU that want trade deals, and it forced Switzerland to give up its banking secrecy. OK, the US was busy with that too, but Switzerland still had a market until the EU started upon them, with no opposition coming from Britain, which should have been a natural ally for a low tax country, but wasn't because idiot chavs chose to elect the labour party.

[DodgyAgent]

When you´re in the EU you don´t have to adopt everything as you suggest because it is in the EU.

One major gripe "too many Poles" was a unilateral decision by the British government to be the only Western European EU country to allow them freedom of movement, all other EU governments "opted out", they didn´t allow the Poles in.

We still haven´t nailed down the advantage Switzerland has being outside the EU.

Maybe but we do have to pay for this:

The EU

[BlasterBates]

Maybe but we do have to pay for this:

The EU

Yes but Switzerland also contributes to their budget. Part of the agreement. So Switzerland is also funding the bureacrats in Brussels.

[DodgyAgent]

Switzerland does not pay directly into the EU. It pays directly into EU countries of its own choice and it controls how that expenditure is paid.