Modified:
04 Mar 2010
by Admin
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No:
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DEBATE: THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
Posted by: judith.m.richards
Karma:
235
The European Union (EU) has become an unaccountable, undemocratic federation with too many powers. Is it wrong that EU directives (EU law) supersedes British law? Is it right to have free labour movements between 27 states when the UK is suffering a recession?
Executive Summary
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All the Yes points
All the No points
THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
Reintroduce Full Powers Back to Westminster
Although the EU has a Parliament, given that there are 27 member states within the EU, even if a strong majority within a member state objected to new legislation, if this went against the grain of the other 26 states, this would not make a difference. Nation states no longer get a veto when deciding on new legislation, which is put through either by consensus among the members, or by qualified majority voting. Thus countries cannot block legislation they strongly disagree with. Essentially the EU is too great a body to legislate and the power should be handed back to Westminster.
The EU does not regularly legislate on minor issues that would adversely affect individual nations, but rather issues of common trade or foreign policy. To this end, although it is indeed true that individual member states do not have as great a say and are potentially unable to veto legislation, this should not be a problem. Also, the idea that the EU is too 'large' a body to have a common parliament is untenable when you consider that other large geographical territories with different cultural 'zones' such as Canada, India and Russia have a single federal parliament.
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THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
EU is a Drain on British Economy
The EU is arguably a drain on the British economy. A huge amount of money given to the EU is allocated to bureaucracy and wasteful spending such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In 2006, a whopping 45% EU spending went towards the CAP,[1].
To put this in perspective, that's almost half EU spending allocated towards an industry that employs only 5% EU citizens and generates 1.6% GDP[2].This is truly unneccessary and is unequally distributed, France reportedly benefitting immensely, while countries with very little agricultural sectors seeing few benefits, and yet expected to foot the bill for this wasteful policy.
More than 80% of the EU budget is spent by the member states.[1] The EU in effect acts like central government does, it redistrobutes from the richer areas to the poorer areas within the EU. We dont have a problem with rick london bankers paying a bit more to help the Welsh Valleys so why is it any different?
So yes the EU drains money from Britain but this is because we are a richer region within the EU, the amounts that are put in by the member states is proportional to their wealth.
What do you think? Vote on this point below.
THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
EU is Undemocratic and Unaccountable
EU is run by unelected, unaccountable elites whose power is vast and often bring in legislation that has not been voted on in our national parliament and yet supercedes our own laws that do go through these democratic processes."The common denominator between national and multi-level governing procedures is that each is tasked with coordinating opinion, and ultimately policy and resources, into a common pool. Power and influence within the European Union structures are divided, although somewhat disparately, between the European Parliament (EP), the Council of Ministers and the Commission. These bodies are designed to check and balance one another. In member states, citizens have the opportunity to influence national policy making through their elected officials. In the EU’s multi-tiered system, the closest a citizen comes to impacting a policy decision is through their elected representative to the European Parliament."[1]
EU is Continually Strengthening its Structure to be Democratic and Accountable.MEPs are elected regionally within member states which is very much a democratic process. MEPs vote on new legislation and represent their constituency and national party in their voting patterns. They have also in recent times been granted further powers than previously. The European Council also decides on important legislation through a qualified voting system, which also involves the most democratic practice there is - voting. Although there is a perceived or actual 'democratic deficit' within the EU, EU structures are continually being reformed in order to better reflect the wishes of their stakeholders - the EU citizens themselves. The EU recognises this problem and is furthering change to reflect this issue.
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THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
We need to co-operate against global crime and terror
We need to co-operate to fight the increasingly global threat of crime and violence. Europol is an effective multinational police and security force and leaving Europe would deprive us of it's benefits.
The main advantage of Europol is that it enables criminals that cross borders to be tracked and arrested easily by a multinational superforce. Seeing as we have a sea in between us and the nearest European nation the likelihood of criminals crossing our borders is quite low, and so this major advantage of Europol is pretty irrelevant!
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THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
people we elect cant give the uk away
we must be our own country our own waters and farming we dont need them
Britian joined the European Union in 1973, after learning that trade with the Commonwealth was not as lucrative as originally thought. The application was made in 1961 by the Conservative Prime Minister Harold MacMillan. The main reason for Britain joining the EU was for the economic benefits, so obviously it shows that in the age of globalisation and increased competitiveness, Britain cannot act alone.
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THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
I am not a European, I am an Englishman, I am entitled to a vote on this.
In the labour Party manifesto I was promised a referendum by Tony Blair, this was reneged upon and I have been forced into this position by lies and subterfuge by the present Labour party and many other lying cheating politicians over the years, I do not believe that Gordon Brown had the legal right to sign us all up to being members of the EU by voting for the Lisbon treaty in our names when we had not been given the promised Referendum, I see the whole exercise as one giant confidence trick and I will never accept it.
NO
DON'T EVEN LIE
I believe that as we are currently a part of the EU that makes you not only an Englishman, but also a European.
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THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
EU is a Regional Security Guarantor
Although it is true that the initial aims of the community were to aid regional security, now that the bonds of trade and co-operation have been established we no longer need to be an official part of that union to retain the peace and goodwill.Additionally the 'special relationship' between Britain and the U.S means that we are not as dependent upon EU security as we could be an thus we are no longer tied to the union for reasons of protection.
The original aims of the EU's predecessor, The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), formally established in 1951, were outlined by French French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950 as to 'make war not only unthinkable but materially impossible.' Thus far, no member states have gone to war with one another, making the original aims of lasting peace truly successful. Many argue that now EU member states are economically and politically mutually cooperative to such a high degree that it renders war between member states unfeasible.The EU also acts as a major actor and negotiator for important international treaties and conventions, giving it more weight than 27 individual states would. The EU is involved in negotiations to ensure better international governance and norms exist in the international community and is able to act strongly in support of mutual interests. The EU tackles such important security issues internationally, and has strategies for tackling weapons of mass destruction (WMD), combatting illegal accumulation and trafficking of light weapons, and many other defence- and security-related issues.
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THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
Free Market
Genial trade relations should continue even if we left the EU, however, "if there were genuine concern about the EU pursuing discriminatory trade policies against the UK, then the UK could also join NAFTA to create countervailing power in the event of traded disputes. NAFTA allows each member to pursue its own trade agenda, provided it allows other NAFTA members free access in agreed trade areas. It would therefore be entirely consistent with the UK’s free trade policy."[1]
- ^ Minford, Mahambare and Nowell 2006
EU gives businesses access to 480 Million consumers, which is fantastic for our business sector and makes us more prosperous. The free market has incresed consumer choice and goods are no longer delayed in customs by heavy paper work, making delivery times shorter, and allowing manufacturers to save money, thus bringing down the price for consumers. The free market has been especially beneficial to the service industry, who find have found it relatively easy to access a huge portion of new customers with relative ease.
What do you think? Vote on this point below.
THE UK SHOULD LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
TNCs would leave
Trans-national coorporations (TNCs) are comapnies that are based in at least two or more countries. A number of these TNCs are based in Britain such as the Nissan factory found in Sunderland. The reason these TNCs are here in the UK is because they are allowed free export throughout the EU due to the free market. This means that if we were to pull out of the EU, these companies would leave and it is estimated that 3 million people would become unemployed
Vote on the overall debate: The UK Should Leave the European Union
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