That's because the UK regards the intake of migrants by any country to be a sovereign choice. Smaller EU countries look at what has happened in Germany after a mass intake and don't want any part of it. And it did for Merkel, so Orban's probably feeling he made the right decision.
Not really let’s be honest not many of us care about Switzerland it more about portraying the EU as a bully? That’s the only story couple of posts and it dissolves into thin air ... the UK has shopping to do FFS ready for a Christmas Day that is also soon forgotten... why? We need to get and shop again the day after when prices are lower! Oh and then everyone will need to get their holiday sorted so they can all brag about where they are going on Facebook
That’s what I mean Paul, I’m trying to look at it from both sides as most reports make it out to be the ‘bullying EU’ and as it makes no sense to me I was happy to see another view.
I’ve just read the article and a few others Stainsey and am thoroughly confused as a result. I know Switzerland is not a part of the EU or the European Economic Area (like Norway), but somehow it is a part of the Single Market and Schengen. The Schengen bit is great for us bourgeoisie, means we can fly into Geneva and drive round the lake to the French Alps for our skiing holidays without any tedious border checks. Excellent for young Tarquin and Jocasta! Just the snow chains to worry about. I know that the Swiss are meant to accept free movement of EU citizens (and their citizens get it in the EU) but in practice have very restrictive practices protecting the rights of Swiss nationals. Which is fair enough, but you can’t have your cake and eat it, whatever that means. The Swiss political system is interesting, you might like it, lots of referenda on everything at local canton level, very participative (though some have only recently allowed women to vote) directing national policy, which is why no one knows who the Swiss prime minister is. Lots of local votes have made it clear that the Swiss won’t accept any loosening of their immigration rules, and their government and the EU have been dancing around this for years. Frankly I don’t understand how they can be in the Single Market but not really follow its rules, and I suspect that the EU has had enough of it, partly because to let it go on would offer a tempting model for the UK. If you want to be part of a massive integrated market, you need to integrate. Absolutely no light shed on the issue, apologies.
Balls to the understanding bit. Actually I think that the FT article made massive assumptions about the level of knowledge of the average reader about EU-Swiss relations. And overestimated both knowledge and interest as a result. It was probably written by an ‘expert’. You off to the game or on duty? Oops just remembered we are away......
Off today mate. On the piss with some old work mates from BA. Next game for me is Boxing Day as a very kind mate said I could use his STs to take my lads.....looking forward to it.
Well Goldie you are just confirming my point that in practice Nations in the EU/EEA do manage to work around EU polucy /rules on migration, so remaining in the Single Market should present few problems for the UK.
Yep, I'm there boxing day with the youngest who will be back from uni. Also there next week with both of my lads.
We come back to my earlier point that, as a leading member and funder of the EU, the UK could not flagrantly breach the rules of the Single Market as Hungary has (and has had threats made against it by the Commission). If we enter an arrangement, I like to think we'd abide by the rules
The real issue will any story reported is the media style in which it’s delivered especially in the UK I have had three weeks of protests I have seen in France. My experience so far I have a road block in my closest town About 300 protesters there chanting in a celebration of defiance non stop, noisy but nothing more I quickly learnt to toot and as in France my yellow jackets are always clearer visable I seem to get a lots of thumbs up as I am on English plates on my truck They seem to like the fact that I support them In the city of Beziers the same where I did two rotations of a roundabout where they are strategically placed again I was welcomed with chanting So here we are you turn on the TV and we get mass destruction and a tone that the country is in melt down from the headlines That is complete rubbish what we are seeing here it a united front that will not stop because a politican has well and truly not done his job correctly and imo that is correct. That culture will never change in France why? People in power are elected to work for the people If they forget that and in Macron’s case the whole thing went to his head then people quickly unite and make their feelings known I much prefer that to the way things are done here We have a grubby little island of mixed up people all of which have been brainwashed into thinking we are superior and super smart yet imo we are a bunch of very dim sheep and the sheepdogs rule Half a kilometre away from the French protests life I can ensure everyone is bliss and unified as you need to continually toot, flash or wave at any on coming traffic that has their yellow jackets on their dash
I think that's part of the problem, Oz. As an example, when the East European states joined the EU, there were opportunities (both legal and questionable) to curb the influx of immigration but Tony Blair did nothing and the number that came in were huge. This helped lead to cynicism of the EU by the UK populace and eventually the Brexit vote. As a country bearing the guilt of Empire, we cannot bear to be seen to flout laws particularly relating to immigration.
Paul you are reminding me of that Iraqi general who was saying there are no Americans in Baghdad as the tanks were rolling in behind him
I really don't see why some people make such a big deal about this. Why should we, a nation with a GDP of $2.6 trillion, expect to get better deals on our own than we could as part of a bloc with a GDP of $18.8 trillion?
Is that the Customs Union or Single Market? I thought it was the former and that it was one of the main attractions of a Norway style agreement. I may well be wrong though!.
