We do, we have just as much say as anyone else, unless the subject is about the euro. We are, admittedly, a rather disengaged country - I mean look at our UKIP mep's they are the most absent of any mep's in Europe. But if we left we'd have much less negotiating power with the rest of the Eu or the rest of the world.
This may well be the worst post I have ever read on this site. That takes some doing. I suppose I should be congratulating you on such an achievement.
I admit I am very confused as to our standing within/without the EU. I have never felt as though we are really engaged and that we could be considered to be 'europeans' when we want to and 'separate' at other times, politically speaking. MEP's and other Brussels 'bureaucrats' that I have met in my travels and work often do little to discourage the notion that they are just benefitting from the 'gravy train' and at times other countries do what they want despite European legislation. I am yet to be convinced of the effect on our legal powers if we stay in and am also not won over by the notion that "we'd have much less negotiating power with the rest of the Eu or the rest of the world" if we exit...yet. I see the value of an EU but it doesn't seem to be working. In my view there are too many member states and the debacle caused by Greece's disastrous economic mis-management gives me real cause for concern. I am hedging towards exiting but, as Joan put it, "I am open to persuasion."
Fair points Winifred. Besides the obvious benefits that wales enjoys from eu membership (research collaboration, objective one funding, funding for social programmes for example) and a more selfish point, the large number of jobs directly paid for in Wales by European funding or working on European funded programmes. The other reason (or at least on of) the reasons I want us to remain in Europe is that the whole world is building ever closer trading blocs - the North American Free Trade Agreement keeps increasing, the EU is getting larger and closer - making it the biggest trade agreement bloc in the world, and then there is the south east Asia one ASEAN, is getting closer together and larger. It would seem dangerous for us to isolate ourselves and force ourselves to negotiate trade agreements individually against the most powerful trading blocs on the planet.
I get the concerns about isolationism and we would be foolhardy (something politicians are good at) to create such a problem. I think the EU isn't working as it is and needs changes - but that brings us back to the starting point of negotiating something that will begin working for all members and we (Cameron) were largely told to '**** off' this week. My confusion is not helped by my ignorance at times - what is 'objective one funding'?
The faux outrage and manufactured sanctimony of some of you posters on here would put Mary Whitehouse to shame. Do you meet up in your Fair Trade sandals, corduroy trousers and home made jumpers to make 'praise the lord' placards before storming off to protest outside Frankie Boyle shows? Cry me a river
The place where I live, Cornwall has benefited hugely from objective one funding. It's helped to create jobs, regenerate run down towns and helped to boost ailing industries.
Sounds a good thing - how is 'poorest' defined and by whom? And how is it allocated? Not a wind up, I am ignorant of this.
Thanks GC. In the early/mid 90s Wales was the second poprest place in Europe next to Albany! We've received billions in Objective One funding (given to the poorest regions to spend on anything from job creation to culture to public transport I believe), Funding Programme (FP6,FP7,FP8) money - given to encourage research & development and collaboration between SMEs (Small and Medium Sized businesses) and universities. As well as most parts of Wales, the North of England, Cornwall & N Ireland have recieved lots of Objective One Funding. I'm sure Scotland has but can't definitely remember. Since all this investment the quality of life in Wales has increased, we aso have the best Bioscience/Health Science industry in the UK. Just picking one example of the improvement since the post-thatcher days There is thousands of people working across the Welsh gov, councils, universities, businesses and consultancies who either work on or are funded by European money.
The details are quite complex as your talking about huge amounts of money but I believe its like this - There is a set of criteria that an area must meet (its not for whole countries but for areas - so England couldnt apply but Cumbria could). I believe these are agreed on by all member states. Countries then need to apply for a tranche of funding saying what they plan to use it for and how long they've got to use it. As long as it meets the criteria then they can. Some of the money maybe 'match funded' ie the country puts in x and the EU matches it to give a bigger pot and make the budget go futher. As far as im aware they use badic socio-economic measures to determine who is 'poor' - no of employed, no of long term sick, cost of living, average wage ect but im not sure
Usually based on a number of factors including unemployment, low wages, poor infrastructure, places where there has been lots of redundancy etc. (Cornwall's mining and fishing. Wales' coal mining and steel works) Money is usually allocated to projects that will create jobs and regenerate towns. A lot of the money was allocated where it could be match funded by local business or local councils. A fair bit of the money in Cornwall went into boosting Tourism (our biggest income generator) and wind and solar projects, which created jobs and helped to reduce Cornwall's carbon footprint.
I also like to make Quinoa frittatas and sip homemade organic Chai tea whilst I read the Socialist worker, man.
