Eurozone in trouble.

[ellal]

1.05 or at worst parity, short term.

Probably parity or less...

But how long is 'short term'?

After all smogg reckoned it would be 50 years!

 

[fillyboy]

So when the UK was a net beneficiary and Germany was paying in, that was ok?

Interesting statement. How much did the EU pay us back in the 70's?

 

[EFLImpudence]

All these people complaining about supporting the poorer countries seem to live in supported parts of the UK.

 

[Vinty]

So when the UK was a net beneficiary and Germany was paying in, that was ok?

How about when all those builders headed off to Europe when there was no work in the UK, to the detriment of their local work forces. Was that ok?

Anyone who makes the argument about 'subsidising' another country being wrong fails to understand that when a country has got back onto it's feet it becomes a bigger market to trade with, and then becomes a net contributer.
Apart from the fact that raising everyone's living standards is the right thing to do!

One could as easily complain that the regions of the UK are subsidised to the detriment of the South.

But if you want an example of massive subsidies, then look no further than the UK corporate welfare - aka tax credits.

Currently running at £26bn a year!

I don't think the UK was ever a net beneficiary although I could be wrong.
Your comparing the distribution of regional subsidies within the UK as analogous with how the EU distributes it funds among member states would only be valid if you consider the EU to be a sovereign state.
I agree with your points about corporate welfare.

 

[Vinty]

All these people complaining about supporting the poorer countries seem to live in supported parts of the UK.

Your point would only be valid if you consider the EU to be a sovereign state.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Not really.

 

[ellal]

I don't think the UK was ever a net beneficiary although I could be wrong.

Briefly in the late '70's and it then bumped along the bottom and was almost at zero during the recessions in the '80's and '90's

Your comparing the distribution of regional subsidies within the UK as analogous with how the EU distributes it funds among member states would only be valid if you consider the EU to be a sovereign state.

It is a good analogy if you are trying to point out that supporting less well off areas is a good thing.

And EU money has been instrumental in reviving many of our UK regions which have been left to rot by (mainly tory) governments!

I agree with your points about corporate welfare.

And ironically corporate welfare will get far worse when we leave and if the UK becomes a corporate tax haven!

More to pay out, and less tax income doesn't bode too well for an already collapsed public sector and welfare system!

 

[JohnD]

prove me wrong.

You don't understand the subject.

You don't, really, care about the success of the Eurozone.

There is no advantage in responding to your ill-informed taunts and false allegations. You seek only to keep an empty pot boiling.

 

[SirGalahad]

Net contributor ,net beneficiary, you don't really know the difference do you.
Use your head mate, if Poland wasn't getting billions a year from the EU they wouldn't be in the position to pay pensions at all never mind be able to reduce the pension age to 60 for woman and 65 for men, just like it used to be in the UK.
The wealthy Northern European countries give money to the EU , the EU then gives this money to Southern and Eastern European countries to help build up their countries because without it they would still be riding around on donkeys.
There is nothing wrong in principle with helping other countries but it shouldn't be to the detriment of your own country.

Again another bozo moment. Can you tell me the cost of lowering the pension age in Poland? Can you point out where the EU funds have enabled this, all you are doing is typical RWR claptrap, you don't even know what you suggest the costs and its always the same old tired argument - we need to look after our own - well then stop voting for Governments that cut support to the most needy - it is not a zero sum game like your back pocket.

 

[JP_]

Rather than look at the last month and start cheering, let's remind ourselves how far we've fallen, and how badly this is affecting UK business.
We can celebrate if it gets above 1.30, until then, pray it doesn't get worst.

 

[Notch7]

Your point would only be valid if you consider the EU to be a sovereign state.

No it wouldnt.

Try doing a bit of research on how much the UK benefit from being in the single market.

Your idea that the fee we pay to the EU is not repaid by commercial benefit shows your lack of understanding of how it works.

 

[motorbiking]

But that is not unbiased thinking either.

There are many aspects of EU membership that cost us money beyond our membership subs.

 

[fillyboy]

You don't, really, care about the success of the Eurozone.

I wasn't aware that the common currency experiment was a success. Without closer political union, the Euro is doomed to fail, and there doesn't appear to be much appetite for closer political union.

 

[JohnD]

like I said.

you don't really care

you don't understand the subject

you cannot say anything sensible

you're just spewing out worthless verbiage.

 

[fillyboy]

like I said.

you don't really care

you don't understand the subject

you cannot say anything sensible

you're just spewing out worthless verbiage.

Great post John.