Pete Croney

Am I missing something?

Where is the up side of this?

EvilBevel

I can see the logic for "Europe", but I honestly think this is a mistake and will ultimately sink the whole concept.

Pete Croney

I can't see the logic anywhere.

What will we gain from inviting 10 poverty stricken countries into the EU?

Upon their entry, we immediately start subsidising their farmers and building their roads. The residents of these countries are free to reside in any EU country and benefit from its social services.

How much is this going to cost each of us?

Fatman

I saw a summary on the news last night - the enlargement will increase the UK's cost of subsidies by £45 per person. Yey! We get to support more under-developed economies

Please, someone, remind us... what's the economic logic behind this? Plenty of feel-good political arguments, but that carries little weight with me. What's the real benefit? The representatives were saying that this creates the largest global market. So what? Are European countries unable to trade with those Eastern European countries currently?

johnfelstead

cheap labour, so the large corporations (that really run the world) make more profits, so pay thier shareholders, chief execs more money.

It's really that simple IMHO.

AnDy_PaNdY

It's an ego trip for the politicians, nothing more.

merlin

Apparently we need lots of new young people to pay through their taxes for the pensions of our ageing population. Guess they will also keep "growth" going whatever that means which seems critical to our economic well-being. House prices will continue to rocket with even more demand. Traffic will be even worse. Oh and in the case of Turkey, we have to keep them onside because of their important geographic position.

camk

it does mean that you'll be able to go to Estonia without changing your cash.....eeehhh no that don't work either. I'm a big fan of the EU, especially with current 'American' sabre rattling. I think there is little short term gain but they are obviously taking long term look on 'consumer led' growth. Whole new bunch of folks who want a new cooker or washer or Seat Leon.

Regards
Cammy

[Edited by camk - 12/14/2002 2:21:21 PM]

AllanB

More countries to use the Euro rather than thier own currencies should make Euope far less depandant on the US ecomony and the strength of the dollar . I think the aim is that the European state becomes more economically powerful than the US and ultimately has more control of our own economic affairs with us less affected by external influences.

We'll also be far less dependant on Nato for any military intervanetion within Europe such as Bosnia etc

I don't know what the benefits will be short term and I don't know if I'll see the long term ones while I'm still around .


AllanB

Claudius

The bigger the country, the more difficult to govern.
The more countries in the EU, the more of a mess it will be.

The unite to compete with USA and Japan thing seems to work though, telling from the USD / EUR x rate.

Other than that, I hope they send some of those Hungarian women over

joni

What our generation fails to take into account is the reason for the treaty of Rome in the first place.
What we have now is the longest period free of European war (proper war )for centuries. I guess you have to weigh that up with some of the economic downsides.

Edited to say "weigh" as is my "way"

[Edited by joni - 12/14/2002 10:13:49 PM]

AnDy_PaNdY

Good point Joni.
Having nukes also helps

Echo

I think it's a good thing and will improve our economic prospects and security in the long run - hopefully!

pslewis

Some of those countries have Nuclear Weapons? So, I would hazard a guess that its better for us to pay to make them be a part of us than to have them kill us??

Just a wild guess

Pete

paulr

1.It creates an even bigger market for good UK companies to sell their goods and services too.

2.Hopefully it strengthens the 50 years of peace we've had since 1945.

Two good reasons IMO

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

As everyone on here, who has seen my posts in the past, will know, I REALLY love the Americans, trust them implicitly, and wish to be like them!!! NOT!!!!
So you'll understand when I say that I'm just a little bit suspicious that the Americans badly want us to accept Turkey.
Yes, I know the strategic position etc, but an Islamic state that will soon have the largest population of any in Europe?????
Alcazar

Blow Dog

You need to do some more homework.

Cem

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

If that last comment was for me, please explain it?
Alcazar

Blow Dog

How do you claim that Turkey is an Islamic State? Also, do you have any idea of the implications of Turkey removing use of it's airfields? You can forget about the Gulf war for a start.

Cem

Blow Dog

Add to that, Turkey is the first line of defence for the entire western world.

Cem

robski

Yep without Turkeys kebab shops to poison the unwashed hordes we would have been over run years ago

robski

EvilBevel

That is very true Cem. Reality is often a bit more complicated than online one-liners eh.

D Noble

From a totally selfish business perspective it is good news for exporters(i sell fish to mainland europe) , the northern european market has been saturated for a good few years now,and opening up to countries like poland will mean new opertunities for our belegered industry. the downside is obviously the initial influx of eastern europeans flooding into the "established" euro countries creating a mess for the job market.and guess where they will all head first!

regards
dave

mbc

i see no-body complaining when they dish out money to ireland left right and centre

Luke

And they have a Huge Army, good food and women that make most of ours look terrible!!

cookiemonster

> the downside is obviously the initial influx of eastern
> europeans flooding into the "established" euro countries
> creating a mess for the job market.and guess where they will
> all head first!

LOL at this -

Ironcially its the same argument that stopped Spain and Portugal joining the EC for about 10 years. And of course you cant move anywhere in the UK or Germany for all the unwashed Spaniards...

It's amusing that the UK, its government, people & infrastructure are slagged off on this board every minute; but there's still a belief that given the chance, all 5 billion of the earths population would be living in the home counties...

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

I thought that this thread was about getting a ***** enlargement op, somewhere cheap abroad that Pete had just found

How dissapointed was I, eh?

F

unclebuck

That applies to most countries unfortunately (just spent a week on the West Coast USA, yum....)

paulr

Yes,but at least ours are real,and have personalities....

Claudius

I find that to be the problem!