Ok, that attitude is fine. If I thought the EU was doing that, I would‘ve moved to Canada.
Trouble if, the only thing the EU has the power to do is to remove U.K. access to EU membership benefits. That’s not “vindictive”, it’s what the UK voted for after being repeatedly told this would happen.
> If only for the reason that it would set an exceptionally bad precedent and everybody would want their own deal, to pick and choose the parts of EU membership that are favorable to them, leading the EU to implode.
The UK already picked and chose the parts of EU membership they wanted. They opted out of the Euro, they opted out of Schengen, they opted out of the Charter of Fundamental Rights--all of this, and more, on the threat of leaving the EU.
> As a British citizen, I'm appalled by the sentiment expressed here. It flies in the face of the ideas and values upon which the EU was founded.
Isn't that the point, though? UK just said "no" to half a century of following these principles - making sure there are consequences means protecting EU ideals, not harming them.
Sure, in practice there will be plenty of replacement treaties - but for EU _and_ for those principles it's quite ok if UK ends up 6th or 7th economy instead of 5th. We're not talking about bankrupting anybody here.
> Though to be fair, I would like to see a bit of compromise from the EU side of table. They are simply too intransigent.
This is part of the problem. It would not be fair. The UK already had a special position, with many advantages that other EU countries did not have as a compromise. A line was drawn and that apparently was not enough for the UK.
> Good luck trying to get the EU to give up one of its core principles to a country that cannot even get its government to agree on a consistent negotiation position.
The UK government is far more consistent than the EU currently. Name one important issue where the EU has reached a satisfactory agreement and results. Migration? Social security? EU army? Nope.
But just like the tone of your comment, the EU position on Brexit is governed by arrogance, ideological motives and fear of a chain reaction, not reason. Therefore the result will likely be bad for both sides.
> EU is not a country. It is a maze of red tape that applies > its regulations to its subjects without any consequences to > themselves or any accountability what so ever. UK left EU
> for a a reason and more countries will follow suite soon.
Yes, exactly.
Just because some people are in the EU parliament via a democratic vote does not mean they are accountable to anyone.
Least of all, you know, voters.
Sheesh.
You have clearly got a number of hobby horses you want to flog. But the thing with people who flog horses is, they often do not realise they are already dead.
> The EU is now trying to make the UK pay an extraordinary price in order to warn the other countries that leaving the EU is not a choice to be taken lightly.
No, the EU is showing the UK that it can't cherry pick all the advantages without shouldering any of the responsibilities.
> It certainly has not delivered on its promises and now it faces a backlash from its citizens.
It absolutely delivered on a great amount of promises and did an excellent job of unifying the bargaining power of its individual states on a world scale. Not saying that there aren't any issues, but we'd be so much worse off without the union. Using some parts that didn't work out well as a reason to shun the EU is like shooting yourself in the foot because your toe hurts.
> Really? You feel that strongly that the people of the UK will vote to leave? Whilst there is vocal support for leaving, there are also a lot of level headed people who understand the benefits of being part of the EU.
Or the EU might just kick out Britain for good. British "special rules" are holding the EU back everywhere - the EU doesn't have a Foreign Minister just because of British proudness, and don't get me started on how Britain evades any responsibility for the refugees.
Either Britain becomes a FULL member of the EU with ALL responsibilities and rights or GET THE FUCK OUT. Rest of EU has had enough of them.
> As a European I hope UK will want to rejoin the EU.
As a European living in the UK, no mate, you really don't want these folks to rejoin. Their class system is pathological and their mass-media are fundamentally corrupt. I say this against my best interests, but England in particular should never be allowed back in. They made their bed and they should lie in it.
> You may be right, but, the more Brexit news I hear, and the more I read, the more I get the feeling that parts of Europe and the EC are making efforts to make an example of Britain.
If a member leaves the EU they're not getting the benefits anymore of being part of the EU. It's mainly the UK who has no idea at all at what they want.
Various statements made by the EU 2 years ago still hold true. If you read UK press it seems everything is negotiable. The difference in attitude and the bad coverage by both UK press as well as UK government is pretty bad.
> Which would make sense if it was the EU's primary intention is to punish the UK for having the audacity to leave.
No, why they have to start negotiations if there is no change in the status quo.
> If EU wants to be vindictive it can try but it probably will be economically damaging (both to the UK and the EU). That will only serve to give Farage-equivalent politicians in the EU enough ammunition to call for their own referendums and before you know it the EU is no more.
How it is vindictive? Should the EU give the same deal the UK has right now?
It seems that for some of you, not giving to UK all they ask is being vindictive.
That logic defies description. If you are not a member of a certain country or economic zone, you cannot get and keep that zone's exclusive domains. Thats law. What you are saying is that the Eu should have made an exception for the Brits and allowed them to keep doing what others are not allowed. That sounds like too much exceptionalist entitlement.
>> This seems to be the unsurprising outcome of the EU's modern "obey us or we crush you" mentality. The UK is walking away.
When did the EU try to crush the UK?
And is the UK really walking away because it doesn't like EU trading regulations? I thought they're trying their damnedest to continue benefiting from those regulations.
> Could have been a great opportunity to try to actually improve things rather than adding loopholes for the benefit of special interests.
The reality is that the EU legislation was toxic and loopholed at the behest of the UK and its special interests. The UK was not a moderating influence, but the UK was the one calling for no encryption and spying of the population.
If given a chance to improve or remove legislation the UK government will remove it NOT because its an assault on freedom and liberty, but because they dont think it goes far enough in curtailing freedom and liberty.
> The EU will make the UK pay a price for Brexit, and rightly so, otherwise all member states would leave and still enjoy the free movement of goods and people.
I really hate this sentiment. This is just about the worst EU can do, it would damage its legitimacy in the eyes of us, EU citizens, even more than the handling of the Greek crisis already did.
I don't see any reason to punish a country for voting to leave the EU, except pure spite and greed for more power. Why can't we all be friends, each on the terms that they want?!
Ok, that attitude is fine. If I thought the EU was doing that, I would‘ve moved to Canada.
Trouble if, the only thing the EU has the power to do is to remove U.K. access to EU membership benefits. That’s not “vindictive”, it’s what the UK voted for after being repeatedly told this would happen.
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