The General Political Thread

[Duuring]

Budget changes must be made by consensus, so we have veto power. 

We just pay like 3,5 % of the European Budget anyway. In fact, I think that will even go down considering we no longer have to pay the British rebate.

[Toffee]

Steven would you say that the Netherlands are enDuuring the EU?

[StevenChilton]

Budget changes must be made by consensus, so we have veto power. 

We just pay like 3,5 % of the European Budget anyway. In fact, I think that will even go down considering we no longer have to pay the British rebate.

You pay more per head than any other EU member state and have done for a very long time. Given the UK is a net contributor I can't see how your bill will go down...
Still, plenty of efficiency savings can be made including not moving that joke of a parliament every month from Brussels to Strasbourg. That's 180 million Euros per year saved right there (oh wait, it's a French interest, never mind).

[Riddlez]

Just move it to Liechtenstein.

[Duuring]

Is there even one MEP who doesn't want the moving around stopped? It's such an easy thing to shoot at for EU-haters, yet it's a result of national stupidity, not European wishes.

[Theodin]

Is there even one MEP who doesn't want the moving around stopped? It's such an easy thing to shoot at for EU-haters, yet it's a result of national stupidity, not European wishes.

Isn't that the core issue with the EU - easily hijacked by individual national stupidity that affects the whole union?

[Duuring]

Pretty much.

[Theodin]

Pretty much.

The solution to that would seem to me to be increased national freedom and more decentralization to avoid portions of Belgium being able to dictate trade policy.

[StevenChilton]

Is there even one MEP who doesn't want the moving around stopped? It's such an easy thing to shoot at for EU-haters, yet it's a result of national stupidity, not European wishes.

Isn't that the core issue with the EU - easily hijacked by individual national stupidity that affects the whole union?

Well, one of the core issues, but yeah pretty much. Paris suggests that Berlin should tell the others to jump and everyone else asks 'how high?' while the British stand on the sidelines. You've then got people like Duuring who think there should be no alternative to a Franco-German EU (and Duuring, as a Dutch taxpayer, pays for it out of his own pocket too).

Is there even one MEP who doesn't want the moving around stopped? It's such an easy thing to shoot at for EU-haters, yet it's a result of national stupidity, not European wishes.

Excuse me Duuring but it was the EEC (as the EU then was) as a whole that agreed to the French proposal and signed up to this extravagance, so yes it is EU stupidity.

[StevenChilton]

Pretty much.

The solution to that would seem to me to be increased national freedom and more decentralization to avoid portions of Belgium being able to dictate trade policy.

A novel idea, but that's not how 'ever closer union' works.

[Duuring]

You can't have a lot of national power and decentralization and have a single, supranational policy. They're complete opposites of eachother. It's not a 'novel idea', it's just complete bullshit.

[Riddlez]

Aye let's just ignore what the 'ever-expanding money splurging machine doing nothing for us' has done over the years.

I'd be rather curious what'd happen if the NL would leave the EU and the borders close. We'd probably be re-applying after 3 years because everyone will have to wait for hours at the border to go on vacation. And god forbid we experience any inconvenience from anything.

I mean, agree with it or not, but the anti-EU have been painting some Wallhalla-picture of not being in the EU that is completely unrealistic.
Yes I know, a number of Pro_EU has done that as well, but I was speaking for the NL here. They're a little more realistic here.

[StevenChilton]

God forbid people might be disadvantaged when going on holiday. The only solution is keep 28 unelected technocrats in charge.

[Toffee]

Not just about vacations though is it. Think trade.

[Edwin]

Not just about vacations though is it. Think trade.

Not just about trade though is it. Think legislation.