Monday 4 January 2021

What now for the EU?

 

Many of us have amusingly predicted the demise of the EU. Much of its decline being the result of Brussels shooting its own foot. The big-wigs have become too controlling, too eager to create a 'United States of Europe', and too led by a power-hungry Germany. People simply won't have it.

At present there seem to be six serious candidates to quit. Italy, Holland, Denmark, Croatia, Finland, and Sweden. Even the Citoyens de France are having their doubts. More so than with the other six, if France was to quit, that would definitely be the end. The European big-wigs cannot be happy.

Of course, how serious these countries are about quitting remains to be seen. I believe all six have been encouraged by Boris's 'deal', and each will follow the UK's progress for a while before holding their own referenda. The EU could look very different by the end of the decade.

It is also amusing to note that, now that the UK is out of Brussels' clutches definitively, English will remain the Official Language of the EU. Maybe this is why Macron is spitting feathers.

Interesting times ahead.


28 comments:

  1. Hmm, what I hear is that, after what happened in the UK, most people are more eager to not leave the EU. It is all a matter of perspective.

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    1. I don't know where you read that Wendy, because everything I read says the opposite. Of course, whether or not the 'leavers' would get a majority in each of their countries' referenda, is another question. But serious dissent is certainly out there.

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  2. If only it had stayed as a 'common market' all would have been fine.

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    1. Exactly. They attempted too much, and spoilt what they had.

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  3. Holland? I hope you are not listening to Geert Wilders and Thierry Baudet. They are the Dutch Nigel Farages.

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    1. Well, it sounds as if they have a lot of support; as did Farage.

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  4. For some reason I thought French was the language of the EU. Maybe the UK had more influence than I thought. While Germany and France are the EU, all the other countries can bleat away to their hearts are content.

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    1. English is the world's most learned second language, so usually spoken by all EU member countries. It's also the language of the Sea and the Sky, so quite important.

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  5. The next year will be an interesting one - once Covid is behind us.

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  6. Britain entered an economic union but by the time we allegedly "left" the thing, it had become something other than that. Can we ever really "leave"? I doubt it. We remain utterly entangled.

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    1. They will always buy from us, and we'll always buy from them. Much the same with the flow of human traffic; we are dependent on each other.

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  7. It's interesting to learn more about it. I can read plenty of opinion pieces that make strong cases for both sides of the coin. Since I don't know as much as I admittedly should, I can only watch and see what happens next. It must be terribly difficult for you folks living it. The unknown is always a bit hair raising.

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    1. I cannot see the point in only allowing us to be here for just three months; there seems no logic to it, just retribution.

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    2. But you do have a choice to remain...given the tax situation not much of a choice I agree but it is still a choice.

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  8. Churchill believed in the United States of Europe. The EU is currently bankrolling Ireland with funding for the Covid vaccine and for much needed infrastructure over here.

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    1. So they should, you are still a member state.

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  9. English was an official language long before the UK was a member surely.

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  10. I don’t understand why you think that you have to leave France now that the UK has left the EU. I have read your answer and it is not correct.

    You have been in France for quite a number of years. Is it approximately 40? I am assuming that you declared your income (or lack of) for that time.

    Apart from this regime that would have allowed you to have access to the french health system and thus your titre de sejour, you do realise that you are allowed to stay for far longer than you say,even without your carte.

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    1. I don't know where you get your info from. I am rather a special case. I have never 'worked' in France, my income comes from the UK, therefore not taxed over here. I am unable to obtain the necessary papers from the UK in order to get a Carte Vitale; which is essential in order to get a new Carte de Séjour. Also as all my assets are in the UK, I am not prepared to pay heavy taxes here on property I own elsewhere. As unpleasant as I find the new rulings, I shall live with them.

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  11. I understand more of Brexit and the EU reading your blog and it comments than listening to the news. Or reading it.

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    1. My analysis of the EU may be slightly cynical, but it's quite accurate.

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