German MPs warn losing Britain will be "disastrous" for Europe's economy - Polidicks

[B]A new, strongly worded warning against Britain leaving the EU has come from a delegation of visiting German MPs. [/B]It follows Wednesday's expression of concern from a senior US official. The cross-party delegation from the Bundestag's EU Affairs committee was in London to highlight [B]Germany's growing alarm at the danger of a possible UK exit[/B]. [B]The chairman of the committee said if Britain left the EU, it would be disastrous for its economy.[/B] The delegation is meeting British government officials and talking to MPs at the House of Commons. Briefing reporters at the German Embassy in London, Gunther Krichbaum, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling CDU party, said: "[B]Losing the single market for the UK would be an economic disaster.[/B]" He added that more business leaders in Britain needed to make the case for continued membership. Mr Krichbaum also argued that [B]Britain would suffer a significant loss of global prestige if it left the EU club[/B]. "Britain leaving [the EU] would weaken the European idea, but[B] it would weaken Britain's position in the world[/B] more," he said. "By the end of the 21st Century, Europe will account for only 4% of the global population," he added. "[B]We have to stand together.[/B]" Following Wednesday's public warning from the US Assistant Secretary of European Affairs, Philip Gordon, that the US wanted to see a continued strong UK voice within the EU, some members of the German delegation expressed the view that a British departure from the EU could damage relations with Washington for both London and Brussels. Mr Krichbaum added that from his point of view, [B]any attempt by Britain to renegotiate its position to reach a "new settlement" for continued membership would be resisted by its European partners[/B]. "[B]Renegotiating the Lisbon Treaty is first of all legally impossible,[/B]" he said. "In the broader sense of negotiation a new treaty, it is neither wise nor useful to open a Pandora's box." This would set a dangerous precedent and[B] encourage other members states to try to renegotiate more favourable deals[/B] from their standpoints, Mr Krichbaum said. [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20974666[/URL]

Why do I have a feeling this will either lead to A) The referendum being called off, or B) If it goes through for a exit, will simply be ignored?

[QUOTE=The fox;39169339]Why do I have a feeling this will either lead to A) The referendum being called off, or B) If it goes through for a exit, will simply be ignored?[/QUOTE] What referendum? There is no referendum, how can it be called off?

That's assuming that the UK will just stop trading all together, which is a fucking stupid idea.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems the biggest issue is UK is fed up with the EU telling them to have open borders? If you want to keep the UK why not just renegotiate that?

[QUOTE=smurfy;39169398]What referendum? There is no referendum, how can it be called off?[/QUOTE] Let me word it in another way then; The referendum not happening, or if it goes through with a "Leave EU" it will simply be ignored, either by the UK government or by EU.

[QUOTE=The fox;39169553]Let me word it in another way then; The referendum not happening, or if it goes through with a "Leave EU" it will simply be ignored, either by the UK government [B]or by EU.[/B][/QUOTE]Er, if the UK government decides to enforce a referendum on EU membership that returned a "No" answer, there's bugger all the EU can do about it. I know you're terrified of them, but contrary to what you may have heard, the EU is not a unified military hegemony with the power to enforce continued membership.

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;39169725]Er, if the UK government decides to enforce a referendum on EU membership that returned a "No" answer, there's bugger all the EU can do about it. I know you're terrified of them, but contrary to what you may have heard, the EU is not a unified military hegemony with the power to enforce continued membership.[/QUOTE] Trade stops from any European member, huge fines in their courts etc. Contrary to what you appear to believe, the military isn't the only, nor the most powerfull tool, that can be used to force a country to submit to the will of others.

[QUOTE=matt.ant;39169298] "Britain leaving [the EU] would weaken the European idea, but[B] it would weaken Britain's position in the world[/B] more," he said. Mr Krichbaum added that from his point of view, [B]any attempt by Britain to renegotiate its position to reach a "new settlement" for continued membership would be resisted by its European partners[/B]. [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20974666[/URL][/QUOTE] You cannot leave, you cannot negotiate for a better deal! So what are our options?

[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;39169771]You cannot leave, you cannot negotiate for a better deal! So what are our options?[/QUOTE] That new soviet union thing Putin is planning :v:

[QUOTE]Mr Krichbaum added that from his point of view, any attempt by Britain to renegotiate its position to reach a "new settlement" for continued membership would be resisted by its European partners.[/QUOTE] "We really want you to stay, but we are really getting tired of your shit." [QUOTE=Paul McCartney;39169407]That's assuming that the UK will just stop trading all together, which is a fucking stupid idea.[/QUOTE] It won't but it will make things complicated for businesses on both sides due to trade barriers. Just check how much products and services are being banned to enter the market. Of course, once the UK is outside, there's no way the Europeans would allow Britain on a one-sided deal in their favour.

[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;39169771]You cannot leave, you cannot negotiate for a better deal! So what are our options?[/QUOTE] The UK's already in a privileged position, not having had to adopt the Euro. To act as if somehow the weight of the EU is just pressing down unbearably on the UK economy without any benefit is just ridiculous. They need to stay in the EU and help make sure the ship stays afloat.

[QUOTE=Megafan;39171493]The UK's already in a privileged position, not having had to adopt the Euro. To act as if somehow the weight of the EU is just pressing down unbearably on the UK economy without any benefit is just ridiculous. They need to stay in the EU and help make sure the ship stays afloat.[/QUOTE] France needs to stop being a lazy piece of shit and actually start deporting the migrants we send back over there instead of ignoring them.

ok germany here is the deal you give us beer and sausages and we will reconsider

Although i hope we leave the EU, as orders from Brussels are driving me up the fucking wall. But i think in the long run, its not beneficial enough. Think of all the trade we could loose and commerce connections to other country's.

[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;39169407]That's assuming that the UK will just stop trading all together, which is a fucking stupid idea.[/QUOTE] All of the countries in the EU would have to come to their own arrangement with the UK regarding taxes etc, it would screw over Europe's economy.

[QUOTE=madmax678;39171789]Although i hope we leave the EU, as orders from Brussels are driving me up the fucking wall.[/QUOTE] Yes, the Belgians just handing down decrees straight from their Eurocratic center. It's not like the British have any MEPs or anything, right?

[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;39169771]You cannot leave, you cannot negotiate for a better deal! So what are our options?[/QUOTE] Become the 52nd state, or stay in the EU.

[QUOTE=The fox;39169553]Let me word it in another way then; The referendum not happening, or if it goes through with a "Leave EU" it will simply be ignored, either by the UK government or by EU.[/QUOTE] But the current government and current opposition have zero interest in a referendum on the UK's status inside the EU so what on earth are you going on about. [editline]10th January 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=madmax678;39171789]Although i hope we leave the EU, as orders from Brussels are driving me up the fucking wall. [/QUOTE] Please give me a list of laws passed in Brussels (ignoring the fact the EU parliament is split across two cities in two different countries, but then again why would people want to get factual details right when discussing the EU no one else does) that have actually "driven you up the wall". [editline]10th January 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Megafan;39171836]Yes, the Belgians just handing down decrees straight from their Eurocratic center. It's not like the British have any MEPs or anything, right?[/QUOTE] Don't be silly, everyone knows that all laws are made by one Belgian guy no one has ever heard of.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;39171838]Become the 52nd state, or stay in the EU.[/QUOTE] We can strengthen the commonwealth with rising economies like India. Becoming a state of the USA is frankly a death wish as they won't last in the future. Keeping trade open and free to the EU is obviously vital though.

[QUOTE=Vasili;39171888]We can strengthen the commonwealth with rising economies like India. Becoming a state of the USA is frankly a death wish as they won't last in the future. Keeping trade open and free to the EU is obviously vital though.[/QUOTE] We could always reform the empire, I am sure some people out there must be interested.

[QUOTE=Jsm;39171923]We could always reform the empire, I am sure some people out there must be interested.[/QUOTE] Before WWI we were going to reform the Empire into the commonwealth as we knew Empires were not becoming very popular around the 1900's.

We want out of the uk because we don't want all these extra EU laws governing us, it's too much. However we want to still keep trading, which we can do in the common wealth anyway.

[QUOTE=BloodRayne;39171987]We want out of the uk because we don't want all these extra EU laws governing us, it's too much. However we want to still keep trading, which we can do in the common wealth anyway.[/QUOTE] Again, what laws? People always say this but never actually list any laws that had any real effect on us. Mind you the EU doesn't actually pass laws so..

[QUOTE=Jsm;39172028]Again, what laws? People always say this but never actually list any laws that had any real effect on us. Mind you the EU doesn't actually pass laws so..[/QUOTE] I think he means stuff like the Daytime Running Lights which is the law for all cars and a bit pointless

[QUOTE=matt.ant;39172136]I think he means stuff like the Daytime Running Lights which is the law for all cars and a bit pointless[/QUOTE] Oh so a directive which for most of Europe saves lives but is a bit pointless in one country? That would effect us even if it wasn't made Europe wide, a car company isn't going to going go through the hassle of selling two models just because some don't want daytime running lights (which I am sure can be turned off).

The UK needs to get of their high horse and start to play ball with continental Europe.

[QUOTE=Jsm;39172180]Oh so a directive which for most of Europe saves lives but is a bit pointless in one country? That would effect us even if it wasn't made Europe wide, a car company isn't going to going go through the hassle of selling two models just because some don't want daytime running lights (which I am sure can be turned off).[/QUOTE] They can't be turned off unless you go in and unplug them. And why wouldn't they go to the hassle? they go to the hassle of putting the steering wheel on the other side and re-branding Opel as Vauxhall and why would some LEDs in the middle of the day save lives? if it's dark put your lights on, simple

[QUOTE=Satansick;39172236]The UK needs to get of their high horse and start to play ball with continental Europe.[/QUOTE] Why should they? There is barely any benefits for the UK to stay in the EU.

[QUOTE=matt.ant;39172247]They can't be turned off unless you go in and unplug them. And why wouldn't they go to the hassle? they go to the hassle of putting the steering wheel on the other side and re-branding Opel as Vauxhall and why would some LEDs in the middle of the day save lives? if it's dark put your lights on, simple[/QUOTE] Fair enough, my only experience with seeing them is with them are the ones my dad's car has and now that I think about it its slightly older than the directive so it just has them due to being Swedish. As for Opel / Vauxhall that's two separate companies so its a slightly different matter. I don't quite know [I]how[/I] they save lives but Scandinavian governments / Volvo have been believing it long enough for it to be standard over there.