Brexit discussion thread XIV (Please read OP before posting)

"Affiliate membership would also be available as an option for any current EU member state which, like the UK, chose not to adhere to the goal of an ever closer union.". That line makes my blood boil. Which are the particular member states who want ever closer union? They can't resist getting in a sly and nasty dig at the EU.....it sounds like a load of UKIP / Brexiteer nonsense.

"Ever close union" among the peoples of Europe is, and has been all along, an explicitly stated objective of the EU and its member states. It's literally on page 1 of the Treaty of Rome, which established the (then) EEC and it is repeated in the Single European Act (1986) and the Lisbon Treaty (2009).

So, which are the particular member states that want an ever closer union? They all do; they have bound themselves to it, repeatedly.

But, NB, it's not an ever closer union of the states of Europe; it's an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe. Brexiteers tend to assume that "ever closer union" can only mean a federal "United States of Europe". That assumption tells us more about Brexiteers than it does about the EU and its objectives.

SFAIK the GB standard has not been reduced; it's the same standard as the EU was applying until recently. The EU standard was rescaled in August 2021; the GB standard has not been changed. I don't know whether it's intended to change it to keep it in line with the new EU standard.

You'll notice that the EU label includes a QR code which you can scan that will link you to more detailed information about the labelled product - colour temperature, cap type, and so forth. I don't know if the UK intends to make this feature part of the GB labelling standard; I'm guessing not.

Ever closer Union is mentioned in the Treaty of Rome. You don't have to agree on the pace of the progress towards the goal but if you don't agree with the goal as a whole then you've nothing to do in the EU. Currently, Poland and Hungary fall within this category.

"The tricky part of this idea is the reverse question: why would EFTA want the UK? It's members IIRC generally include Lichtenstein Switzerland etc - small countries who (I'm guessing) would not want the suddenly introduction of a country who'd immediately dwarf then all in population and clout. Not to mention being a historically noted belligerent voice in a community of nations. Were I Iceland it'd be a loud "no" from me for that reason."

It boils down how the UK sees itself. The EU meant it was a strong voice, but still required the acceptance by other, smaller, countries. Being in EFTA would pretty much make them the leader of that bunch, by dint of their massive size and population. Much like we in Ireland need to be cognisant that we are very small part of the EU and we can't expect to get everything we want, those smaller countries would see that over time the UK would demand more and more and the smaller countries would have little real power. The UK have shown that they are quite prepared to shot themselves, and harm others, to try to get their own way.

But the UK don't see it like that. And since they couldn't get their own way in the EU, then the next best thing is to make themselves king of another group and try to attack it from another angle.

Indeed, but that was my point - this Brexity document implies that there are EU member states in favour of a 'federal Europe', when that isn't even on the table.

As I said, this joke of a proposal of theirs on 'associated membership' sounds like it was written by UKIP.

I don't think Poland and Hungary are pushing against closer integration : I think it's more that they want to exist as racist, bigoted states within the union and to be left to their own devices.

100% : which is why I was very surprised to see some Lib Dem guy was involved in it.

When a populist leader like BoJo loses popular support they are done for as they have neither policy, creditability or track record to protect their position and this night club clip is a microcosm of how BoJo is losing the country from which there is no return.

https://twitter.com/PaulAllenSK1/status/1473600050194436097

I assume the UK will do away with the AOC/PDO in another "astounding win" for Brexit Britain.