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Renegotiation of EU Status
Topic Started: Mar 23 2014, 05:23 AM (268 Views)
Amorn
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Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union

As I'm sure the various members of this body are aware the United Kingdom has committed itself to carrying out the will of its populace in regards to the EU, this provides two options either a complete renegotiation of the UK's relationship within Europe or a unilateral UK withdrawal from the EU. It is the opinion of the British Government that the former option proves the best for all involved parties and as such the duty rests upon myself to begin the process of establishing a framework by which the United Kingdom can back out of a variety of EU institutions which do not serve the interests or the ideals of the British State. To this end we propose the following key matters receive discussion.

* A British withdrawal from the Common Agricultural Policy, which provides little real tangible benefit to British farmers compared to the financial cost.
* A British withdrawal from the Common Fishery Policy, which simply undermines the UK fishery industry.
* A British withdrawal from all EU political controls bringing an end to all EU regulation within the United Kingdom which hampers British business largely.
* A British withdrawal from all EU judicial controls with the authority of EU Courts in the United Kingdom revoked.
* A British withdrawal from all EU Foreign policy and military bodies.
* A retention of British membership within internal market with us remaining interested in maintaining the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital between the United Kingdom and Europe.

Effectively our plan is simple, to bring British membership in Europe back in line with what was intended genitally. A trade and customs alliance which aimed to bring about greater financial success for all involved, not a hybrid political union which serves to push the agendas of various nations with social values completely incompatible with those of the British people. A reform of our relationship in the manner suggested serves the interests of all involved parties and allows a fruitful and mutually beneficial situation for all parties to exist into the future.
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Eryk
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Posted Image - Marek Prawda
Stały przedstawiciel RP przy Unii Europejskiej l Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union

In essence what the United Kingdom is demanding is a withdrawal from the European Union and all its mechanisms and policies - thereby annulling all its responsibilities as a member - while retaining the single largest benefit which the European Union provides, which is freedom of movement of peoples within Europe and an internal market. With such a position, the United Kingdom may as well leave the European Union and join the EFTA, as we do not find it legally permissible for it to exist as a member whilst opting out of everything else other than the internal market.
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Amorn
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Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union

In essence that is the intention, we simply require the support of the various members of the European Commission to bring it about.
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Jos1311
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Posted Image Philippe Étienne
Représentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Union européenne | Permanent Representative of France to the European Union

Mr. Rogers,

this desire is nothing short of an outrage. Britain already has various opt-outs in place, and the opt-out for the Social Program, which contains some of the subjects you are now addressing, has been abolished by Britain in 1997. While France is willing to discuss reforms of several of the matters brought forward, it should be entirely clear that any of the reforms and request will need to be reasonable and realistic. The current request simply is not deemed such, and it should be noted that Paris will only support reform if it is to improve the Union as an organization. Paris will not agree to concessions being made by the rest of the EU, just to help the British domestic agenda.

France is in favour of further integration of the Eurozone, and it is the French view that any British proposal for reform should focus upon this as well. Paris knows the promises made by Mr. Cameron to change the British position within Europe, I fully understand that he has to because of his problems with his own party and the public opinion, however I will make it clear that France will not agree to anything that does not suit France’s interests. I again emphasize that we are willing to discuss reasonable and realistic reforms, however we strongly suggest that Britain does not overplay its hand.
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Amorn
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Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union

Concessions? What concessions? If these institutions such as the Common Agricultural Policy hold any value, indeed if their implementation means anything, it suggests that all nations benefit to some level from their existence. Indeed we would argue in the case of most of the aspects of the Union we wish to disengage from their is for the general European Community a level of benefit, the issue is this benefit does not carry over to the United Kingdom and this is something the French Government openly accepts such the existence British rebate on the Agricultural issue, etc, etc. What is the point in tying nations fundamentally opposed to these institutions too them, against their will, when such action doesn't even provide a real domestic benefit to the countries pushing it seeing as they still benefit from the policy regardless of if the UK participates. All we ask is that Britain's membership is changed into one which is mutually beneficial rather then one in which the pieces are vastly arranged in Europe's favour.

Let us be clear the United Kingdom will not integrate further, we will not support further federalisation and we will not support any further jumps in the power of the European Commission or Parliament. The vision of Europe being adopted by the continent is not the vision Britain signed up for, indeed it is one fundamentally opposed to British values and beliefs. If European nations such as France or Germany attempt to strong arm a continuation of British membership let us be clear all they will do is ensure that this organisation never evolves in the manner they envisage.

Britain seeks to bring down its engagement with the EU down to levels in accordance simply with the EFTA and European threats will not change that. This is not the Soviet Union, this is a voluntary union engaged in by states with the understanding it suits their interests and pushes their ends, should any part of the Union not aid a state it has a right to disengage itself from it. Every member has the right to engage in whatever parts of the union it wishes and any others it does not, a federal state and European integration should not have ever been the goals of this organisation and attempting to tie down the United Kingdom to a vision it never believed in or support shall not be allowed.
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Jos1311
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Posted Image Philippe Étienne
Représentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Union européenne | Permanent Representative of France to the European Union

Mr. Rogers,

I have made the French stance clear, France is willing to discuss realistic and reasonable reforms that benefit the European Union, not reforms that benefit the agenda of Britain. France will not support a British memberships that solely seeks out the benefits. While Paris would find it

As stated by Mr. Prawda the Britain appears to be demanding a full withdrawal from the European Union and all its mechanisms and policies, and thereby annulling all British responsibilities as a member, while retaining the freedom of movement of peoples within Europe and its internal market. Such a solution will not only be not acceptable for Paris, there simply is no legal basis for Britain to opt-out of policy programs for which they have no opt-out option. To make a long story short, Britain can either discuss reforms that will involve compromise in the areas it has highlighted, however there is no legal basis to opt out from this areas, other than a withdrawal from the Union as a whole. The later however will also mean the loss of access to the internal market. Which can partially be overcome by becoming a member of the EFTA.
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Amorn
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Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union

This what the United Kingdom seeks, a agreement by the Commission to allow the United Kingdom to transfer its status from the EU to simply a party of the EFTA. Will France support that or will she continue to attempt to stall the inevitable and cause unnecessary damage to both relations and herself.
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Eryk
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Stały przedstawiciel RP przy Unii Europejskiej l Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union

The radical shift in British public policy toward the European Union is somewhat surprising to Poland, given that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government made clear repeatedly that it would first seek renegotiation in the form proposed by France, rather than unilateral withdrawal from the European Union without a prior referendum. We believe the statements of the British representative would have greater credibility in the context of a referendum by the British public approving the moves by the British government, or seeking more flexible renegotiation.

To be clear, Poland would like to see the United Kingdom within the European Union. We value London as a steadfast supporter of Polish independence and a nation of strong values, credentials, and influence. We believe that the United Kingdom would better benefit from the European Union under a reformed and more flexible framework in various policies - including the Common Agricultural Policy - more than it would from simply being a member of the internal market through EFTA.

We would also like to point out that members of the European Free Trade Association also have obligations towards the European Union, however have greater freedoms in terms of adopting directives. We find ourselves somewhat reluctant to accept such incomplete approaches to European integration, and we do not want to see a Switzerland-style agreement - where a state enjoys all the benefits, but none of the obligations of a member of the European Union - to become a common alternative to a wider project for European integration.
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Jos1311
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Posted Image Philippe Étienne
Représentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Union européenne | Permanent Representative of France to the European Union

Representatives,

France too would like to express its surprise and disappointment at the radical policy of the British government, while we also question whether the Liberal Democrats will support this rather unexpected change in policy. Paris would prefer to see London be part of a Europe that is increasing its cooperation in various fields and work towards a common future, rather than a United Kingdom that drifts away towards isolation. However if this is the desire of Mr. Cameron, and if he is fully aware of the various warnings that were given by numerous entrepreneurs, and corporate Britain, Paris will not stand in the way of this policy.

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Amorn
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Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union

The United Kingdom is not committing itself wholly too any path on this issue until the next election, although it is important for an agreement to be made on this issue prior too a referendum occurring as the likely result, a vote to leave the Union, could result in a situation disadvantageous to all parties in which a sudden British exit is forced. Rather we feel the agreement by the Commission on the nature of British association with Europe in 2015, which will be utterly different from that experienced today, is necessary in order to undertake said process in a manner which benefits the interests of all involved parties.

Our very goal is a Switzerland style agreement, one in which both parties benefit and the endless and mindless red tape and regulation of the Union can be discarded. We shall not commit too any course until 2015 this is true but we do seek an agreement with this body on how we shall all proceed when these matters come to face in order to facilitate a speedy and mutually beneficial arrangement.
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