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EU could disappear; warns Guy Verhofstadt
Topic Started: Feb 8 2017, 10:02 AM (1,038 Views)
Mr Pat
Regular Member
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Quote:
 
European Parliament’s lead Brexit negotiator warns European Union could 'disappear'

The European Parliament’s lead Brexit negotiator has said that the European Union needs to reform or it risks disappearing completely.

Speaking to the BBC World Service on Wednesday, Guy Verhofstadt said that there are multiple sources of pressure on the bloc.

“If we look to the pressure on the European Union at the moment… [President Donald Trump] is bidding on the designation of the European Union and also Vladimir Putin who wants to divide the European Union,” he said.

“Then there’s also the threat of jihadism and then internally we have enormous pressure by nationalists, populists, the whole question of Brexit, so it’s an existential moment for the European Union,” he added.

He said that it is “now the time to reform, otherwise it could disappear.”

Mr Verhofstadt’s warning echoes a speech he made in London in January during which he said that the European trading bloc was facing a three-pronged attack from outside forces.

Two of the forces were Russian President Putin and radical Islamism; the third, he said, is Mr Trump, he said.

“I have just come back from the US and my view is that we have a third front that is undermining the EU ... and that is Donald Trump,” he said at the time.

Commenting on Brexit earlier last month, Mr Verhofstadt, who is the former prime minister of Belgium, said that Theresa May is creating an “illusion” after the prime minister outlined Britain's plan for leaving the EU at a landmark speech at Lancaster House.

He also said that it was “not very helpful” that there had been discussions about Britain becoming a tax haven after the split.

“I think it creates an illusion that you can go out of the single market and the customs union and you can cherry pick and still have a number of advantages,” he said at the time.


We can only hope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I
Edited by Mr Pat, Feb 8 2017, 10:04 AM.
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Replies:
Rich
Senior Member
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Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 11:34 PM
Affa
Feb 12 2017, 11:18 PM
Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 10:54 PM

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep

Mobile homes are cheap ........... trailer parks. Of course there is some migration, I knew that, but not on a scale that causes civil unrest over social problems, or strains on public services.
You try getting a site to park your mobile home in California, New York, Chicago etc etc
No thanks, I would much rather stay in my own country of Birth and try to make it better than it is as opposed to leaving for more lenient and welcoming countries that have fought countless conflicts to get where they are today.

Those that say they are oppressesd and trodden over have only themselves to blame, the wealthy and hedonistic west was once like that but actually did something about it.

If you are willing to be walked over then you will be taken advantage of.
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Affa
Senior Member
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Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 11:34 PM
Affa
Feb 12 2017, 11:18 PM
Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 10:54 PM

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep

Mobile homes are cheap ........... trailer parks. Of course there is some migration, I knew that, but not on a scale that causes civil unrest over social problems, or strains on public services.
You try getting a site to park your mobile home in California, New York, Chicago etc etc

We're not disagreeing here. I understand that there is interstate migration and suspect that there are measures to limit how much (or how easy) it is ........ my point was 'is there a lesson there that the EU can learn and implement'?

The UK government hasn't put hurdles to make it harder for immigrants to get a foothold - they've done the opposite!
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Paul
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The Buccaneer
Feb 8 2017, 01:33 PM
Malum Unus
Feb 8 2017, 12:23 PM
papasmurf
Feb 8 2017, 10:28 AM

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I don't.

Brexit was the essential pin, to stick in the arrogant bubble the EU leadership had created that no-one would ever leave the EU.


And should have happened 10 years ago.
If we had not been lied to by our politicians in the 70's perhaps we would never have joined the Common Market in the first place.
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Steve K
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Once and future cynic
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Paul
Feb 13 2017, 03:17 PM
The Buccaneer
Feb 8 2017, 01:33 PM
Malum Unus
Feb 8 2017, 12:23 PM

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep


And should have happened 10 years ago.
If we had not been lied to by our politicians in the 70's perhaps we would never have joined the Common Market in the first place.
Oh not THAT line again.

Go on name such a lie. You might want to read this first

The Gov Pamphlet delivered to every household before the 1975 Euro Referendum
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papasmurf
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Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 11:34 PM
You try getting a site to park your mobile home in California, New York, Chicago etc etc
Try getting a site that is open all year around in Britain.
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Steve K
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Once and future cynic
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papasmurf
Feb 13 2017, 03:46 PM
Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 11:34 PM
You try getting a site to park your mobile home in California, New York, Chicago etc etc
Try getting a site that is open all year around in Britain.
Ah yes. Bit of a diversion from topic but IIRC that's all to do with people avoiding council tax by claiming they're not permanent residents.
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papasmurf
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Steve K
Feb 13 2017, 03:51 PM
Bit of a diversion from topic but IIRC that's all to do with people avoiding council tax by claiming they're not permanent residents.
It is all to do with open all year sites being a rare as rocking horse poo. There is no avoidance of council tax because that is part of the site charge.
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Rich
Senior Member
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Steve K
Feb 13 2017, 03:51 PM
papasmurf
Feb 13 2017, 03:46 PM
Steve K
Feb 12 2017, 11:34 PM
You try getting a site to park your mobile home in California, New York, Chicago etc etc
Try getting a site that is open all year around in Britain.
Ah yes. Bit of a diversion from topic but IIRC that's all to do with people avoiding council tax by claiming they're not permanent residents.
How long does one have to reside in a place before one is classified as a permanent resident?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-36266504
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Mr Pat
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I see the EU are already worried about the shortfall of funding when we leave; demanding 60 billion to see them through.

It appears they really did like our money.
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Affa
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Don't Pay the demands ....... nobody else does.
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Steve K
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Once and future cynic
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Mr Pat
Feb 24 2017, 02:19 AM
I see the EU are already worried about the shortfall of funding when we leave; demanding 60 billion to see them through.

It appears they really did like our money.
It's a silly claim but yes some in Brussels have opined such. Hence the counter claim that in that case we'd take our share of their assets, we could also demand free access to the single market too

Just a silly game really, the public deserve better
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Steve K
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Once and future cynic
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Juncker has published a paper laying out 5 options the EU can pursue for its future

Overview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39132141

Full white paper: http://europa.eu/rapid/attachment/IP-17-385/en/White%20Paper%20on%20the%20future%20of%20Europe.pdf

How strange that this USofE we were told over and over again that the EU was committed to isn't one of the options or even one of the policies impacted by the options.

Because it never was true in the first place perchance? That the leavers were pushing a false line to get something they emotionally wanted by use of false instrument? Perish the thought ;-)

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Rich
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Steve K
Mar 1 2017, 08:06 PM
Juncker has published a paper laying out 5 options the EU can pursue for its future

Overview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39132141

Full white paper: http://europa.eu/rapid/attachment/IP-17-385/en/White%20Paper%20on%20the%20future%20of%20Europe.pdf

How strange that this USofE we were told over and over again that the EU was committed to isn't one of the options or even one of the policies impacted by the options.

Because it never was true in the first place perchance? That the leavers were pushing a false line to get something they emotionally wanted by use of false instrument? Perish the thought ;-)

You cannot blame folks for taking a particular stance when their concerns are ignored and the perception projected by the EU leads them down the road of leaving, the EU has only itself to blame for being inflexible, intransigent and arrogant for the outcome that has taken place in the UK,

UK governments get exactly the same treatment when they do not listen to the concerns of those that pay their wages and fund their gold plated pensions.
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Steve K
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Rich
Mar 1 2017, 08:27 PM
Steve K
Mar 1 2017, 08:06 PM
Juncker has published a paper laying out 5 options the EU can pursue for its future

Overview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39132141

Full white paper: http://europa.eu/rapid/attachment/IP-17-385/en/White%20Paper%20on%20the%20future%20of%20Europe.pdf

How strange that this USofE we were told over and over again that the EU was committed to isn't one of the options or even one of the policies impacted by the options.

Because it never was true in the first place perchance? That the leavers were pushing a false line to get something they emotionally wanted by use of false instrument? Perish the thought ;-)

You cannot blame folks for taking a particular stance when their concerns are ignored and the perception projected by the EU leads them down the road of leaving, the EU has only itself to blame for being inflexible, intransigent and arrogant for the outcome that has taken place in the UK,

UK governments get exactly the same treatment when they do not listen to the concerns of those that pay their wages and fund their gold plated pensions.
It was the perception created by charlatans like Farage and their camp followers who knew USofE was dead in the water by 2008 yet kept their idiot Project Fear about it going for ever after.

Well they knew they'd lose an honest informed argument so they thought better to tell untruths than give up their emotional obsession
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Tigger
Senior Member
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Rich
Mar 1 2017, 08:27 PM
Steve K
Mar 1 2017, 08:06 PM
Juncker has published a paper laying out 5 options the EU can pursue for its future

Overview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39132141

Full white paper: http://europa.eu/rapid/attachment/IP-17-385/en/White%20Paper%20on%20the%20future%20of%20Europe.pdf

How strange that this USofE we were told over and over again that the EU was committed to isn't one of the options or even one of the policies impacted by the options.

Because it never was true in the first place perchance? That the leavers were pushing a false line to get something they emotionally wanted by use of false instrument? Perish the thought ;-)

You cannot blame folks for taking a particular stance when their concerns are ignored and the perception projected by the EU leads them down the road of leaving, the EU has only itself to blame for being inflexible, intransigent and arrogant for the outcome that has taken place in the UK,

UK governments get exactly the same treatment when they do not listen to the concerns of those that pay their wages and fund their gold plated pensions.
Perhaps it was a plan to get the UK out? After all we've been the whinging neighbour for as long as I can remember, and one or two of my Continental friends (unfairly) blame the UK and US primarily for the banking crisis.
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The Buccaneer
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Steve K
Mar 1 2017, 08:33 PM
It was the perception created by charlatans like Farage and their camp followers who knew USofE was dead in the water by 2008 yet kept their idiot Project Fear about it going for ever after.

Well they knew they'd lose an honest informed argument so they thought better to tell untruths than give up their emotional obsession


I read the Juncker 'options' and 'path five' is merely another way of saying federation without using that word. The ckue is in the drive to save the € from extinction, because without a common tax, budget and legal system, it is doomed.
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