+2

It's interesting to see that this poll shows people want to stay in the EU, the other thread shows that we don't want the Euro.

If we want a super state, surely we want a global super state? All or nothing...Why fiddle around with middle steps?

What would the EU do for me? What do they currently do for me? Could I do without them?

Where do I start? If you've ever bought a bicycle, food, electrical equipment etc etc etc then the safety (and labelling) requirements for those goods come from Brussels. Not to mention that the EU has done more for consumer rights, privacy, civil liberties and "green" issues than Westminster has ever attempted.

There's been this thing called the British Standards Institute. They did much the same thing for the UK for years. A good product was branded with a "kite mark" to show it met the required standards. Nowadays, they simply regurgitate standards from Brussels.

Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, mind. I'm just making a point that the UK was quite happy making its own way in the world before we got involved with what became the EU.

Most, if not all, British Standards are now European Standards that have been adapted for the UK. The advantage is of course, that I can buy products from anywhere within the EU and I know that is complies with the same standards and is safe to eat/use (ie. the "CE" mark).

Also, to be frank, European Safety standards in some cases are higher than the previous British equivalent.

Which should be a moot point with globalised companies? Who should be producing a standard product around the globe?



When were they taken over? How can we know they wouldn't have the same, or similar standards if they were still here today?

Doesn't matter, if it doesn't comply with EU regs. it's not getting in. If you want to do business in the EU you have to abide by European regs., simple - and that includes multi-nationals.



"What if" scenarios are no good to anyone. As to when European standards took over, it really depends on the product.

I'm not arguing here. Your post about EU safety standards implied, probably unintentionally, that such things didn't exist before we joined up. I was merely pointing out that there are some of us who are old enough to remember when we, as in the UK, used to do things for ourselves.

Ah, sorry. I definitely did not mean to imply that.