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Can you spot the European oddity? poll discussion
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The UK has been a member of the European Union (well, EEC) since 1973. It means people from the UK have rights to work in other EU countries and much greater freedoms of import and export.
Yet how well do you know which countries are EU? In the list below, one country isn’t a member of the EU, can you spot which?
Which of these countries ISN’T a member of the EU?
A. Estonia - 6% (677 votes)
B. France - 0% (22 votes)
C. Greece - 4% (435 votes)
D. Italy - 1% (57 votes)
E. Latvia - 5% (594 votes)
F. Lithuania - 6% (688 votes)
G. Norway - 48% (5479 votes)
H. Poland - 1% (165 votes)
I. Romania - 8% (930 votes)
J. Slovak Republic - 19% (2200 votes)
K. Spain - 1% (73 votes)
Voting has now closed, but you can still click 'post reply' to discuss below. Thanks
For the moment I've deleted the posts that give the answer away - as its makes it a little too easy to come from the poll and check.
The aim of the discussion is more the general concept and how the votes going.
Martin
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
How well do you know Europe? The UK has been a member of the European Union (well, EEC) since 1973. It means people from the UK have rights to work in other EU countries and much greater freedoms of import and export.
A somewhat one-sided sense what what EU membership means, wouldn't you say?
You could equally say "It means a lot of decisions that directly affect the amount of money in your pocket and your quality of life are made by people in Brussels over whom you have next to no democratic control".
Or ... "It means Britain has to pay £6bn (net) cash to the EU every year plus carry the costs of implementing endless regulations when we could enjoy the exact same trading benefits via a simple free trade agreement with the EU - like Mexico or many other countries have."
There are many better ways to achieve free movement, free trade and broad co-operation than the political centralisation that characterises the EU. Such structures of power with little accountability suit only the politicians.
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A somewhat one-sided sense what what EU membership means, wouldn't you say?
You could equally say "It means a lot of decisions that directly affect the amount of money in your pocket and your quality of life are made by people in Brussels over whom you have next to no democratic control".
You could same the same about national government. It means that life here in Surrey is dictated by people in Whitehall over whom I have next to no democratic control. When Labour got in a decade or so ago, they were voted in by a minority!!!
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I think it's Norway ?? I'm sure one of my AQA answers I gave recently said that..........I could be wrong, my geographical and political knowledge is appalling....
Debt Free (again), so the BB Challenge: £4k savings by my 40th birthday (19 May 2010)
Like the current majority of voters on this poll I was pleased to see I got it right
Actually the majority of people have got it wrong... less than fifty percent have picked the correct answer
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
From the look of the responses I think some people may actually be answering a different question that would no doubt stimulate further debate if it were formally posted.
The question being (insert tongue in cheek) "which country(s) act as if the EU was formed predominantly to serve their own self interests rather than the benefit of all members?"
Poster now exits stage left due to previous engagement!
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From the look of the responses I think some people may actually be answering a different question that would no doubt stimulate further debate if it were formally posted.
The question being (insert tongue in cheek) "which country(s) act as if the EU was formed predominantly to serve their own self interests rather than the benefit of all members?"
Poster now exits stage left due to previous engagement!
That's easier than the original question - France!
Of course another question would be if we weren't paying for them how would all these East European countries become wealthier and where would all their inhabitants go if they couldn't come here?
I thought it was a trickery as I thought Czechoslavakia (sp) was the Czech Republic + Slovakia not "Slovak Republic".
I was in fact wrong...and upon checking with the trusty Wikipedia I'm quite suprised by the correct answer
he he "trusty Wikipedia"
Seriously though this confused me a little too. It just so happens that I was reading about the country the other day and that's how I got it. I think there would have been nor way I would have got it correct otherwise. [That was subtle, right? ]
Why are the results so predictable ?
First time I looked at the options, I spoted the country that will be incorrectly voted by many as EU outsider. Ignorance and prejudice rules.
I am longing for the day when the answer will be the UK.
BTW do you know that the country in question gets all the trade benefits of EU membership without any of the non-trade costs and bureacracy? So does Switzerland. It is a lie that we need to be in the EU in order to have free trade with them.
Last edited by webwiz; 14-01-2009 at 9:12 PM..
Reason: expansion
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Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps. Take care over copyright. Use excerpts and links rather than copying long text. This site asserts copyright on all comments posted on the board.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.
Can you spot the European oddity? poll discussion
TGGMMC#2 Aiming for Santa Status £1000
), so the BB Challenge: £4k savings by my 40th birthday (19 May 2010)
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