French at it again. GRRRRRRR!!!!!

zappahey

I understand the dangers of protectionism but, to me, it's quite understandable that the French taxpayer doesn't want to pay out to save jobs in Slovenia.

baby_boomer

We're far too British and foolish try play by the European rules.

That's not how it works, Gordon.

The French are happy to benefit from the rules when it suits them and openly disregard them when it doesn't.

Incredibly Blair gave up Maggie's rebate without getting the French to concede on the Common Agriculture Policy. What a wimp!

tomterm8

zappahey wrote: »

I understand the dangers of protectionism but, to me, it's quite understandable that the French taxpayer doesn't want to pay out to save jobs in Slovenia.

It's entirely understandable. However, the Slovenian government feels the same pressures, and now has a good explination for deciding to protect it's own domestic markets by putting in place trade barriers against the French. Not to mention practically every other government.

After all, someone has to buy these cars the french are making, No?

leveller2911

I said this was happening(protectionism) on other threads and got generally slaughter for it(with the odd ,thank-you thrown in). Its been happening for years, especially France and Spain,(CAP and fisheries) in my opinion it just backs up my view on the EU as a whole, its seen by the political elite (if you can call them that) as an experiment in social engineering which is failing.Each states No1 priority is to benefit its own people and you wont change that, this recession is a prime example of what has been going on for years but because of the enormous scale of the problem is NOT quite so easy to "cover up".

The EU is a DEAD DUCK, we should withdraw, spend the £8-12 billion on "OUR" nation and its problems and have a working relationship with Europe ,its worked throughout history with the odd war thrown in ,if we carry on this way we wont avoid wars.

leveller2911

zappahey wrote: »

I understand the dangers of protectionism but, to me, it's quite understandable that the French taxpayer doesn't want to pay out to save jobs in Slovenia.

"EUROPEAN UNION" theres a hint in the title............ :rolleyes: member states acting together for the benefit of the whole of Europe...(supposedly)

amcluesent

>member states acting together for the benefit of the whole of Europe<

Yep. France running protectionist cartels. Germany setting Euro interest rates to suite itself. EE exporting their criminals. Spain left to deal with the Moors (again). Italy a basket case. Ireland going down the same way as Iceland. Hopefully we'll see a break up the EU within 5 years.

leveller2911

amcluesent wrote: »

>member states acting together for the benefit of the whole of Europe<

Yep. France running protectionist cartels. Germany setting Euro interest rates to suite itself. EE exporting their criminals. Spain left to deal with the Moors (again). Italy a basket case. Ireland going down the same way as Iceland. Hopefully we'll see a break up the EU within 5 years.

I think it could be one of the few good things to come out of the recession:D ...

treliac

[quote=amcluesent;19951421Hopefully_we'll_see_a_break_up_the_EU_within_5_years.[/quote]

Think we'd do any better in the song contest?

chopperharris

I dont think the majority can see the bigger picture here.

Yes all of the eu already bends the rules on protectionism , apart from us we hear.

You have to wonder why if we go on about it so much that we still buy goods from these places or go there on holiday then.

If we are that bitter then why do we have mercs , beemers , pearjoes , citroens , renaults and rebadged opels as our cars.....yet avoided british ones , well actually perhaps a bad argument there in part.

I think the french perhaps forget that all those years ago we freed them from their invaders that allows them to have a french industry now.They forget that their govt owns stakes in their car industry which is bending the rules they use against other nations to protect self interests.

Germany forgets that it never paid renumeration for worldwar 2.We gave them aid to create a good industry and not bad history.Yet complains about giving poorer eu members their own money back in subsidies....oh the irony.

Immigration-:It wont be long before thats touted as the cause , its the blame hound of us all.Germany blames its reunited neighbour for a large part of its woes , and its turkish immigrants.The french blame its immigrants , even if they are not first generation.

France wants to disperse with benefits for expats from the uk , even if those benefits are just its nhs....its testing the water for worse.

Immigrants dont want to stay elsewhere in the EU if we are considered a soft touch compared to them.Perhaps we should be applying the benefits system of the eu nation to immigrants from the last country they entered from....and then claiming them for it?It wouldnt be long afterwards that the uk doesnt have an immigration problem at all coming through france.

If they enter here illegally it was probably through france , they wont help us as it benefits them to get shot of them.They complain they have to fund shelters because of us , wont allow us to send them back to where they got here from with an french averted eye.

If we are going to complain about illegal immigrants and yet actually not expel them , then its time for eu sponsored working camps and gps ankle bracelets in return for entry.Five years of workcamps should be just about right before the door is finally opened to legal entry and all its entitlements.....you pay us then we pay you.

leveller2911

chopperharris wrote: »

I dont think the majority can see the bigger picture here.

Yes all of the eu already bends the rules on protectionism , apart from us we hear.

You have to wonder why if we go on about it so much that we still buy goods from these places or go there on holiday then.

If we are that bitter then why do we have mercs , beemers , pearjoes , citroens , renaults and rebadged opels as our cars.....yet avoided british ones , well actually perhaps a bad argument there in part.

I think the french perhaps forget that all those years ago we freed them from their invaders that allows them to have a french industry now.They forget that their govt owns stakes in their car industry which is bending the rules they use against other nations to protect self interests.

Germany forgets that it never paid renumeration for worldwar 2.We gave them aid to create a good industry and not bad history.Yet complains about giving poorer eu members their own money back in subsidies....oh the irony.

Immigration-:It wont be long before thats touted as the cause , its the blame hound of us all.Germany blames its reunited neighbour for a large part of its woes , and its turkish immigrants.The french blame its immigrants , even if they are not first generation.

France wants to disperse with benefits for expats from the uk , even if those benefits are just its nhs....its testing the water for worse.

Immigrants dont want to stay elsewhere in the EU if we are considered a soft touch compared to them.Perhaps we should be applying the benefits system of the eu nation to immigrants from the last country they entered from....and then claiming them for it?It wouldnt be long afterwards that the uk doesnt have an immigration problem at all coming through france.

If they enter here illegally it was probably through france , they wont help us as it benefits them to get shot of them.They complain they have to fund shelters because of us , wont allow us to send them back to where they got here from with an french averted eye.

If we are going to complain about illegal immigrants and yet actually not expel them , then its time for eu sponsored working camps and gps ankle bracelets in return for entry.Five years of workcamps should be just about right before the door is finally opened to legal entry and all its entitlements.....you pay us then we pay you.

Whilst I pretty much agree with your views, the fact that you have now brought up "immigration" Chopper, this thread will now just degenerate into a slanging match between pro and anti immigration,its like actors/actresses in the theatre mentioning the "Scottish Play".Its a deff NO-NO..:rolleyes: Which is a shame as there was plenty to debate about on the rest of the EU and protectionism.....:D