sir recorder

I would say that this is the single most important political question facing the expat community, the consequences that would face us all in terms of the benefits we might lose, the taxes that might rise, our democratic rights, and so forth.

Would you vote for abandonment by Brits of the EU?
What consequences do you think we face?
What of Scottish independence?
Is the EU really worth it to UK?
What do you think you would lose if UK went?
Is the Euro a "centralisation" too far?
Is the "Euro" the reason for the EU, and that those who do not want it not "true" members?
Has centralisation gone too far?
Should the EU be just a common single market?
Or should it have a "larger" programme?
What do you think of the EU's so-called "democratic" institutions or justice systems?
Should there really be freedom of movement of labour?
Are the Brits being "squeezed" or pushed out by the others?
Are you disillusioned with and by the EU, like most Brits back home?
Or have you simply abandoned the UK altogether as a hopelessly lost cause, and "gone native" in the EU itself?

EMR

Its all vey simple. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
The UK will re negotiate some areas of the treaty.
There will be a lot of fuss and nonesense.
Do you think that Cameron wants sun readers who have no idea about what the EU means deciding one of the most important decisions ever to face the UK.
The EU existed long before the Euro, you are getting the two confused.

sir recorder

I disagree, everyday the anti-EU partisans in the Uk are getting stronger. Maybe or maybe not egged on by the Sun and other newspapers. Most UK citizens are disillusioned with the EU and everything European.

You are wrong about the Euro. This is seen by those who have it as "ever closer union", in other words total fiscal union, and then political union, which will surely and eventually have to follow. Those who have Euro think themselves the Bees Knees, and think of all those nations who do not have it as definitely 2nd class members, and not true Europeans. Why is there all this fuss about Greece and Portugal wanting to keep the Euro? These countries don't want to be seen as slipping into a 2nd class state.

Yes, it is a very important matter.

EMR

Not all EU members are part of the Eurozone and like the UK and Sweden have no wish to be part of it.
True institutions like the European court of Justice have too much influence on UK law. But expats realise that their entitlement to some allowances such as winter fuel would have been removed by this government were it not for this ECJ one of the EU instituions that many want to get rid of.
The referendum may take place if the tories win the next election with an outright majority, I say may as since when did any party keep to its pre election policies.
Plus their is a long way to go and many negotiations to take place.

If Cameron gets his own way with the EU and the UK is seen to benefit then guess what , no referendum or it will be indefinetly delayed.

Mitzyboy

Actually that seems not to be true according to polls carried out and shown on SKY. Support for staying in the EU has increased according to them, not decreased.

Cameron made it clear this morning that although he is willing to go to a referendum on the subject, he wont do it whilst the EU is in its present state of flux. So ... we're in it for a while yet, and as I said the polls showed that if there was a vote tomorrow we would stay in.

His plan is to re negotiate certain areas

mikelincs

There won't be a referendum till 2018 at the earliest, and certainly not during the lifetime of this Parliament. If Cameron doesn't get in, then there won't be one either, and it all depends on what he can get renogtiated.

Mitzyboy

Yes, I sat and watched his complete speech this morning. Although he's clearly trying to please everyone with what he says, it certainly takes away the current uncertainty

longrangesniper

Yes
None
Yes please
No
A pain in the arse
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yea, right
No
No
Yes
No,never,we shall fight them on the beaches,fight them in the bars etc etc

No move along, there's nothing to see here

EMR

Those from the UK who live in Portugal or any other EU member but who are not " Resident " could find that they would be subject to numerous additional rules and reg which as members of the EU are currently not applicable to them.

tombo

Well some country would have to step in and make up the EU budget shortfall. With only a handful of countries being net contributors and the rest being beneficiaries someone would have to make up the deficit.
If there are no candidates then I guess it would be the residents who would have to dig deep.

sir recorder

The knock on effect of that might be that fewer Brits would want to retire or own holiday homes in Portugal or other EU locations, there being no advantage for them to do so. I would say that would have a huge depressing effect on the holiday/retirement home market in PT, negating any recovery that might take place. As UK citizens are among the largest investors in that market in PT, that could have a severe effect on PT's economy.

EMR

As the £ could go into freefall they would not be able to afford it anyway.
But it is not going to happen, Cameron does not want it so he will make sure that the referendum only takes place when he is sure of a favourable result.

Mike

The UK needs the EU. Their economy will collapse without it.

sir recorder

Does the EU need the UK? The comments being made currently by some French and German politicians and pundits give me the impression they would rather the UK left.

The German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said "cherry picking was not an option". There was a similar reaction from the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. "We can't have Europe a la carte," he said. "Imagine the EU was a football club; once you've joined up and you're in this club you can't then say you want to play rugby."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21158381

It's this kind of rigid attitude which puts the British electorate's back up.

EMR

Have you never heard of posturing before the negotiations start.
Why do you think that Cameron made his speech,
Its all part of the game.