How did any country cope before the common Market/EEC/EEA/EU? Obviously not very well

I see, so we don't need any of that democracy nonsense, you just need some sort of dictatorship to tell us what to do and run things.

Edited by georgenorman (20 Feb 2023 6.43pm)

Why?

Switzerland is, and has been for a very long time, a special case. There is absolutely nothing to compare with the UK.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

The population is less than 9 millions for a start.

Although you refuse to see why, the EU is run democratically. Just not a style of democracy you approve of.

The key point to remember is the principal of subsidiarity. EU member countries only delegate, via the treaties, specific areas of responsibility that are more efficiently done together. Members continue to retain full control over all the most important issues, including finance, budgets, taxation, foreign policy etc.

What those who are strongly opposed to the EU fail to understand is that the UK is a member of several organisations to whom we delegate responsibilities, like Nato, the WHO, the UN and even the WTO. So why get so irate about the EU? Of course, it's close to home and gets involved in things that touch people more directly, but is it really so different? Members agree to delegate. No-one dictates anything.

Edited by Wisbech Eagle (20 Feb 2023 10.54pm)

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

It is one of the EFTA countries. It ‘felt the need’ to be inside the fly sheet if not the tent. It benefits from centuries of preparation and an unique geography. Norway is another. It benefited hugely from North Sea non-renewables and invested that wisely so for now can function a little differently. On the other hand it is the uk that wears a urinary drainage bag and, latterly, a colostomy bag too.