This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/19/pragmatic-about-european-union
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| We must be pragmatic about the EU | We must be pragmatic about the EU |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Polish foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, understates Britain's contribution to the EU budget (The EU is good value, 19 November). We are the second largest net contributor and would be the largest were it not for our rebate. | The Polish foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, understates Britain's contribution to the EU budget (The EU is good value, 19 November). We are the second largest net contributor and would be the largest were it not for our rebate. |
| When governments across Europe have had to take hard decisions, a profligate EU budget would be irresponsible. And we are not isolated in our position. Swedish and German ministers have publicly called the budget "backwards-looking", and the Dutch have said an increase would be "incomprehensible". | When governments across Europe have had to take hard decisions, a profligate EU budget would be irresponsible. And we are not isolated in our position. Swedish and German ministers have publicly called the budget "backwards-looking", and the Dutch have said an increase would be "incomprehensible". |
| We support a budget that is focused on the right priorities, and we are negotiating over the budget in good faith. | We support a budget that is focused on the right priorities, and we are negotiating over the budget in good faith. |
| We are one of the strongest supporters of structural and cohesion funds for Poland. We want to see payments to richer member states reduced so that the share going to the poorer members of the union will rise. And we've worked together to promote enlargement, one of the EU's historic achievements. | We are one of the strongest supporters of structural and cohesion funds for Poland. We want to see payments to richer member states reduced so that the share going to the poorer members of the union will rise. And we've worked together to promote enlargement, one of the EU's historic achievements. |
| The key to restoring growth in Europe is not the EU budget but making the single market work better: by deepening trade in services, the digital industries and the low carbon sector; by cutting regulation; by improving competition; and by using the EU's bargaining power to help us liberalise trade with prosperous and fast-growing markets. David Lidington Minister for Europe | The key to restoring growth in Europe is not the EU budget but making the single market work better: by deepening trade in services, the digital industries and the low carbon sector; by cutting regulation; by improving competition; and by using the EU's bargaining power to help us liberalise trade with prosperous and fast-growing markets. David Lidington Minister for Europe |
| • Radosław Sikorski commends Britain's "pragmatic approach and policy-making realism" . Following the fall of the Berlin wall, Manfred Wensky, the ex-head of the East Berlin high school to which the politburo had sent their children, expressed his hope that Britain would put herself at the heart of Europe – because, left to their own devices, the leaders of Germany and France would pursue dreams far removed from the needs and wishes of ordinary people. "You are a pragmatic people; you get on with making things work," he said. If only we heard more from politicians about what we bring to the European party and what benefits we already enjoy at the table. John Smith Lindfield, West Sussex | • Radosław Sikorski commends Britain's "pragmatic approach and policy-making realism" . Following the fall of the Berlin wall, Manfred Wensky, the ex-head of the East Berlin high school to which the politburo had sent their children, expressed his hope that Britain would put herself at the heart of Europe – because, left to their own devices, the leaders of Germany and France would pursue dreams far removed from the needs and wishes of ordinary people. "You are a pragmatic people; you get on with making things work," he said. If only we heard more from politicians about what we bring to the European party and what benefits we already enjoy at the table. John Smith Lindfield, West Sussex |
| • The dismal news that 56% of the population would vote to leave the EU contains one diamond – 44% of the 18-24 age group were for continuing membership, as opposed to 25% against. Their sense of reality is not skewed by dreams of yore, and, I suggest, allows them to recognise that our future, their future and that of their children is best served by a continuing and hopefully greater involvement with the EU. | • The dismal news that 56% of the population would vote to leave the EU contains one diamond – 44% of the 18-24 age group were for continuing membership, as opposed to 25% against. Their sense of reality is not skewed by dreams of yore, and, I suggest, allows them to recognise that our future, their future and that of their children is best served by a continuing and hopefully greater involvement with the EU. |
| Certainly the EU is not perfect but with determination we can help to improve the implementation of this great idea – it will not be easy, but it is worth doing. It is high time politicians of all parties who are in favour of continuing membership spoke out loud and clear. We have left this issue to the naysayers for decades. | Certainly the EU is not perfect but with determination we can help to improve the implementation of this great idea – it will not be easy, but it is worth doing. It is high time politicians of all parties who are in favour of continuing membership spoke out loud and clear. We have left this issue to the naysayers for decades. |
| A revitalised European Movement (euromove.org.uk) has produced an excellent information sheet on the costs, levels of bureaucracy and the benefits that accrue to the UK. David Weaver Cranleigh, Surrey | A revitalised European Movement (euromove.org.uk) has produced an excellent information sheet on the costs, levels of bureaucracy and the benefits that accrue to the UK. David Weaver Cranleigh, Surrey |
| • How can the eurozone economies be restarted (Eurozone double-dip brings ECB warning, 16 November)? Well, some of the worst-affected banks have been relieved through the creation of a "bad bank", a special vehicle into which most of their debts were transferred, giving the original institutions a chance to resume normal activities. | • How can the eurozone economies be restarted (Eurozone double-dip brings ECB warning, 16 November)? Well, some of the worst-affected banks have been relieved through the creation of a "bad bank", a special vehicle into which most of their debts were transferred, giving the original institutions a chance to resume normal activities. |
| New countries cannot be created in Europe, because there is no free space. But a country could be designated "bad" – just for fiscal purposes, no stigma attached – and the eurozone's toxic debts could all be piled up there, leaving all the eurozone states free to resume the onward march towards prosperity. | New countries cannot be created in Europe, because there is no free space. But a country could be designated "bad" – just for fiscal purposes, no stigma attached – and the eurozone's toxic debts could all be piled up there, leaving all the eurozone states free to resume the onward march towards prosperity. |
| Monaco could be used, maybe, or the Vatican City? The smaller the better. It would be hard on the Monégasques or the Vaticani, but the creation of a "bad country" would represent the greatest good for the greatest number. They could perhaps emigrate en masse to the eurozone without major problems of population displacement being created. The expatriated euro-debts could then be administered from a filing cabinet in Luxembourg. Dave Bradney Llanrhystud, Ceredigion | Monaco could be used, maybe, or the Vatican City? The smaller the better. It would be hard on the Monégasques or the Vaticani, but the creation of a "bad country" would represent the greatest good for the greatest number. They could perhaps emigrate en masse to the eurozone without major problems of population displacement being created. The expatriated euro-debts could then be administered from a filing cabinet in Luxembourg. Dave Bradney Llanrhystud, Ceredigion |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |