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| Britzerland will be of no help to the UK | Britzerland will be of no help to the UK |
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| Andrew Gimson's suggestion that the UK should have a similar relationship to the EU as Norway or Switzerland is surprising (Boris in Britzerland, 22 December). Norway, through membership of the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, through bilateral treaties, have to accept the free movement of labour from EU countries and the provisions of EU directives (including the social chapter). For many sceptical voters, the desired revised relationship with the EU would need to address immigration and European regulation – so Britzerland wouldn't help. The relationship between the EU and some non-European states could perhaps provide a model if the UK were to leave. Before voting in a referendum, some of us would like a better discussion of the out alternative and its implications. Nicholas Vosper London | Andrew Gimson's suggestion that the UK should have a similar relationship to the EU as Norway or Switzerland is surprising (Boris in Britzerland, 22 December). Norway, through membership of the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, through bilateral treaties, have to accept the free movement of labour from EU countries and the provisions of EU directives (including the social chapter). For many sceptical voters, the desired revised relationship with the EU would need to address immigration and European regulation – so Britzerland wouldn't help. The relationship between the EU and some non-European states could perhaps provide a model if the UK were to leave. Before voting in a referendum, some of us would like a better discussion of the out alternative and its implications. Nicholas Vosper London |
| • In the 1960s Britain enjoyed the sort of relationship that the mayor of London extols, not just with Switzerland, but with five other European countries in the European Free Trade Association. But Efta was always at a disadvantage because the bigger European countries – France, Germany, Italy – were all in the Common Market. They are still in the EU. So any attempt by Britain to return to an Efta-style relationship would be a retrograde step. Whatever the right solution might be to Britain's unfair position in the EU, it would be better to continue to live with the ghastly failure of the Churchill and Eden governments in the 1950s to help create what France, Germany and the others built for themselves without regard to British interests, than to return to an Efta-style past. John Webster London | • In the 1960s Britain enjoyed the sort of relationship that the mayor of London extols, not just with Switzerland, but with five other European countries in the European Free Trade Association. But Efta was always at a disadvantage because the bigger European countries – France, Germany, Italy – were all in the Common Market. They are still in the EU. So any attempt by Britain to return to an Efta-style relationship would be a retrograde step. Whatever the right solution might be to Britain's unfair position in the EU, it would be better to continue to live with the ghastly failure of the Churchill and Eden governments in the 1950s to help create what France, Germany and the others built for themselves without regard to British interests, than to return to an Efta-style past. John Webster London |
| • Andrew Grimson says Boris Johnson would have us stay in the EU for trade but opt out of everything else. Sounds like Boris is talking about a free-trade association such as the North American Free Trade Area, which typically makes no allowance for the free movement of people. Since the power to control who can reside is probably the most fundamental aspect of national sovereignty, opting out of the EU's free movement of people accord should be our centrepiece demand in any renegotiation. Yugo Kovach Winterborne Houghton, Dorset | • Andrew Grimson says Boris Johnson would have us stay in the EU for trade but opt out of everything else. Sounds like Boris is talking about a free-trade association such as the North American Free Trade Area, which typically makes no allowance for the free movement of people. Since the power to control who can reside is probably the most fundamental aspect of national sovereignty, opting out of the EU's free movement of people accord should be our centrepiece demand in any renegotiation. Yugo Kovach Winterborne Houghton, Dorset |
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