Read UKIP’s campaign policies for the Euro elections, and find out that Mexico is the way to go for Britain, according to Nigel Farage and his not so angry old men.
The main plank of the UK Independence Party’s manifesto for the European elections 2009 is:
“The UK Independence Party believes that the UK should withdraw from the European Union and that our membership should be replaced with a genuine free trade agreement similar to those enjoyed by other non-EU nations such as Switzerland, Norway and Mexico.”
***
If UKIP manages to get the United Kingdom out of the European Union, the party is less particular about the future model of cooperation. Reassuringly, friendly relations can be seen as opting for peace rather than war, but free trade can come in different shapes.
Norway is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which gives it access to the internal market, but without real powers to form the rules.
Switzerland is formally bound only by bilateral treaties with the European Union, but in practice a virtual member of the EEA.
Non-European Mexico has agreed on a free trade area (FTA) with the European Union. Recently the relations have been upgraded to a strategic partnership.
***
The common feature of the three examples is that the relationships have evolved, becoming ever closer.
Interestingly, UKIP proposes that the United Kingdom should renounce its seat at the tables, where European decisions are made.
I hope that UK voters conduct a full debate on the ways and means, well ahead of the European elections.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 11 May 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Subscribe To Grahnlaw
Posts
Comments
Ralf,
ReplyDeleteCouple of points, we have have just had the four main parties first election broadcasts. So far two, the Labour and Lib Dems failed to mention Europe, or the EU at all and the Tories mentioned in by name at 4mins 18 in a 4 min 30 broadcast - not wildly impressive or indeed revealing, accept of ytheir abject fear that the British public do nort share their enthusiasms.
UKIP's broadcast was actually about the EU. Whether you like the content or not we are at least talking about the issues and the elctions.
On the free trade issue, the specific design of our relationship would take shape as the negotiations did. The various variables are unknown and cannot be known, but UKIP would favour unilateral free trade if possible.
Bit concerned about your mention of war, I don't think that invading the continent - or anywhere else is in the manifesto (yet).
Of course we would renounce our seat at the EU Commission and the Council of MInisters - no doubt taking the UK nationals who work there with u - kicking and screaming in some cases I am sure, but I am sure that the French and other officials would move pretty fast to have them removed from Justice Lupsius and the Berlyamont). We would then be free top take our place at the WTO and elsewhere as the United Kingdom, not as a subset of the European Union. Negotiating in our own interest again, at last.
Gawain,
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons why I read your blog is the humorous contents at times.
Speaking about Labour's and the Conservatives' enthusiasms for the European Union is in the same vein.
I have no pressing reason to suspect UKIP of war-mongering, but I nurture a certain suspicion against the official lithurgy: Only yesterday did I write that the EU had made war between member states almost unthinkable (where the official credo leaves out 'almost').
But for the serious part: UK parties and voters should really discuss the consequences of outside / inside more seriously.
It is not enough to have a strong opinion.