What has the EU ever done for you?

[jasjas1973]

With all this doom and gloom, i thought i'd start something a little positive...
For me its travel and food.

I can travel around europe as easily as i can the UK, we've EHIC, one currency, i ve worked in Sweden and found love! picked fruit in france, worked in a bicycle shop in Mallorca.
I remember what a PIA it was pre EU, open skies flights, no tunnel, loads of different currencies and border checks, green cards, travel insurance and before anyone says it - i'm not middle class by any means, i left school at 16 and my mum was on benefits.

Then there is food, in the 70s Spagbol was considered adventurous cooking, now look at what we can find in our shops plus a load of euro cooking programs.

Oh and then there is trade, my friend can export to 17 EU countries from Plymouth as easily as he can to Luton or Hull & trade disputes are easily settled.

We've also had a load of worker rights regulations, not least the Working time directive, which gives many a max 48 hr week, many employers inc mine would happily see their work do far more.

AIBU ?

The EU funded my MSc. I doubt I'd be in this job without that.

My best friends are from the EU. Lived (and worked) here for over 10 years. Our DC are best friends. They’ve been there for my family through thick and think.
The stress and worry and emotional pain they’ve been through - and are still going through (fuck you Tories) is horrendous. I’m so angry that people voted for this shit.
And if any leavers say “I’m mot racist - I didn’t want this to happen”. Well fuck you - you voted for this.

Funded the drama group Ds attended, funded both dc on trip to Germany, I ran a children's home, lots of legislation which supported vulnerable children came from EU. My dad is from Europe (not uk) so I suppose freedom of movement is why I am here. The doctor who saved Ds2 life when he was born was from the EU. Bloody hell no wonder I voted remain.

Back in March DHs employer had to issue as all with a passport stamp giving us the right for unhindered travel between UK and Germany (where we live). Previously only Commonwealth employees, not British, needed it. Summed up what we were losing really.

I don't think you can claim food. There seems to be a lot of Chinese, Indian, Mexican etc food about without EU help. Pizzas would have made it across the channel eventually.

It gave my husband the right to study, then live and work in the UK. It allowed us all to move to our current (central Europe) home.
Now I don't know what will happen.
It paid for a big regeneration project where we lived in the UK.
It contributed to a long period of peace and prosperity in Europe.

Protected my work rights, so I can enjoy holidays, breaks and sick days. Oh and also stopped me getting fired when I was pregnant, and made sure I had lots of paid time off to enjoy my newborn daughter

Also one of my DDs will soon lose the right, when she is older to live in the country she was born in.

Gave me the opportunity to move to Germany without needing a visa or employer sponsorship. Gives me the right to travel freely in Europe. Gives my partner the right to live here too without complicated paperwork. Lets my family and friends visit freely too. Allows my company to employ British people without needing visas. So fuck Brexit. And all who have brought this about.

The EU freedom of movement has given me and my husband the opportunity to take up jobs in Europe on more than double the salaries we had when we lived in the UK. We now have a better quality of life with a more flexible, family friendly working culture, cheap and efficient public transport, and well maintained parks and public services.

stopped war in Europe, pretty much.

Clean water
Clean bathing beaches
Clean air. Well my city is now trying.
Easy travel

Oh and a lack of war.

FOM meant I met my lovely DH and my lovely DDs exist.

Workers rights
Food standards
Freedom of movement
Consumer rights
EHIC means hospital treatment is easier than just using insurance

The EU also enabled my boyfriend to move to the UK to work, without the EU we would never have met.

Allowed my husband to come and work here as a lowly waiter initially who then worked and studied his way to a well paying job, paying his way here since 1996.

Allowed me to go and work in France for a year and learn the language.

This isn't making me feel any better though. It makes me desperately sad that we're planning to give it all up. :-(

Apart from Freedom of movement and trade, most of these things are nothing to do with the EU.

Allowed me to easily emigrate. So glad I used my freedom of movement in time.

The working time directive. I used to do shift work; some nights I'd finish at 12 and start again at 7am. With an hour journey each way. For many organisations this is now illegal unless you opt out. It has had a positive effect on many hundreds of thousands of people's health.

But yeah blue passports 🙄🙄🙄

I work for a Spanish company (and a French company previously) so basically, their ability to move here and set up facilities has paid my mortgage and bills.

Now I am moving to a UK company as I am unsure as to what the future might bring.

Cassian That was NATO, not the EU. Different organiasations, and NATO predates anything ECSC, thence EEC, then EU.

Working there (at the EU, in the EEAS) persuaded dh that he would vote leave if there was ever a referendum on the matter. Being seconded there for 3 years made him think the UK was better off out.

Lots of benefits, but EU isn't the same as Europe!

The working time directive. Remember how British politicians and employers said it would be the end of the world......

Yes and I wouldn't have met DP or had my wonderful children and wouldn't now live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I emigrated as a young adult and would not have been the kind of person able to do it through non EU routes. It's changed the entire course of my life.

So being able not to be here is the best thing