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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish we were back in the EU

178 replies

Poetrypatty · 27/02/2022 19:48

This situation in Ukraine and seeing how the EU has responded to it all has made me miss being in the EU and want to be back in rather than just out on a limb on our own. I wondered what MNers think
YABU - better off as we are
YANBU - wish we were back in the EU

OP posts:
Icebear99 · 27/02/2022 22:51

@Poetrypatty “I miss my EU friends and neighbours at this moment of world crisis.” They’re still there, we weren’t towed miles out to sea when we left the EU.
Uvdl is a liability to the EU, she was previously Germany’s defence minister, which was seriously underfunded but she never even raised it as an issue. She isn’t a person of action and wouldn’t argue with member states as to why they should respond quicker to the situation in the Ukraine.

LondonQueen · 27/02/2022 22:52

We are still letting in refugees. Including Ukrainians. Stop believing everything the media tells you.

PenStation · 27/02/2022 22:52

The OP can feel the way she does whilst simultaneously having empathy for people being bombed and killed.

TooOldandTired · 27/02/2022 22:53

@Poetrypatty

Maybe instead of worrying about your I miss the EU feelings you could have a bit of empathy for people being bombed and killed

I know it's AIBU and you don't know me but I wonder where people get off sometimes on here I really do.

Feelings mutual op. Don't worry I'm sure you will gets lots of people agreeing with you as MN is generally pro-EU and people cannot accept any criticism of them even when it is true.
Viviennemary · 27/02/2022 22:54

I voted leave. I am not sorry. The defence of the country should not be dependent on being in the EU. I do not want to be part of a United States of Europe thank you. Or be bossed around by bureaucrats in Germany and France.

FOJN · 27/02/2022 22:54

Uvdl is a liability to the EU

I'd say she has the potential to be a liability to the world. Let's hope she sticks to making good speeches and continues to do what she's excelled at for the rest of her career, fuck all.

worriedatthemoment · 27/02/2022 22:55

@Poetrypatty you can't post what you have and expected everyone to agree with you
Basic geography seems amiss at the moment
Many countries are working together eu and non eu and there will be more happening than we will know or can know
Its not the right time for a post like this , considering what is happening

worriedatthemoment · 27/02/2022 22:56

@PenStation but then also needs to stick to facts and acknowledge when wrong and it does seem a little off at the moment to bring up brexit

TooOldandTired · 27/02/2022 22:58

@PenStation

The OP can feel the way she does whilst simultaneously having empathy for people being bombed and killed.
Of course she can but other people can also point out that it is nonsensical to link the two. The UK is still part of NATO and Europe, we didn't build a wall around us to let no-one in and out. And the facts are that the UK acted more quickly and decisively than the EU on what was happening in Ukraine so for the op to say she misses the EU because they have acted so quickly and decisively is, in my opinion, BS. She misses the EU because she never wanted to leave, which is fine but is nothing to do with what is happening in Ukraine.
Wizzbangfizz · 27/02/2022 23:02

I know it's AIBU and you don't know me but I wonder where people get off sometimes on here I really do.

Maybe it is when you conflate two issues in quite a naive way to try and make a point about brexit because it isn't what you wanted?

Alcoh · 27/02/2022 23:02

Huh? I thought it was the EU who were dithering while the U.K. has been pushing to shut down swift. It was the Germans and Italians who didn’t want this because they buy lots of gas from Russia. I thought it was the U.K. training soldiers on the ground in the Ukraine and sending weapons. Now finally France has sent some. What has the eu done that is so quick and great? I don’t get it. And yes I didn’t vote for Brexit but was actually thinking - ah I can see a bit of benefit now.

LondonQueen · 27/02/2022 23:14

@Alcoh

Huh? I thought it was the EU who were dithering while the U.K. has been pushing to shut down swift. It was the Germans and Italians who didn’t want this because they buy lots of gas from Russia. I thought it was the U.K. training soldiers on the ground in the Ukraine and sending weapons. Now finally France has sent some. What has the eu done that is so quick and great? I don’t get it. And yes I didn’t vote for Brexit but was actually thinking - ah I can see a bit of benefit now.
The EU have been useless in the crisis, the OP is shortsighted simply because she hates Boris. He may not be perfect but he has responded well to this crisis.
DdraigGoch · 27/02/2022 23:17

I think they've responded to the crisis more rapidly and with unity.
Seriously? Once they'd finished bickering about whether diamonds could be exempt from sanctions.

thegcatsmother · 27/02/2022 23:21

Icebear I chortle when UVdL said the EU were buying weapons. Makes a change from broom handles in her case. Probably the first weapons she had ever signed off on, given the parlous state of the German Armed Forces under her tenure.

Ilovegreentomatoes · 27/02/2022 23:25

OP your just looking for a bunfight. Stop using the crisis in Ukraine to peddle your hate about remainers. You need to educate yourself about the difference between being in NATO and being in the EU.

DdraigGoch · 27/02/2022 23:25

@Mumofsend

I don't think we've been lacklustre at all.

Geographically and culturally Ukrainians are more likely to want to go to other Eastern European countries rather than here anyway, it makes sense to mainly stick to those with family members here and a heavier focus on the EU taking refugees.

There is a substantial Ukrainian community in Manchester though, who originally arrived as refugees in the fifties. Public opinion seems very different compared with the previous (ongoing) refugee crisis. Perhaps because this time it is almost entirely women and children rather than young adult men, and none are migrating for economic reasons. We really should be opening up our sports halls and other spaces to set up emergency shelters.
Ilovegreentomatoes · 27/02/2022 23:27

Typo meant those who chose to leave!!

mummykel16 · 27/02/2022 23:40

@x2boys

This is just another i hate brexit thread really isn't it and just using the situation in the Ukraine to make a point .
Yes, that's exactly what it is
mummykel16 · 27/02/2022 23:56

@EthelTheAardvark

The partying is old news you need to let it go

Not sure if you've noticed, but there's an ongoing police investigation which may well result in the Prime Minister being prosecuted. If he is prosecuted and convicted, how do you suggest we let that go, @joydivisionovengloves71 ?

Wouldn't be his first conviction
Louisianagumbo · 28/02/2022 00:20

I miss my EU friends and neighbours at this moment of world crisis.

But they're still our friends and neighbours. I have good friends in France that I've known since my French exchange back as a teenager. We may no longer be in the EU but they're still friends. And countries like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania are still our neighbours that we have an agreement to protect not just because they are NATO members but because they are allies and friends. You might be sorry to have left the EU, which you're entitled to feel, but it's an error to think that that changes our basic relationships with other countries or that we lose our mutual interests and respect.

MangyInseam · 28/02/2022 00:35

I don't really see what you are on about OP, I don't think the EU has done anything particularly amazing.

The fact is it's very early days and too soon to judge anyone's response yet.

poshme · 28/02/2022 00:37

@alcoh is right. We were doing far more
To help Ukraine than the eU and far earlier.

Pandai · 28/02/2022 04:37

@RoastedFerret

We have been helping to train and work alongside them since 2015 as well as providing weapons etc without the glorious red tape of the EU.

How'd that work? You were in the EU back in 2015?
I was shocked to hear about the UKs stance on refugees tbh. As soon as this all kicked off my EU country quickly waived via requirements for Ukranians and put the message out that they were welcome. We don't fund lethal weapons though. The glorious red tape of the EU allows us to make our own decisions.

No hut we weren't caught in the shall we send some, shall we not. And yes Ukraine is defencing itself with sunshine and rainbows rather than lethal weapons.
Spaciet · 28/02/2022 04:39

Their response hasn't been great imo, took ages for them to agree on sanctions etc. Being part of NATO is much more important.

chaosrabbitland · 28/02/2022 04:53

@Louisianagumbo

I miss my EU friends and neighbours at this moment of world crisis.

But they're still our friends and neighbours. I have good friends in France that I've known since my French exchange back as a teenager. We may no longer be in the EU but they're still friends. And countries like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania are still our neighbours that we have an agreement to protect not just because they are NATO members but because they are allies and friends. You might be sorry to have left the EU, which you're entitled to feel, but it's an error to think that that changes our basic relationships with other countries or that we lose our mutual interests and respect.

best will in the world i dont think the eu countries regard us as friends anymore , yes in a personal basis like you are talking about your mate in france , but in terms of how leaders of eu countries view us its totally different , from a lot of macrons comments about the uk or boris johnson its clear theres no respect or that he thinks theres mutual interests , it doesnt help that boris johnson is a buffon and wouldnt garner much respect anyway