To wish we were back in the EU

[Poetrypatty]

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

It took till day 3 for Germany to bother posting the helmets they had offered 🙄. The UK didn’t even bother asking Germany if we could use their airspace to transport weapons to the Ukrainians as they expected to be turned down (weeks ago btw). I am so glad the EU has pulled their finger out. But they have been late and dragging their feet. Individual countries have been acting but the EU, not so much. Also echo the point about UK support to Baltic states etc. Johnson is a twat but we really have been doing a reasonably good job on this. Initial sanctions were shit (don’t know if they were a shot across the bow or just shit) but the UK had previously been doing a lot then continued in that vein.

There is a level of delusion in claiming the EU is unified and acting swiftly. Its what you want to believe not what’s actually happening. There is nothing wrong with wishing Britain had stayed in the EU but this is not the best example to use.

From a security perspective, I don't think being in the EU or not has changed a thing for us in the UK. We were always (for the time being) going to be one of the top european military powers and a leading member of NATO. Brexit hasn't changed that.

@HundredMilesAnHour

Do your Brexit bashing elsewhere, don’t use the horrific situation in Ukraine

Totally agree and well said @Chloemol

Some of the posters on this thread are so wrapped up in their Brexit bashing and their hatred of Boris that their interpretation of recent events is verging on delusional a la Putin.

This! Use any situation...just go away.

@Sometimeswinning

We're always allowing refugees?? Boris is a twat absolutely. But he'd be in charge regardless so him and his party would still say stupid things. I'm not getting your argument if I'm honest. How will the Eu make it better? You're reaching for another remainer argument. Nato is the key. Being part of Europe is why anyone is even taking any notice of this to be fair.

But we aren't this time, and the EU can no longer require us to do so. It's frustrating because Scotland wishes to but immigration is not devolved so we can't unless Boris changes his mind. Yanbu op but then this isn't a new opinion of mine based on the conflict in Ukraine

"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."
.......
Sorry but this is rubbish. You don't like Boris Johnson or Brexit so you're projecting your hatred onto others. Have we inconvenienced the EU, yes. But they're sure that it's a great club and we're fools to leave so there's no need for hatred. As Europeans we have so much more that unites us then divides us. Of course EU countries view us as a friend. As for Macron, he's a self-aggrandising idiot and I'm not sure he ever particularly liked the UK, but he doesn't speak for the EU, as much as he likes to think he does.

Yes that good old EU army will sort Putin out!

I don’t get what you’re looking at that’s so enviable, surely belonging to NATO is key atm anyway.

I didn’t vote for it but agree with recent pp

Ursula von der leyen? She made some horrendous speeches during the beginning of covid re vaccines and how the EU would block supply. She made herself look foolish. You consider her sensible? I dislike her quite a bit.

Ukraine aren't in the eu?!

@DottyDoge

From a security perspective, I don't think being in the EU or not has changed a thing for us in the UK. We were always (for the time being) going to be one of the top european military powers and a leading member of NATO. Brexit hasn't changed that.

What about internal security? Situation in Northern Ireland is much less stable and not beyond realms of possibility that it could lead to a return of violence. The protocol has caused division after years of peace.

Well I think Ukraine would very much like to be in the EU potas

The EU isn't even united in what to do. Some countries sending military aid. Macron stating certain things. Others disagreeing with him. And where's Germany in all of this. Very quiet.

UK has been slow on visas. Tom Tugendhat saying this morning on radio 4 that the UK will probably end up following the EU on waving visa applications for all Ukraines.

Germany have been anything but quiet. They have reversed many of their policies to align with rest of EU. It’s on the bbc website.

Germany woke up yesterday. Did take a while but they are awake now.

@MimosaPiqueNique

Germany have been anything but quiet. They have reversed many of their policies to align with rest of EU. It’s on the bbc website.

They did drag their feet a lot.

@chaosrabbitland not sure macron liked us much in it either
Not all the leaders will like each other at all times , thats not relevant to being in or out the eu
Also who gives a crap if macron likes us or not , its more important that the people like each other
You do realise that even people in eu countries will still see fault with the eu at times
Some people just believe everything they read in a paper

@MimosaPiqueNique

Germany have been anything but quiet. They have reversed many of their policies to align with rest of EU. It’s on the bbc website.

Germany spent long enough being an apologist for Russia and shirking its NATO spending commitment. Shame on them for taking so long to act. It likes to think its the leader of the EU so it should be putting some of its wealth where its mouth is instead of relying on other, less affluent, countries to step up all the time. This conflict has really shown the EU in a bad light.

@liveforsummer we are allowing we have said we will take in relatives of those living here and we have a fair few prob more than a lot of eu countries do
We will likely also follow the eu and open more but if we take in family members thats a fair few people still

@liveforsummer easy for scotland to say what they would like to do knowing full well they don't actually have the power
But we are taking in refugees as we are allowing family members of those who live here which is a few thousand people
Some eu countries will have a lot less living there in the first place
We will also likely open more but prob agreeing on policies
Obviously they will cross the border to neighbouring countries first and foremost and many may not want to come here anyway

YANBU

I'm not seeing any evidence at all of us "floundering" on our own

We are moving in unison, And I may add a heartening wonderful unison, tightly in step with the the EU, g7 And NATO And the UN.

This is perfect evidence that everything is absolutely fine!

The EU is a "trading" block that's all.

This crisis might be the making of them.

Op I'm staggered that on page 1 you describe us as being on our own.

I'm staggered!!

How on earth especially in this situation would being in the EU the"trading block" be any better then being as we already are part of the aforementioned alliances.

I can't see how trading links with the EU benefit anyone , especially Ukraine in this situation!

Yabu and shameless for exploiting this tragedy to push your political agenda with no badis

@Poetrypatty

What do you think is better?

I think they've responded to the crisis more rapidly and with unity. Seeing Ursula von der leyen made me miss sensible leaders. They're allowing in refugees for 3 years whereas we're not I like being part of a group, rather than just one lone country led by Boris Johnson and his useless cabinet.

I wish we were back in the EU for about 100 reasons, this one included, though I have to say Ursula isn't always sensible if you recall the vaccines purchasing saga.