To think that UK should rejoin EU AND Schengen Area?

[ChirpyBee]

I know UK was never in Schengen, I propose that we rejoin both the EU and join Schengen.

I have waited HOURS at passport control at both ends for the Rotterdam/Hull ferry and it is ridiculous. If someone is ok to be in France/Germany/Netherlands then they're OK to be in the UK - we're not special. The increase in efficiencies would be enormous!

Never mind all the other economic and social benefits being part of the EU would provide, as well as the commonality of regulations and standards - which benefits us allas consumers, never let big business fool you that "red tape" is bad - it's regulation for the greater social good!

Unfortunately the UK population/electorate are too xenophobic and racist for this to happen.

Apology accepted 🙂

I have noticed a tendency with on-line forums that if you express a view that is anything less than rampant far left, the poster gets piled on and made out to be a paid-up member of the National Front.

I kick back if I think it's happening to me.

Have a nice day 🌼

There’s no reason for the EU to readmit us, and even if they did it would be under much less favourable conditions.

We basically fucked it up for at least a generation.

I am disappointed that various EU countries have not pointed out to THEIR electorate HOW MUCH the UK Brexit has COST THEM, personally, by the requirements for enhanced border controls to/from the UK aND many other small but rather significant changes that the UK FORCED on the EU countries so that they do not fall foul of WTO trade rules, rules that the UK is FAILING to implement. It is noticeable that other EU countries even with far right leaning governments do not want to leave the EU but change it from within. As noted, other countries would need massive changes to their constitutions to significantly disentangle itself from the EU and this has not yet dawned on the right leaning populist parties and of course the ramifuications of this never dawned on the UK government or at least the tiny fragments of these were dismissed by those who didn't care. So many are still arguing about the colour of the carpet while their house is burning down. As A Brit (I had no choice where my birth mother was situated when I was born) I am disgusted by the lack of rational, critical thinking in the UK and it is getting more apparent, in much of the world that populist slogans can never be brought into practice without major upset and probably bloodshed. Bardella in France is suggesting closing the French borders but has not explained where the many Billions that would need to be invested in border controls PLUS the breaking of international treaties would actually materialise from. Indeed the Tories STILL haven't engaged in the proper WTO 'standard' border procedures correctly. A matter that WILL scupper' many new 'trade deals'. The English need to understand that the UK is but a smallish Island that cannot be self sufficient in food or heavy industry (the sort that makes money) ever again so HAS to cooperate with other countries, unfortunately many of whom were abused by the UK in the past.
The UK had a reputation for excellent technical work and collaboration with other countries but the 'political classes' have royally screwed all that up for everyone.

Sorry, I think you may have misunderstood my emphasis. I mean they really would not just let us slide in. It would need to be allowed, they'd need to want it. That's what I meant by have to let us in. I mean there is a barrier that would need to be overcome. I don't for one second think that they are in any way obligated to allow it!!!

Agreed. I don't think the EU would want us back anyway and I don't blame them.

I, and many others have lost all our rights as citizens due to the idiots that voted to leave the EU. For that alone I wish them all the worst of luck.
I am happy to give the 450 million neighbours I now have the benefit of the doubt and indeed all I have met in the last 7 years I have lived in Europe have been at very least pleasant UNLIKE the nasty closed mindset of Leave/Brexiteers.

IItisymoi
the small minded simply don't know what the EU is doing, but rather would listen to bendy bananas nonsense which was never true.

Looks true to me:

European Commission
Brussels, 2 October 2013

Examples how EU law is becoming lighter, simpler and cheaper

"Return of the curvy cucumber"/fruit and vegetable marketing standards:

The completion of the single market led to the adoption of marketing standards for fruits and vegetables, partly based on standards already existing at national level. The aim was to facilitate trade on the base of fair competition, help producers to meet consumer expectations and keep unsatisfactory products off the market. Specific rules were adopted over the years and by 1996 a total of 36 fruit and vegetables were regulated by specific marketing standards. These however were criticized for being unnecessarily complex and leading to food waste, with "ugly" fruits and vegetables with non-conventional shapes and sizes being excluded from the market. This led the Commission to review and simplify the rules and rationalize checking operations. Labels will indicate origin, but no longer class, size or variety. As a result of the simplification efforts undertaken in 2008, specific marketing standards have been brought down to a set of 10 specific rules in force today (and as from 1 July 2009). The specific standard for cucumbers, for example, was withdrawn. As a result the famous "curvy cucumbers", formerly banned, can now be legally put on the market. This measure can save up to €970 million annually.

New York Times 2008

EU relents and lets a banana be a banana

...in a victory for opponents of European regulation, 100 pages of legislation determining the size, shape and texture of fruit and vegetables have been torn up.

In doing so, the authorities hope they have killed off regulations routinely used by critics - most notably in the British media - to ridicule the meddling tendencies of the EU...

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/world/europe/12iht-food.4.17771299.html
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_13_833

Hello, I am britsh now with a german passport.My husband works at the EU , and the germans would love you to come back.
So I don't think you'd need to worry about that.

This.
Yes of course we should rejoin if possible!

And agree re: private schools GET OVER IT!

Can you hear the irony dripping from your post?

Didn't boris admit he'd made up the stuff about bendinessnof bananas as a laugh and couldn't believe people bought it ?

See my post today at 13:52 - it's clearly true - I've linked to the European Commission website.

Other EU myths may be exaggerated/untrue.

We have not "lost all our rights as citizens".
Such hyperbole.

The Bendiness of bananas(correct catagorisation) was a way to force banana growers (the corporations) to treat their workers in a suitably safe and moral way. I have actually had supper with the lead member of the EU (former secretary General) who orchestrated the case and the stress nearly killed him at the time. Meanwhile UK politicians spout complete BS to get a cheap laugh at the expense of others. Clavinova, liuke usual is missing the point that wherever possible the EU Commission do all they can to IMPROVE the lives of as many as possible: Mr Hitler of Austria suggested that the lives of Germans would be improved by removing some elemenyts of society so I ask you WHICH route would YOU like to take? I used to think that 'Simple Minds' was/is a music group but it seems that all the Leave voters have joined the group but in a spirit of uncooperative ignorance. I have striven for 60 years to bring people together but leavers/Brexiteers are just greedy and antisocial.

KateDelRick
I have lost the right to vote so it is NOT hyperbole. kindly get back under your stone.

Personal attack? Classy 😂
I'm not going to lower myself to do the same.

I've done Hull/Rotterdam return twice since Brexit with a vehicle, both times during school holidays. I don't recall the queue s bring particularly worse than before.

Could be a bad day?

The reason I found it interesting is because I am thinking about who I will vote for. There isn't one party that aligns with my views, so I find these threads and the nuggets of information interesting as it helps to build up a picture in my mind.

So although someone banging on about VAT on private schools across many threads might be tedious in the extreme, it's a little bit of food for thought for me as I haven't gone on those dedicated threads.

I didn't realise that this policy of VAT on private schools would be an issue with regards to rejoining the EU. Of course, it's simple to rectify, but if Labour had any plans up it's sleeve to listen to those still banging on about Brexit and and rejoining the EU (also across many threads on here), then would they really put that policy forward in the first place? More work to do to get us aligned.

That's why it was interesting to me. I have to take the nuggets and work out what they mean to me, not be swayed by the posters who bang on about things 🙂

I think you're right, @Createausername1970 . There's lots to consider. It's a complex issue of course, and I do find it frustrating when people just get offensive and there's the usual name calling. Slurs don't help anyone. I read the Lib Dem manifesto, they're committed to rejoining the EU, but I'm not sure the about the realism and scope of their plans.

I think we should be looking to join EFTA. However I don't think they want us, as they think we'd be too big and throw our weight around. Probably true.

What would be good as a first step would be to rejoin the ERASMUS scheme and agree to the youth mobility scheme the European Commission proposed, and get rid of the 90 day in 180 day rule (maybe make it 180 in 360 instead).

Apparently Brexit is never mentioned on the doorstep to parliamentary candidates. I find that quite difficult to believe.

Macron had proposed an outer tier for the EU - I nearly choked when he suggested that! It would be a good compromise I think, but of course the devil would be in the detail.

I feel that there are so many moving parts, @Createausername1970 , that it's not feasible for politicians to think about them all at once. So I wouldn't expect policy to be based on 'what if we rejoin the EU in a few years time, and have to rescind this regulation?' IYSWIM

Having said that, I would likely have been more patient if it had involved a regulation I'm interested in! I would still have scrolled straight past, but might have complained less......

I didn't realise that this policy of VAT on private schools would be an issue with regards to rejoining the EU

It isn't. If we joined the EU/EEA/SM/CU, and we were required to stop levying VAT on private schools, we would.

Of course we have. Well we have if we can't find an EU passport down the back of the sofa.

They’ll definitely let us rejoin but it will be on the EUs terms. Which for me I’m happy with joining Schengen and even the euro is no issue to me.

I do agree that shutting down people as racists was very damaging and directly led to people voting for Brexit.