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.

I often wonder why there even are migrant camps in France full of people wanting to claim asylum in the UK. Why are they not claiming asylum in France? They haven't just teleported there, they have crossed France and probably other EU countries too.

I don't have an issue with us taking our share of the desperate and needy, I would like to think this country has a heart.

But if, on other forums I have questioned this - and I think it's not an unreasonable question - apparently I am a right wing, nazi bigot. I don't recognise that description of myself.

I think if France had dealt with the camps properly and not made it into a UK problem, then Brexit may not have happened.

How interesting. Sliding doors. I know Macron was like that, but I think recent events have maybe given him pause for thought.

@Createausername1970 I agree with you, it's a massive problem, and one which people are anxious to raise. I've heard all manner of arguments, but I don't know why these large groups camp in France and await the opportunity to cross. France is surely safe? One young man interviewed on C4 news had paid £3k to the traffickers for a place on the boat, so they're not without access to funds. I think the whole situation is a blight on Europe. It was interesting to see it play out from the other side with all the migrants arriving in Ireland.

In the camps you don't hear French you hear English

Must be a lot easier to get a job and pay your own way when you speak the language

The French have a lower percentage of foreign born nationals than the uk but they certainly have a lot of immigrants already

@greencartbluecart really? They're talking English? I strongly suspect they're talking their own language.

Among other people of the same nationality, perhaps. But when talking to people of different nationalities (including French aid workers) then it's quite likely that English is the lingua franca.

Do you know this for certain, or is it your assumption? I'm not sure why those translators are employed to deal with them, then, if they speak English?

The words "quite likely" ought to be a clue.

40% of Albanians speak English, only 10% speak French. I understand that fewer Syrians speak French than English but can't find statistics.

And yes, you're going to need translators for the ones who do not speak English or French.

Please don't be patronising, thanks.
The Albanians speak English, which doesn't surprise me. They're not asylum seekers though, are they? They're economic migrants.

The perception amongst them must be that it is better to be in the UK than France/mainland Europe.

The perceived benefit of being in the UK must be significant, as they are prepared to pay significant amounts of money (to them) and risk their lives in order to cross.

If it were inexpensive to cross and significantly less risky (that is to say, if we were in Shengen) how many more would cross rather than settle in Europe ?

Why is the UK perceived as a better place to be and is it actually better ?

The answer to that is I don't know. Maybe it is just that we are at the end of the line and a place to go to where (hopefully) things will improve and they can have a better life and having come so far they may as well roll the dice. Or maybe there is some other reason.

I wonder whether us not having to carry ID cards unlike most of the EU is a factor? Easier to disappear into the black economy.

I think you've got a point, @BMW6 . They often come to work on building sites and other parts of the black economy.

I think Brexit was a gigantic blunder that is damaging our country every day. We should rejoin the CU and Euratom immediately, then campaign to rejoin the Single Market. This involves selling the idea of Free Movement, which is do-able. At this point many of the issues will have been fixed, but we'll be a rule-taker with no say in the rules that bind us. I am not particularly bothered but it's a problem for many. Full EU membership with voting right won't come easily, probably not in my lifetime. (I am 69.) It requires a unanimous vote, so expect painful discussions about Gibraltar and the Elgin Marbles. When we were in the EU and the tories were in power we were a pain in the neck. The EU will need convincing that we are fully committed to the ideals of the EU if they let us in. We 'll need another referendum, with a substantial majority in favour. We won't get a discount and we may have to join the eurozone and Schengen. To show willing, we should complete the metrication programme we started in 1965. I think we'll get there eventually, because it's not comfortable outside.

Perfectly said.

@C8H10N4O2 excellent points.

Barnier made comments recently that we can’t cherry pick and as usual the main issue is FOM reinstated or not

I’m not sure and would need more information. If things were static I’d say fine but the landscape is changing and I’d need to think about other factors

Not sure it helps that much. Germany has them and has a similarly large issue with undocumented migrants

Oh you poor thing.
you want to rejoin cause you don’t like waiting in line.
entitled or what?

If we ran a system like Singapore it would work.
cards are renewed every three months I believe

@KateDelRick is correct re Albanians. The latest policy will have changed the make up of camps

C8H10N4O2 · 23/06/2024 09:49

I was going to write out a long post but then realised this one covered it.

I voted remain, i think the pros of EU on the whole outweighed the cons, but there are big chunks of mostly poorer people who were negatively impacted by free movement. It simply meant a constant oversupply of labour which depressed wages.

Many criminals and drug deals
I know one in prison right now for the above
he brings over ppl to work for him and claims the Rwanda plan will discourage Albanians from making the trip
That’s his opinion
prior to his arrest he was thriving here

Free market capitalism generally benefits the wealthy asset owning classes. The counter balance is strong trade unions to ensure labour gets a fairer share of value creation, however we have pretty systematically castrated those. The few areas where we do have them (railways for example) the employees are actually paid enough to live in this country.

I mean that I am not longer able to live, work or study in the EU.

Of course you can, you'll just need to apply for a visa like all the other non EU people. Loads of non - EU people do this every year .

I travel to countries in the EU a lot and I haven’t really noticed any difference when entering them. They checked passports before and now they bung a stamp in when they check. Quite a few places have just stuck a picture of our flag next to the EU and Swiss flag. I never get the ferry though.