Over the years, we have been subjected to an unbelievable diet of lies about the EU...

[EdwinH]

The UK press has put out so many false stories about the EU, EU institutions, the way the EU passes laws, etc. that the European Commission has had to create a dedicated blog just to debunk them.
blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/euromyths-a-z-index/

From 1992 to 2017, they "busted" 682 different false stories about the EU. That's a quite eye-watering number. Can you imagine the effort of having staff go through and painstakingly rebutt 682 different lies? Unbelievably diligent.

It looks like they gave up trying to stem the tide towards the end of 2017, presumably because as the Brexit arguments grew more and more heated, the tide of nonsense became an unstoppable avalanche.

Still, it's "educational" to dip into the list at the link above, and see just how persistently our press has slung mud at the EU. Shocking stuff. And it's only the big stuff, from the main news outlets. Plenty of stuff slips by at a local level that they've not addressed.

What's also interesting from a propaganda viewpoint is to see how particular media outlets have taken a fact, and spun it into something sinister by taking a completely absurd stance on the situation.

For instance, this blog post rebuking The Sun for its scare story about the EU trying to "ban" crayons and colouring pencils. In fact, the EU wanted to lay down rules to reduce the amount of lead in toys, and pens and pencils were a particular target because... kids chew them. So what was a sensible science-based decision became, through the funhouse mirror of a tabloid, a sinister plot to deprive children of the chance to colour stuff in.
blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/eu-is-acting-on-scientific-evidence-to-cut-lead-in-toys-not-stopping-children-colouring/

It was The Original Project Fear.

I find it hard to understand why the UK has such an irresponsible press. Why print utter lies?

Fascinating link Edwin, thank you.

Laws the EU has forced on the UK

EU: Food labels should say if Aspartine is present.
UK: Nonsense. Bloody red tape!

EU: Ban on livestock growth-boosters with hormonal, thyrostatic or beta-agonist effects (carcinogenic residue in meat).
UK: Aw come on - a little bit of cancer never hurt no-one.

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1087360379691380736.html

Wasn't Boris Johnson one of the original journalists responsible for this sort of nonsense?
Apparently the proceedings of the EC/EU didn't provide enough exciting news fodder so this sort of story became a popular alternative.

That’s because the system is white convoluted and overactive. It’s a bureaucrat’s wet dream. I had to study the systems at university. Did my head it. It was simultaneously over complicated and the most boring topic on my course.

I find it hard to understand why the UK has such an irresponsible press. Why print utter lies?

Because they can. That's a serious answer, not a facetious one. There is zero comeback regardless of how big a whopper they print. And they know their audience will lap up every jingoistic tale. Outrage sells papers.

All about the pounds then. Are there literally no consequences in law? If nobody is defamed, I mean.

News papers are allowed to lie. Especially if it to politicians advantage.

This is one of the main reasons, people voted to leave ghe EU, along with the negativity from our politicians. As one expert said in the mumsnet webchat the other day, David Cameron came across as eurosceptic before the referendum and then wondered why people didn't believe him when he tried to support remain during the referendum

Wasn't Boris Johnson one of the original journalists responsible for this sort of nonsense?

Yes - and he was still lying about the EU in his Foreign Secretary resignation letter. Lying Bastard.

www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-boris-johnson-lied-about-eu-safety-regulation-in-his-resignation-letter

That man is frightening!!! He will stop at nothing to get his own way and further his career.

PestymcPestFace

Your pie chart (4,514 out of 34,105 UK laws influenced by EU laws) does not include EU regulations - this BBC link explains why the figures are inaccurate;

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36473105
If you count all EU regulations, EU-related Acts of Parliament, and EU-related Statutory Instruments, about 62% of laws introduced between 1993 and 2014 that apply in the UK implemented EU obligations

This higher calculation is inaccurate as well, however -

Oct 2018: There are currently about 12,000 EU regulations in operation in the UK
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45912824

Your link also refers to a House of Commons Research Paper:
How much legislation comes from Europe? 13 October 2010

I have only given it a cursory read, but in the opening summary it says this:

The British Government estimates that around 50% of UK legislation with a significant economic impact originates from EU legislation

And again on page 20;

Many EU regulations have a purely technical or temporary effect. We estimate that around 50 per cent of UK legislation with a significant economic impact has its origins in EU legislation.OECD analysis of regulation in Europe yields similar results. In 2002, they estimated that 40 per cent of all new UK regulations with a significant impact on business were derived from Community legislation

TBH i think the problem is with the British, their mentality and lack of education.

The press only print what we will buy and if a paper with a pair of tits on page 3 is the nation's favourite, there really is no-hope.

Farage and Johnson on page 3?

Le Clerc

Actually, I've read about 20 of the so called, Euromyths - there are quite a few from The Sunday Telegraph,The Independent and The Sunday Times.

Some of them are hilarious - others I would say are not myths or lies as such, but come with an exaggerated headline, e.g.

Cornish clotted cream to be made in Brittany
(Sunday Telegraph, 29 March 1998)

Cornish folk are enraged by a proposal that the term ‘Cornish clotted cream’ should not be limited to just to cream made in Cornwall. The EC’s 1992 regulation on ‘The Protection of Geographical Indicators and Designations of Origin for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs’ states that unless a name such as ‘Stilton’ is registered in Brussels anyone can use it, as happens with the sadly abused ‘Cheddar cheese’

EU Commission response;
Under EU regulations a named food or drink registered at European level will be given protection again imitations throughout the Community. ‘Cornish Clotted Cream’ secured protected status under EU food laws at the beginning of July 1998.The UK has currently 28 products registered in this way including Newcastle brown ale, white and blue Stilton and Whitstable oysters An objection to the Cornish Clotted Cream producers application from the French Ministry of Agriculture was withdrawn - the French Ministry of Agriculture did lodge an objection at the time though.

Smoky bacon-flavoured crisps and other artificially smoke-flavoured foods are to be outlawed under new Euro regulationsThe European parliament has declared that the chemicals producing the distinctive taste, extracted from condensed woodsmoke, may contain cancer-causing agents
(The Sunday Times, 4 May 2003)

EU Commission response;
New EU measures have been proposed that aim to safeguard public health and consumer interests because many “smoke flavourings” are derived from the condensates of smoke, and these may contain harmful chemicals.To be as certain as possible that these flavourings do not pose a health risk, the proposed directive would establish a proper testing system applicable across the whole of the EU. However there is no proposal at all to ban smoky bacon crisps or other smoke-flavoured foods. Furthermore, the industry is broadly in favour of the moves because it would mean products were subject to a single set of rules – at present, standards vary from country to country across the EU

I also note that the EU Commission are accepting some blame in the bendy bananas saga as they state that the myth is true - but...

Looking at the Boris Johnson quote - have Channel 4 got mixed up? They are talking about the European Council.

Looking at the Boris Johnson quote - have Channel 4 got mixed up? They are talking about the European Council.

Yes, that's correct - the 28 EU Heads of State. It adopts new EU legislation after approval by the EP.

Are you getting mixed up withn the Council of Europe?

{as happens with the sadly abused ‘Cheddar cheese’}
I've not heard of 'cheese abuse' before, is it a banned substance?

Are you getting mixed up with the Council of Europe?

I don't think so...
The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities. It is not one of the EU's legislating institutions so does not negotiate or adopt EU laws Instead it sets the EU's policy agenda, traditionally by adopting 'conclusions' during European Council meetings which identify issues of concern and actions to take

You're right - its the Council of the EU, not the European Council:

What does the Council do?
Negotiates and adopts EU laws, together with the European Parliament, based on proposals from the European Commission

Channel 4 should have stated: The Council of the European Union, which includes representation from the UK government, later adopted the directive.

I totally agree there have been lots of lies. But we have to accept that the EU has good and bad points.
There is the money wasting and awful response to the refugee crisis. I want to remain in the EU but there has to be constructive criticism too.

as happens with the sadly abused ‘Cheddar cheese’}
I've not heard of 'cheese abuse' before, is it a banned substance?

If you have eaten cheddar cheese in America, you will know what cheese abuse is. It is orange....