Why you, the English hate the EU so much?

Question

I'm French and I live in London. I can live here without any visa, i can work here and have the same rights than any English worker, i can buy a house here... It wouldn't be so easy without the EU.
I have many English friends, but also German, Italian, Spanish, Czech... Don't you think it's better than being in war like during the first half of the 20th century?
I know that the EU has many things that need to be improved. I'm sure you'll tell me about bureaucracy, loss of national independance or things like that but basically, would you prefer being alone in our current world? Please, explain to me why you're so many against the EU, more than in any other european country.

Answer 1

It is only a few people with loud voices that hate the EU...most of us enjoy the benefits of a united Europe.

It is only a few old 'empire dreamers' who moan because they can't feel superior anymore!!

Answer 2

It's not hate that the English feel towards the EU it's a natural born suspicion and scepticism which comes from hundreds of years of dealing with Europeans, many of whom are thought of as corrupt.

The French as a nation are not very fond of the EU either. Fifty years ago [give or take a year or two] Charles de Gaulle pulled out of an EEC deal which would have created a European Army. This idea came from the Germans. The Germans still want to create a European Army. We British think the reson they want to have a European Army is so that they can get their hands on our nuclear weapons - and presumably French nuclear weapons also.

My advice to the French is to think of France and forget most of what the EU is doing and has done. The French economy has been descemated by joining the Euro - the same would happen here in UK and that's why we do not want the Euro. The British have a word for the Euro - it's "funny money" - Toy Town worthless cash backed up by a load of hot air and nothing much else.

France and the French people need seriously to consider their own future as a great nation. I am sorry to have to tell you but France really does need a serious dose of Anglo Saxon Liberal thinking concerning it's economy. Adapt our ideas for your home market and you'll win. France now has five million civil servants. What for? They just push paper around and make no profits and burn up tax money. Get rid of them.

Answer 3

Many people would claim that the advantages you have set out, are, in fact, disadvantages for the indigenous population, because they have led to poor border controls, and over-population, and strains on our public services. The main reason that people don't accept it, is that it will inevitably lead to a Federal States of Europe, and a complete loss of sovereignty. Without the EU, you could still have obtained a work permit. I feel that you are narrowing the pro argument far too much.

Because you could write a book on this subject, I wont bother to explain all the huge disadvantages that we have already suffered, including loss of border controls. I am surprised, however, that a Frenchman eschews the virtues of the EU, given that the French are very nationalistic, and have a habit, along with certain other EU countries, of ignoring any EU diktats that they don't like. Sorry, if that sounds unfair, but that is our perception.

I know that you have pre-empted some of what I have said, but, why do you think that we would be alone? We trade with the whole world, particularly America, and we still have a Commonwealth. We import more from Europe that we export to it. We have never needed to be in the EU in the past in order to trade with it, so why do we need it now? The EU is often described as a corrupt totalitarian left wing regime, which is becoming increasingly intolerant of dissent.

Unlike you, I think that trying to embrace the Nation States of Europe, each with its own language, culture and history, into one consolidated whole, is more likely to create conflict than prevent it. The former USSR and the Balkans, are good examples or this. I am a patriot, and our politicians are not elected to give power away to a foreign entity.

Answer 4

It's not a matter of hating the EU, but they way the organisation is run.
It's far to big, far to bureaucratic and cost taxpayers a fortune to run. The stupidity of changing from Brussels to Strasbourg every 6 weeks or so is a complete joke and a waste of taxpayers money which could be spent on other more important things.
Commissioners are not elected and hold too much power. The EU is not a democratic institution it's a dictatorship. The likes of you and I have no say what's so ever at what goes on. The EU just does what it wants, the people who work there (Commissioners) are the most power crazed and overpaid dictators of all.
It's expanding far too quickly and I don't want a United Sates of Europe.
Now we are talking about Turkey joining. Only part of Turkey is in Europe they are not a European based culture they are more Arab influenced culture, I'm not anti Turkish by any means they are lovely people but they are not European!!!!!!!!!
By the way I absolutely love France and yes I am another Brit who wants to live there......................

Answer 5

do a little research , being part of a super state like this is not a good thing it is just a total centralisation of power , it is to take the sovereignty of our countrys .

as we see in america at the moment they have created the north american union (NAU) and nafta whichc is a free trade agreement with canada and mexico , this is based on a model of the EU it merges these countrys and all thy are doing is creating blocks (NAU , EU , Asian union , African union and so on) that will be joined together and will create world government , world currency which will eventually be just numbers and you will pay for everything biometrically .

the point is this is not a good thing very complicated , the people that run our so called civilised countrys at the very top are bought and payed for and there not working in the interests of us the people they work for big buissness and there future for the human race is not good (population reduction ) being onepart of it , dig a little deeper do some research and then realise how it affects us today , praps you wont look into it so then take another view from what u do know and then think how this power being in the wrong hands could be used.

Answer 6

I love the idea of an open Europe and wish it was the same all over the world not just the 31 EU member states. I am planning on taking my kids across Europe this year, so much to see and do, be a good experience for them and stop them being small-minded, Last time I was in France I had a couple of really bad experiences, but I also met some fantastic people too.
People are only against some of the policies the EU forces upon us, like changing the colour of our sausages and making us shoot our horses rather than treat them.

Answer 7

Basically there are 3 tiers to the EU. The 1st tier is those countries in the Euro zone.
The 2nd tier is the more developed countries who still insist on having their own currency (UK is in this tier).
Lastly we have the new members (mainly ex soviet block countries) Who still have to reach our standard of living.

It's not that the English British are against Europe, but the majority of citizens are comfortable with the status quo at the moment, and are not willing to join the 1st tier counties yet.

Answer 8

I'm not opposed to the E.U but I can see why some are. England isn't really in the E.U for English people, I mean sure it is a little but as there is a sea between us and the rest of Europe I can see why some people don't agree with it. I do though and I live in London and meeting all the people that you've described has made it worth while in my opinion (especially visiting their countries with them) but most don't see europe all they see is English people and wonder why it's benfiting them.

Answer 9

I agree with you!

Thanks to the EU, I can work and live in Luxembourg where I pay less tax, and have 7 weeks vacation per year ... plus I can fly anywhere in Europe without needing a VISA.

I love the EU, despite all it's faults it has made the lives, and aspirations of tens of millions of people better, plus given us opportunites and freedoms such as travel that just wouldn't exist without it.

I think all the complainers should quit bitching, and try to improve the EU rather than trying to be destructive.

It's funny how many people that complain about the EU would love to own a home in Spain, Italy, or France...

let's see how many thumbs down I get for this one :)

Glad you like London

Hope this helps

Philip

Answer 10

frenchmen, you have totaly misse the point of europe, its a method of warfare where comfort and riches are used instead of armies, in return for the surrender of your country, so then you become a european occupied state instead of france under french dominion. when we have all been captured by this corrupt organisation and there is no way back, all those riches and perks will dissapear. and france will be lost forever, and so will britain.

Answer 11

Because we were/are being conned!!! We originally joined a trading block......not a Brussels dictatorship! I do not want to hand over our sovereignty to murky eurocrats or live under under the tutelage of a Brussels dictatorship.!!!!