Issues that tend to ignore borders.

I’ve spent less time covering the following issues because they don’t seem to generate as many arguments as membership, immigration and sovereignty.

Consumer affairs

This issue covers pricing, safety testing and ensuring customers are treated fairly. The stated aims of the single market are to stimulate competition and trade, improve efficiency, raise quality, and cut prices

If we Leave would we:

1. Maintain protections and standards and red tape that goes with it – in which case why leave?
2. Would we increase protections and standards and red tape that goes with it – making ourselves less competitive?
3. Would we decrease protections and standards and red tape that goes with it – making ourselves more competitive but also potentially less safe?

Energy and environment

This issue covers energy availability and environmental protections.

– The EU is in the process of developing an integrated energy market

– There are several EU-wide policies to tackle climate change including the Emissions Trading Scheme

– It also legislates on issues such as water quality and air pollution

1. EU environmental regulation can be an unnecessary burden on business and push up energy prices vs The UK has cleaner water and air, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, thanks to EU action. Whichever view you take, climate change is happening and it doesn’t recognise borders and it needs countries to work together to resolve

• #FactCheck: EU diplomacy – govt information: https://fullfact.org/europe/governments-eu-leaflet-eu-diplomacy/

1. Other European countries would still want to sell their electricity to the UK if we left, but it might cost us more in energy tariffs with energy bills rising by £500m

Farming and fishing

How the UK is affected by the Common Agricultural Policy and EU fishing policies.

– The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains the EU’s biggest area of spending although its share of the budget is falling

– EU subsidies account for 50% of British farm incomes

– The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy sets rules for the amount of fish each country’s boats can catch

1. Many British farmers would go out of business without the support of the CAP; however, Britain pays more for the CAP than it gets back so leaving the EU could make more money available for UK farmers. Do you believe the govt would choose to continue to pay British farmers at the same or an increased rate? Might that money be diverted elsewhere?
2. 73% of UK farming exports go to the EU
3. It was the EU that forced France and Germany to lift bans on British beef
4. Leave argues that the Common Fisheries Policy has devastated the British fishing industry, however, Remain counter that sustainable Fisheries have to be managed to prevent over-fishing. Whichever view you take, fishes tend not to recognise borders and so it needs countries to work together to resolve

Defence

This issue covers defence and the extent of Britain’s influence in the world. This is not a Remain or Leave argument. Those who have failed to pay the slightest attention to the Tories wanton destruction of our conventional military forces whilst refusing to have a grown-up debate about the relevance of our Trident nuclear capability don’t deserve to be part of any discussion on defence.

Policing and security

Cross-border policing and security collaboration but also freedom of movement.

– Terror attacks in Paris and Brussels have brought security to the centre of the debate

– The UK is not part of the Schengen borderless travel area but EU citizens have the right to free movement

– Entry to Britain can be blocked if public security is at stake

#FactCheck: Borders – govt information

#FactCheck: Security – govt information

#FactCheck: Criminal justice – govt information

1. Any EU citizen with terrorist tendencies provided they don’t have a sign stuck on their back saying “Terrorist” is freely able to move between EU countries, however, as has been proven by the terror attacks in Paris and Brussels those terrorists are more likely to be home-grown
2. Unless we are intending on building a really big wall a la Trump and dramatically increasing the Border policing that the Tory party has enthusiastically been cutting, then how do we intend to stop people from getting in under cover of darkness
3. What about the Irish border? According to Leave nothing would change – no return to the border patrols and blockades of the Troubles. Really? Isn’t that a non-insignificant security hole?

Travel and living abroad

This issue covers travel for leisure or work and living in other EU countries.

– Over a million Britons live in other EU countries and millions more visit each year

– Membership of the EU allows citizens to live and work where they like

– The EU also makes rules which affect tourists travelling around Europe

1. If we Leave flights to Europe and using mobile phones on holiday are likely to become more expensive as we won’t be members of the club anymore

• #FactCheck: Travel – govt information

1. What will happen to all the British expats living & working in the EU and what about Gibraltar? If they come back what will that cost us in additional OAP care?

The British in Europe – and Vice Versa

‘I don’t want to go back with nothing’: the Brexit threat to Spain’s little Britain

What will Brexit mean for Gibraltar?

← EU – Sovereignty —
 EU – Cost of Remain & Cost of Leave – Membership & Economics →
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First posted on Facebook

Created: 18th June 2016, Published: 19th June 2016
Updated: 5th November 2019 – Minor grammar changes, heading style updates & copyright inclusion; 19th September 2019 – addition of Previous & Next links and subscription block.

© JAK 2016
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