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2004-07-14 Europe

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Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-14 7:16:14 AM|| || Front Page|| [11131 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Mr Kilroy-Silk urged Tony Blair to stop "our money from being spent in eastern Europe".

Well, that's not very friendly of you, considering that you can now dump your products onto eastern European territory to your hearts content.

Aris, remember when I said that the eastern Europeans will be (net) paying into the European coffers???

Posted by Rafael 2004-07-14 1:06:56 PM|| 2004-07-14 1:06:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Well, that's not very friendly of you, considering that you can now dump your products onto eastern European territory to your hearts content.

That's EXACTLY the argument I used to Bulldog yesterday, when I said "in return poorer nations open their economies". Not that he understood it. :-)

remember when I said that the eastern Europeans will be (net) paying into the European coffers???

Hasn't happened yet AFAIK.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-07-14 1:24:11 PM|| 2004-07-14 1:24:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 ...you can now dump your products onto eastern European territory to your hearts content.

And vice versa.

So why doesn't East Europe send truckloads of cash to the UK? Sounds absurd, but so's the notion that the UK has some sort of obligation to unilaterally redistribute its wealth to other countries.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-14 2:11:12 PM|| 2004-07-14 2:11:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Geez.... guess what the big topic was last Bastille Day? LOL!

Posted by Shipman 2004-07-14 3:43:18 PM|| 2004-07-14 3:43:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 And vice versa.

Not yet. In about 10 years maybe.

So why doesn't East Europe send truckloads of cash to the UK?

Because it doesn't have the GDP of the UK. In about 50 years, they will, and you should expect to see boat loads of cash flowing into the UK.

some sort of obligation to unilaterally redistribute its wealth to other countries.

To other poorer countries. That's what the EU was supposed to be about, to my meager knowledge of the EU rules.

Posted by Rafael 2004-07-14 4:06:30 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:06:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 To other poorer countries. That's what the EU was supposed to be about, to my meager knowledge of the EU rules.

well i guess not from the POV of everyone in the UK :)

Though from the parochial Yank point of view, this runs against our hope for a UK-new Europe alliance WITHIN the EU to balance the French and Germans.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-07-14 4:09:08 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:09:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Not yet. In about 10 years maybe.

Do you think East Europe has nothing to export? If not, how on earth could they afford all the UK's products dumped on them? Bear in mind we're not only debating subsidys to East Europe (and, to be honest, I don't have a problem with investing in the former Communist new members, provided it's done responsibly and according to the principles of free trade - i.e. infrastructues, modernising equipment, NOT subsidys). What's more objectionable is the way much of the UK's net contribution to EU coffers goes to prop up inefficient west european farmers - and that's yet to change.

That's what the EU was supposed to be about...

As LH says - no it wasn't. It wasn't sold to the man on the street as some sort of proto-communist wealth redistribution scheme there to punish successful, efficient and dynamic economies the the UK's for the benefit of weaker ones. My God, do you really think the British people would have voted for that?!

Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-14 4:27:42 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:27:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Probably not from the POV of everyone in Europe either. And that's the problem. Neither France nor Germany is expected to be liberal with the amount of money going east, in the precarious economic conditions of today. Mind you, France & Germany are probably glued much more strongly to the eastern European economy than the UK. It is in their best interests to see a wealthier eastern region (for now, anyways).

Posted by Rafael 2004-07-14 4:33:26 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:33:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 LH, parochial in what way?

Posted by jules 187 2004-07-14 4:41:00 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:41:00 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Do you think East Europe has nothing to export?

Comparatively speaking, not much. Seen any Polish kielbasas on your store shelves recently?? :) Though granted, this will change quite rapidly.

Posted by Rafael 2004-07-14 4:42:57 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:42:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Yep, it'll change quite rapidly. With an open market countries with relatively cheap labour like, say Poland, should find a good deal of new inward investment from richer member states. I believe some German companies are not only investing Eastwards, but transferring eastwards. Investment through commercial interest, rather than taxing Peter to pay Paul, and that's the best way, the only way, IMO, for sustained economic progress.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-14 4:54:36 PM|| 2004-07-14 4:54:36 PM|| Front Page Top

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