50 reasons to love the European Union As the EU celebrates its anniversary, The Independent looks at 50 benefits it has brought, and asks: "What has Europe done for us?"
Published: 21 March 2007
1 The end of war between European nations
2 Democracy is now flourishing in 27 countries
3 Once-poor countries, such as Ireland, Greece and Portugal, are prospering
4 The creation of the world's largest internal trading market
5 Unparalleled rights for European consumers
6 Co-operation on continent-wide immigration policy
7 Co-operation on crime, through Europol
8 Laws that make it easier for British people to buy property in Europe
9 Cleaner beaches and rivers throughout Europe
10 Four weeks statutory paid holiday a year for workers in Europe
11 No death penalty (it is incompatible with EU membership)
12 Competition from privatised companies means cheaper phone calls
13 Small EU bureaucracy (24,000 employees, fewer than the BBC)
14 Making the French eat British beef again
15 Minority languages, such as Irish, Welsh and Catalan recognised and protected
16 Europe is helping to save the planet with regulatory cuts in CO2
17 One currency from Bantry to Berlin (but not Britain)
18 Europe-wide travel bans on tyrants such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe
19 The EU gives twice as much aid to developing countries as the United States
20 Strict safety standards for cars, buses and aircraft
21 Free medical help for tourists
22 EU peacekeepers operate in trouble spots throughout the world
23 Europe's single market has brought cheap flights to the masses, and new prosperity for forgotten cities
24 Introduction of pet passports
25 It now takes only 2 hrs 35 mins from London to Paris by Eurostar
26 Prospect of EU membership has forced modernisation on Turkey
27 Shopping without frontiers gives consumers more power to shape markets
28 Cheap travel and study programmes means greater mobility for Europe's youth
29 Food labelling is much clearer
30 No tiresome border checks (apart from in the UK)
31 Compensation for passengers suffering air delays
32 Strict ban on animal testing for the cosmetic industry
33 Greater protection for Europe's wildlife
34 Regional development fund has aided the deprived parts of Britain
35 European driving licences recognised across the EU
39 Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain......thats not really true.
a lot of the rest are....like eu immigrants boosting our economy. also rasing house prices whilst the rest of europe slumped.
still an exit will correct that
39 Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain......thats not really true.a lot of the rest are....like eu immigrants boosting our economy.also rasing house prices whilst the rest of europe slumped.still an exit will correct
39 Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain
Agree thats not true, the best europeans would be internationals and get a work permit anyway. What you do get is unlimited access to europes journey men
39 Single market has brought the best continental footballers to BritainAgree thats not true, the best europeans would be internationals and get a work permit anyway. What you do get is unlimited access to europes journey men
I remember something in roger's profanisaurus once:
cuntinentals.. People in England who sit out on the pavement drinking coffee whenever the rain lets up for 5 minutes.
I remember something in roger's profanisaurus once:cuntinentals.. People in England who sit out on the pavement drinking coffee whenever the rain lets up for 5 minutes.
cuntinentals.. People in England who sit out on the pavement drinking coffee whenever the rain lets up for 5 minutes.
Do people really believe that we'd be stuck in time if we hadn't joined the EU? Sticking to meat and two veg and shunning 'foreign muck' such as olive oil & mixed Italian herbs?
cuntinentals.. People in England who sit out on the pavement drinking coffee whenever the rain lets up for 5 minutes. Do people really believe that we'd be stuck in time if we hadn't joined the EU? Sticking to meat and two veg and shunning 'foreign
42 EU gives more, not less, sovereignty to nation states
A) You're now a stranger in your own country B) Get used to your country being referred to as a ''State' in future.
42 EU gives more, not less, sovereignty to nation statesA) You're now a stranger in your own countryB) Get used to your country being referred to as a ''State' in future.
Here's all we need to know about the economic case for staying in the EU. Many of the countries in it are now bankrupt.
And if we'd listened to the same people who want to stay in, we'd be in the Euro and bankrupt as well.
They were wrong about joining the Euro, and they're wrong now.
Here's all we need to know about the economic case for staying in the EU. Many of the countries in it are now bankrupt.And if we'd listened to the same people who want to stay in, we'd be in the Euro and bankrupt as well.They were wrong about joining