Cameron faces off with 27 EU leaders in 'battle for Britain'

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / AP

BRUSSELS (AP) — Prime Minister David Cameron faced off Thursday against the 27 other European Union leaders, telling them to grant his country a new deal to settle the festering issue of their relationship or face a possible divorce as soon as this summer.

Cameron said he was "battling for Britain" at a Brussels summit — and for a less intrusive EU that would benefit other countries, too. But French President Francois Hollande struck a cautionary note, warning that no individual leader should be allowed to stop closer European cooperation.

"It's the EU in question, not just one country in the EU," Hollande said as he arrived. "I want Britain to stay in the EU. But I hope most of all that Europe can advance, can be stronger."

Cameron is seeking changes to the U.K.-EU relationship that will let him urge Britons to vote "yes" to continued membership in a referendum that could come as early as June.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/cameron-heads-eu-summit-eu-091029945.html

[840high]

1. Interesting comments there.

[Helen Borg]

2. Brits will be sorry, if they leave the EU...

Tiny nation with an inflated ego and few natural resources.

[branford]

4. That's just not accurate.

The United Kingdom is a nation of 65 million people (the third largest EU country after Germany and France), the world's fifth largest economy (second largest in the EU next to Germany), the world's fifth most powerful military (and one of only two significant armed forces in the EU other than France), the UK is a major importer and exporter, particularly as a destination for other EU member products, it's one of the world's primary immigration (legal and illegal) destinations, etc.

If the UK was even remotely as insignificant as you suggest, none of the above would be true, and the EU wouldn't be so nervous about the upcoming British referendum and current negotiations. In any event. even if leaving the EU might not be the most financially advantageous decision for Britain, such sacrifice may certainly be acceptable to its citizens in order to maintain sovereignty rather than see national powers devolve to an EU superstate with a tremendous perceived democratic deficit.

A Brexit may also see the beginning of the end of the EU as we know it. Not only would the UK's departure weaken the EU economically, diplomatically, militarily, etc., but it would cross a rubicon where the assumption of an ever closer and irrevocable union is put to rest when the EU is facing some of its greatest challenges to its existence (e.g., abrogation of Schengen during the migrant crisis, Greek Euro crisis, Russian militarism in Eastern Europe, etc.)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_Kingdom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)
http://www.globalfirepower.com/
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/international-transactions/outward-foreign-affiliates-statistics/how-important-is-the-european-union-to-uk-trade-and-investment-/sty-eu.html
http://www.niesr.ac.uk/blog/after-brexit-how-important-would-uk-trade-be-eu#.VsdqF_IrLIU
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_immigration_to_the_United_Kingdom

[Helen Borg]

5. The UK is a paper tiger.

When all the scams going on in the UK-based financial institutions will surface, British folks will scramble to ask Germany to let them in!

[branford]

6. Do you have any evidence and statistics to back-up your claims?

For instance the UK was beset by tremendous problems in 2008 during the financial, as was the USA and the rest of Europe, yet their recovery is one of, if not the best, in Europe, with growth far stronger than other members. If you want to focus on current financial sector bubbles, you should direct your attention to China.

I have no personal stake in whether the UK stays or leaves the EU, but to suggest the UK is an insignificant country or will perish without membership in the EU is just preposterous.

If the UK chooses to leave, I would imagine that not much would really change. The UK is already exempt from much of the EU bureaucracy like the Euro and Schengen, it's in the UK and EU's mutual commercial interests to ensure trade continues without difficulty, and the parties would will still have ample areas of common interest and need.

If anything, the departure of the British may signal the slow implosion of the EU itself, a process many believe has already started irrespective of British concerns.

[Bucky]

8. Thanx

I was gonna say thanks for a well written argument but if you can write Brexit then I'm gonna write thanx.

But seriously, I do appreciate a good well mannered spanking delivered against the lazy hyperbole too commonly found around here

[pampango]

7. The UK's population and GDP are about the same as France's. Neither is 'tiny'.

Conservatives in both countries want to leave/break up the EU. UKIP and the far-right in the Tory Party are stronger politically in the UK than is the National Front in France. If the National Front or the more center-right, Republican Party, win the next election, France will probably want to "renegotiate" its EU membership just like Cameron and the Tories are doing.

[brooklynite]

3. Britain won't leave the EU...

Cameron will easily win the next election.