MV>> Inflexibility on the part of the EU is not the cause of the MV>> problem.
RB> But undemocratic imposition of frequently counterproductive RB> regulations is. Quite a number of EU rules are quite unpopular here in RB> Germany.
And that is not the case fir the rules from the federal government, the state or the municipality?
I am subject to many, many rules. They come from different levels. The lowest level is the municipality. Those effect me most and so there are many of them that I do not like. Next level is the province. They also issue rules I do noet like. Then there is the national government in The Hague, Some very unpopular rules come from them. Yes, and then there is Bsrussles, Those rules affect me least.
RB> And the fact that the commissioners are not directly elected,
Our cabinet ministers are not diretly electred either. It does not bother me.
RB> but have the _exclusive_ right to formulate EU legislation (the RB> parliament can only vote on what the Commission proposes) doesn't sit RB> well with democracy "buffs" here, either.
If the people of the UK want more democracy, let then start at home. What is less democratic than a head of state that gets into the position by right of birth. If they wnt more democracy, let them lead by example snd et rid of their royalty.
MV>> Rather the opposite I'd say. We - the rest of the EU - have been MV>> too flexible towards the UK. we should have told them "no more MV>> exeptions" a long time ago. Now we have a spoiled child that is MV>> out of control.
RB> Then we'll have to look at the exceptions granted to the other EU RB> members,
The UK has been grantes far more exceptions than any other EU country.
RB> like the tariff exemption for Germany to import as many RB> duty-free banannas from Latin America as it wants. ;-)
RB> Sounds like small potatoes, doesn't it?
Thta is what it sounds and that is what it is.
RB> But maybe you can still remember how the French howled at that, and RB> wanted protection for the banannas produced by their overseas RB> departments. I can't remember whether they got it or not.
I do not remember the incident. But I do recall Tatcher yellig "we want our money back". And heR successors saying things to the same effect.
RB> I'm sure there are other examples (for example the Swedes and Danes RB> refusing the Euro),
Which should not have been accepted either.
RB> but let's not forget that the English aren't the RB> only ones in the EU with special deals. If we get into that subject, RB> we'd be opening a can of worms for the entire EU.
They are not the only one's but they sure got more than evryone else.
