| Author (Person) | Booth, Stephen, Howarth, Christopher |
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| Publisher | Open Europe |
| Publication Date | 2012 |
| ISBN | 978-1-907668-35-7 |
| Content Type | Report |
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Open Europe published a new report in June 2012 outlining the potential alternatives to EU membership if the United Kingdom decided to leave the EU altogether, and their implications for British economic and political interests. While acknowledging that the cost of EU membership remains far too high, the EU continues, on a purely trade basis, to be the most beneficial arrangement for Britain. The alternatives often suggested – the Norwegian, Swiss and Turkish models – would all come with major economic drawbacks, not least for key UK industries such as car manufacturing and financial services, with the Norwegian model being particularly ill-suited for Britain. However, the UK public is growing increasingly frustrated with the EU exactly at the same point as the Eurozone is moving towards more integration. In order to justify continuing EU membership and avoid being driven by the electorate inexorably towards the exit door, Britain needs a new set of membership terms. This would involve the UK remaining a full member of the EU customs union and single market in goods and services – allowing it to remain at the heart of European cross-border trade - but substantially reducing the non-trade EU involvement and costs whenever possible, including bringing powers back to the UK. |
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| Source Link | http://openeurope.org.uk/intelligence/britain-and-the-eu/eu-membership/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, United Kingdom |
