Finally...

Dark clouds over Brussels

"The penny has dropped among EU leaders that voters want less Brussels in their lives.

Just today, European Council President Donald Tusk said many of the British ideas about the EU were gaining support all over Europe.

"Absolutely," admitted a high level Brussels source grudgingly.

"And Britain probably would get a good deal in the end but no-one here wants to hand it over easily.

As dark as the mood is in Brussels and beyond, it's also fervently felt in many circles that the UK referendum is a clear message that the EU must reform.

Thing is, do you believe it will?"

I don't think it will. It's taken 5 years for them to realise this, so probably take twice as long to make amends, if they do of course.

Dutch hopes & fears

Dark clouds over Europe? Hmm, that has a familiar ring to it.

Only if the UK leaves will the EU ever reform. It's not just Brussels that has to be overcome but both France and Germany too.
The Franco/German pact that the stability of Europe is built on is a big stumbling block. France and Germany will not want their
overall autonomy watered down for this may induce a feeling of insecurity. I can never see the EU achieving it's overall objective
of unification leading to a United States of Europe. I feel the whole economics situation throughout the whole EU stops this ever
being achievable. The EU needs to unwind itself, remove the central policy making body in Brussels and reform under the Common
Market principles, yes, the Euro must be disbanded, the biggest millstone around the EU's neck. Will France ever accept going back to
just a European Common Market ? It will resist this vehemently, for out goes the common agricultural policy and the heavy farming
subsidies it's farmers rely on to survive. France would have to modernise it's farming industry...now there lies it's biggest problem.
If the UK leaves both France & Germany may well then have to capitulate and come up with a new plan for the stability of Europe, or
just a new joint plan for themselves.

Will France ever accept going back to just a European Common Market ? It will resist this vehemently, for out goes the common agricultural policy and the heavy farming subsidies it's farmers rely on to survive. France would have to modernise it's farming industry...now there lies it's biggest problem.

Who wants to spend money modernise farming industry when the EU is VERY generous with subsidies?
The European Union spends around €59 billion a year on farm subsidies.
This site tells you who receives the money.
http://farmsubsidy.openspending.org/

Will France ever accept going back to just a European Common Market ? It will resist this vehemently, for out goes the common agricultural policy and the heavy farming subsidies it's farmers rely on to survive. France would have to modernise it's farming industry...now there lies it's biggest problem.

Who wants to spend money modernise farming industry when the EU is VERY generous with subsidies?
The European Union spends around €59 billion a year on farm subsidies.
This site tells you who receives the money.
http://farmsubsidy.openspending.org/

Most enlightening....

Britain probably would get a good deal in the end

Trouble is, does any one in Britten want to
trust Europe enough to buy a used car from
them? I am no expert but I see similarly here
with what Scotland attempted just a short
while ago. I am betting that the people of
England will stay in the union. I am thinking
about putting up a liter of maple syrup on it,
perhaps.

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I am betting that the people of England will stay in the union. I am thinking about putting up a liter of maple syrup on it, perhaps.

Looks like you could win on your bet.
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/eu-referendum/referendum-on-eu-membership-result
I wonder what the exchange rate is between maple syrup and pounds though.
The pound will probably drop radically if Britain leaves.

& the Euro will drop even further :-)

& the Euro will drop even further :-)

No Euros here:)
Actually have I have not even seen them.

Oh dear, it seems the EU is suffering it's own "Annus Horribus".

MSF rejects EU funds

"He said the deal did nothing to address the chronic deficiencies of EU policy, but simply outsourced European obligations."

The EU seems to work good in good times but bad in bad times.
I dont think anyone (except the MEPs of course who doesn't seem to care) doesnt like this uncertainty.
The very idea with EU is to avoid what is happening right now!

The EU seems to work good in good times but bad in bad times.
I dont think anyone (except the MEPs of course who doesn't seem to care) doesnt like this uncertainty.
The very idea with EU is to avoid what is happening right now!

Ah but they are the cause, unfortunately.

Definitely an "Annus Weekus" for the EU :-)

The referendum date is the day before we celebrate midsummer.
Normaly we are worried about the weather.
But now. The result can be a cold shower to us!
Brrrexit...

OK so the predictable celebrity endorsements are coming in and someone shoved the IMF to the front of the line and forced 'em to go first :)

IMF says EU exit 'largest near-term risk' to British economy

I can't wait for Juncker's grandiose announcement-endorsement-proclamation-rant! I really, really, REALLY can't wait to watch it backfire :D

If the five and a half idiots running the EU had any brains they'd lock him up 'till after the referendum. I'm not holding my breath though.

I really really hope that the British people vote to leave the criminal club known as EU. That will be the beginning of the end for that crap.

I didn't vote YES in our EU referendum, for Sweden to join that club for mutual admiration and criminal behaviour, and not one of all the people I know voted YES to EU either.

Please Britain, vote NO to EU. Other countries will follow I'm sure.
Herr Merkel may not like it though, and that makes it even better.

The terms Swexit (Sweden) and Fixit (Finland) has already been coined.

I think the correct titulation should be Herrn Merkel.
We don't wont to upset Germany too much, do we:)

IMO the common market was a good idea, the EU has totally turned into a cluster f**k, the euro is a very bad idea given the fact that the EU is what it is. Just an outside observers view point. Have fun on that side of the Atlantic.

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The EU seems to work good in good times but bad in bad times.
I dont think anyone (except the MEPs of course who doesn't seem to care) doesnt like this uncertainty.

There is no profit in predictable. There is much profit in uncertainty. It is called gambling. Round and round she goes and where she stops there is profit to be made!

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The EU seems to work good in good times but bad in bad times.
I dont think anyone (except the MEPs of course who doesn't seem to care) doesnt like this uncertainty.

There is no profit in predictable. There is much profit in uncertainty. It is called gambling. Round and round she goes and where she stops there is profit to be made!

Stock markets dont like uncertainty as a whole.
Yes, there are winners in the game but the bottom line is that we ordinary people are the losers.

The EU seems to work good in good times but bad in bad times.
I dont think anyone (except the MEPs of course who doesn't seem to care) doesnt like this uncertainty.

There is no profit in predictable. There is much profit in uncertainty. It is called gambling. Round and round she goes and where she stops there is profit to be made!

Stock markets dont like uncertainty as a whole.

Uncertainty is volatility. Volatility is king. No volatility and the computer traders can't make money! Stock markets love uncertainty, that doubles their profits. The Market's profit, as in the "market maker."

Yes, there are winners in the game but the bottom line is that we ordinary people are the losers.

Yes, ordinary people always lose. They give money away.

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& the Euro will drop even further :-)

That's good news stock up on even more herbs on the way back from the Belgian f1 gp :-)

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Life is what you make of it :-)

When i'm good i'm very good , but when i'm bad i'm shi#eloads better ;-) In't I " buttercups " p.m.s.l at authoritie !!;-)