Portugal becomes third Eurozone country to require bailout

[Conservative,]

It will, but only because the EU will make us suffer alongside Portugal

I think countries who have that useless currency should be bailing Portugal out. It's not Britain's fault the useless Euro is struggling again, and the the EU keeps asking countries for money when they're strapped for cash as it is.

That's my point. Countries who it concerns should pay. We are not part of the Euro. We shouldn't care.

[cocaine]

That's my point. Countries who it concerns should pay. We are not part of the Euro. We shouldn't care.

bearing in mind that the EU is a major trading partner with the UK, we should very much care.

[-:Undertaker:-]

bearing in mind that the EU is a major trading partner with the UK, we should very much care.

The United States and China are also big trading partners with the European Union, then there's Switzerland, Russia, Norway, Turkey and so forth - they are not required to bailout Eurozone countries and even if the EU demanded they did so, they wouldn't nor shouldnt - should we have a foreign policy and trade policy based upon blackmail? the question we must ask ourselves is this; would the European Union come to the aid of the Pound Sterling?

In terms of trade, around 80% of our trade is internal anyway, the Commonwealth is also a big and growing market (containing India) of which we miss out on a lot because we are bound by EU laws and rules - add to the fact that the figures for our 'trade' with the EU are disorted by what is known as the 'Rotterdam effect' - its counted as trade with the EU, but its actually trade with the rest of the world which passes via Rotterdam.

There's no obligation to be in the EU to be able to trade with the EU.

[redtom]

I don't see why we're still in the EU, Since we've joined its done nothing but drag us down, we pay out more than we get every year which isn't far. We should keep the money we're effectively giving away and put to better use in our own country.

[AgnesIO]

The United States and China are also big trading partners with the European Union, then there's Switzerland, Russia, Norway, Turkey and so forth - they are not required to bailout Eurozone countries and even if the EU demanded they did so, they wouldn't nor shouldnt - should we have a foreign policy and trade policy based upon blackmail? the question we must ask ourselves is this; would the European Union come to the aid of the Pound Sterling?

In terms of trade, around 80% of our trade is internal anyway, the Commonwealth is also a big and growing market (containing India) of which we miss out on a lot because we are bound by EU laws and rules - add to the fact that the figures for our 'trade' with the EU are disorted by what is known as the 'Rotterdam effect' - its counted as trade with the EU, but its actually trade with the rest of the world which passes via Rotterdam.

There's no obligation to be in the EU to be able to trade with the EU.

Obviously they wouldn't pay towards the GBP as that isn't their currency - there is no chance it could effect them if our pound screws up, but the euro falling would/could effect other countries.

[cocaine]

In terms of trade, around 80% of our trade is internal anyway

would you like to provide the source for that information? i highly doubt that figure is accurate - i was referring to overseas trading in any case. the EU along with the US are one of two major trading partners and don't forget that portguals trouble could affect other countries with the common currency - france, spains and in particular germanys growth rate may be negatively affected from a change in the strength of the euro vs other currencies.

[RyRy]

but matt the thing is we've always been trading partners with peeps in the EU, i cant remember what the treaty was called but we all signed it and it was a trading agreement between now-EU countries. funnily enough it was said at the time that the treaty wouldn't be used politically, boom here we are now. so reeeeeeeeally we're paying money to be part of a club we were part before it cost naything. dandertaker could probs give a few more facts im just going on vague knowledge.

its this kinda stuff that means we seriously need a referendum on EU, it's a joke we havent had one already.

[AgnesIO]

but matt the thing is we've always been trading partners with peeps in the EU, i cant remember what the treaty was called but we all signed it and it was a trading agreement between now-EU countries. funnily enough it was said at the time that the treaty wouldn't be used politically, boom here we are now. so reeeeeeeeally we're paying money to be part of a club we were part before it cost naything. dandertaker could probs give a few more facts im just going on vague knowledge.

its this kinda stuff that means we seriously need a referendum on EU, it's a joke we havent had one already.

The thing with having referendums is that people will start wanting one for everything - they must cost huge amounts of money in themselves to run etc.

"80% of our trade is internal" - does this include things like warehouses buying products in, who then sells in to those trading places, where local shops then buy the products (which would boost the amount of internal trades..)

[RyRy]

The thing with having referendums is that people will start wanting one for everything - they must cost huge amounts of money in themselves to run etc.

"80% of our trade is internal" - does this include things like warehouses buying products in, who then sells in to those trading places, where local shops then buy the products (which would boost the amount of internal trades..)

when we're giving away 4billion to another country because we're pretty much required to by the EU, spending 82m (which was around the price of AV referendum) is bloody pennies.

[AgnesIO]

when we're giving away 4billion to another country because we're pretty much required to by the EU, spending 82m (which was around the price of AV referendum) is bloody pennies.

It was a sly point, since users on this forum want a referendum for absolutely every single political issue lol

To be honest, I don't think we should be in the EU - we don't even have their currency