“At a time when the Government’s finances are under unprecedented strain, what are we doing paying huge sums into the EU budget, which are urgently needed to support domestic public expenditure, and to avoid government borrowing getting out of hand.’
Labour Euro-Safeguards Campaign Jan. 2009
“Who listens to the EU these days? Not Russia and Ukraine, who ignore Europe’s pleas to resume gas deliveries to Western Europe, Nor Israel, whose relentless assault on the Gaza strip continued amid EU demands for moderation” International Herald Tribune.
So the little Central European countries joined the EU because the big beast would fight their corner for them, except that nobody takes any notice of the EU except itself. Well, EU President Barroso spoke to Russia’s Mr Putin four times and Ukraine’s Mrs Tymoschenko at least once about his wish for them to turn the gas tap on again, and got nowhere, The worst hit country, little Slovakia, with 5 million inhabitants, sent a small delegation to the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, and surprise, surprise, on went the gas.
International Herald Tribune.
A Cost / Benefit Analysis of our EU Membership