Walaa’s Weekly Wrap-Up ~ March 29th, 2014 ~LBC EU Debate Special

Posted 29 Mar 2014 by Walaa Idris

When it comes to our relationship with the EU and Europe, I like to think I am a pragmatic Eurosceptic. Pragmatic in that I understand and appreciate the importance of working and cooperating with Europe but believe our alliance is and should be a two way street. It should enhance and enrich us not strip our nation’s sovereignty and dilute its autonomy.

That is why I agree with David Cameron and to some extend Nick Clegg and ever so slightly with Nigel Farage.

I agree with Cameron in that Britain needs to renegotiate some of our existing agreements and have a referendum before any future agreements or rights are relinquished and signed away. Have the same opinion as Clegg, in that our trade agreements are important but where I differ from him is in accepting the status quo and being scared to take any risk improving what we currently have. I also see where Farage is coming from; we are most definitely the EU’s largest customer. But where I disagree with him is in the thinking that because we are a strong customer we should walk away and go it alone just because we can.

Yes the customer is king and yes the customer is always right. And that’s exactly where our strength lies, and we should use it to renegotiate better existing and future deals, we must use it to take back more powers.

Why walk away from a powerful trading, fighting, and negotiating block when you can lead and influence it to your advantage? Why walk away when you hold most the cards?

Post the recent economic downturn, members of the European Union are very aware of their weaknesses and shortcomings. They also recognise Britain is a strong partner that knows how to fix bad economies and nurse them back to good health. That is a plus, a barging power and a favourable position to be in. And even if we ignore it, we cannot ignore our geography, history and lifelong links with the region.

Ukip’s stance of just leave the EU and sort out your own trade agreements manage your own shop and lead a happy British existence with no one telling, asking or remarking about anything you do, is short-sighted and not terribly practical.

Britain has invested a lot in the EU and unlike the Germans and the French with our seat on the table we still have our own currency. Following recent events plus this week’s debate, our feelings about the existing state of affairs are no longer a secret.

That too is an advantage and a good bargaining position to be in.

For the past few weeks I was looking forward to the LBC EU debate. Because I was hoping to learn more about either why we should absolutely stay as is, or most definitely pack up and leave. An hour of debating and three days of analysing later and I haven’t learnt anything new – and still feel the same about our relationship and position in the EU.

I also realised, after remarks form the Continent, that we are the envy of many in the union. The fact that we still have the Pound Sterling, and are able to contemplate leaving the union, is a freedom many at the moment don’t enjoy.

Decades ago when we joined, we joined a trading pack. Today’s EU is more of political amalgamation and in its current state is not what Britain wants or needs and here is where the negotiations should start and end. We need our relationship with the EU to move more towards a trading cooperating union and away from a political dictator.

We might be a small island but we are a mighty nation, a proud and sovereign Britain.

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