The European People's Party EPP (the largest group in the European Parliament, consisting of Conservative and Christian Democratic parties, like the Dutch CDA) last week published a clear statement about the tariffs that president Trump wants to impose on the EU-countries. "Tariffs benefit no one.", "The EU cannot en will not accep a trading relationship based on intimidation".
On Facebook this statement triggered a discussion about the recent agreement between the EU and the UK about trade. Several British people critized the deal, and stated that the EU had intimidated the UK to give in to unreasonable demands and unfavorable conditions.
I couldn't help but to comment on the idea that the EU 'bullied' the UK, and commented: "The UK could have all the advantages of full membership but voted they didn't want that, nor anything close to that, so British negotiators have to bargain to get far less than the EU actually has on offer for them. Knowing you have to ask for less than you can get is not a strong position."Desparate to fish in our waters
Paul from the UK commented that they didn't want to be tied up to "ridiculous" laws made by "unelected" EU-leaders, and said the EU was only "desparate to fish in our waters". I decided to give my view on that.
<< Paul, I don't know where this view comes from. I gather you mean to say that you don't agree on many EU laws, but that doesn't make them ridiculous. Yes, in a democracy that recognises Rule of Law everyone is tied by laws. In my home country the Netherlands there are many laws that I don't agree on: that's called democracy, I am not "the majority". Same goes for the EU. I can discuss, "lobby" (in direct contact or through parties or organisations that stand up for my interests) and vote in the EU, just as I can in my own country, province or municipality. That's called democracy. There's much to be improved on all those levels: that's called democracy in progress and we have to continuously see to that.
<< Paul, I don't know where this view comes from. I gather you mean to say that you don't agree on many EU laws, but that doesn't make them ridiculous. Yes, in a democracy that recognises Rule of Law everyone is tied by laws. In my home country the Netherlands there are many laws that I don't agree on: that's called democracy, I am not "the majority". Same goes for the EU. I can discuss, "lobby" (in direct contact or through parties or organisations that stand up for my interests) and vote in the EU, just as I can in my own country, province or municipality. That's called democracy. There's much to be improved on all those levels: that's called democracy in progress and we have to continuously see to that.
I voted in every election for the European Parliament since 1978. Before that the EP was elected by the national parliaments, but since then we have direct elections by the people and proportional representation. My country the Netherlands has a parliamentary system, the government is indeed not elected but the parliament is, with proportional representation, where every vote counts. Do you think countries like the Netherlands or Belgium are no democracy?
On fishing in "your" waters. No one is allowed to fish in British waters (territory). Those are within 12 miles off the coast. Until 1982 outside a nation's territory everyone was allowed to fish freely (law of the free sea). As you may remember it was Iceland that introduced first a 12, then a 50 and then a 200 miles economic zone, outside their territory, where others were not allowed to fish. The United Kingdom didn't want to recognise such zone, maintained the principal of the free see and fought several wars against NATO partner Iceland to defend the right of British fisherman to fish in the Icelandic economic zone.
On fishing in "your" waters. No one is allowed to fish in British waters (territory). Those are within 12 miles off the coast. Until 1982 outside a nation's territory everyone was allowed to fish freely (law of the free sea). As you may remember it was Iceland that introduced first a 12, then a 50 and then a 200 miles economic zone, outside their territory, where others were not allowed to fish. The United Kingdom didn't want to recognise such zone, maintained the principal of the free see and fought several wars against NATO partner Iceland to defend the right of British fisherman to fish in the Icelandic economic zone.
I remember these wars well, being quite anxious about it (espcially since it was an war between friends). In the end, after tough negotiations, the UK accepted the 200 miles economic zone and it became law in a worldwide international treaty, stating that fishing within this economic zone (outside national territory) permission is needed.
Since the Northsea and especially the Channel aren't very wide, there's little "free sea" left, so negotiations and mutual agreements are inevitable. In the EU, also when the UK was still in the EU, this was decided in one package deal, following democratic procedures. Since the UK is outside the EU now, this must be negotiated and agreed separately in a bilateral agreement. I agree with you that this may not be ideal, and there's the continuous risk of overfishing, with too much competition.
Saying "The EU is desperate to fish in our waters" is a bit odd though, hearing it from a Brit, since it was Great Britain that fought wars over the right to fish in international waters without any negotiations or permission whatsoever, and if they hadn't lost that legal conflict, other countries could have fished in those waters freely without any barriers. So whether this is a good agreement on fishing is definitely a cause for debate, but a agreement with other countries had to be made one way or another (even if there was no EU), and this agreement follows democratic procedures on both sides of the water. >>
<< In return for extending current fishing rules, the UK has secured a deal to reduce checks on food exports to the EU. The vast majority of routine border checks on animal and plant shipments to and from the EU will be dropped. The new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement means the UK can sell raw burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit.
A formal UK-EU defence and security pact has been established. UK and EU officials will meet every six months to talk about defence and foreign policy. Both sides will coordinate on sanctions, share more information and develop a space-related security policy/ The UK will join the EU's PESCO project on military mobility, aimed at speeding troop and equipment movement inside and outside the bloc.
The UK and EU will link their carbon markets to avoid taxes on carbon-intensive goods like steel and cement travelling between the UK and EU. The government says it will save £800m in taxes and shield British steel from EU tariffs, thanks to a UK-only deal worth £25m a year.
British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at more European airports. When Brexit ended free movement, UK travellers were shut out from using EU e-gates. Now the EU Commission says the there is no legal barrier to stopping UK citizens using them after the roll-out of its long-awaited digital border checks system, which is due to come into effect in October. >>
UK-EU agreement
In the same discussion a man called Bobby gave a pretty neat summary of the UK-EU agreement, that I like to quote here.
<< In return for extending current fishing rules, the UK has secured a deal to reduce checks on food exports to the EU. The vast majority of routine border checks on animal and plant shipments to and from the EU will be dropped. The new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement means the UK can sell raw burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit.
A formal UK-EU defence and security pact has been established. UK and EU officials will meet every six months to talk about defence and foreign policy. Both sides will coordinate on sanctions, share more information and develop a space-related security policy/ The UK will join the EU's PESCO project on military mobility, aimed at speeding troop and equipment movement inside and outside the bloc.
The UK and EU will link their carbon markets to avoid taxes on carbon-intensive goods like steel and cement travelling between the UK and EU. The government says it will save £800m in taxes and shield British steel from EU tariffs, thanks to a UK-only deal worth £25m a year.
British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at more European airports. When Brexit ended free movement, UK travellers were shut out from using EU e-gates. Now the EU Commission says the there is no legal barrier to stopping UK citizens using them after the roll-out of its long-awaited digital border checks system, which is due to come into effect in October. >>
Source: EPP-statement 20.05.2025 Tariffs undermine trust - Europe must stay united
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