Despite everything that has happened, in particular the poorly thought through Northern Ireland protocol, whilst it offers NI a unique position of being both in and out of the EU which may help long overdue growth and prosperity in the region and over time create greater security and hopefully long term peace. As NI ties and trading patterns move closer to the Ireland and the EU may potentially be one very positive outcome for the Island of Ireland, Probably leading to unification which was forecast to happen in the next 20 to 30 years anyway, as the Catholic population will overtake the Protestant population of NI and lead to a unification majority vote under the GFA, Hopefully, they can work through the protocol issues going forward, without the grandstanding currently demonstrated in negotiations.
The EEC was a great success as an economic block, for me it lost its way as it moved to a federal Europe . We had our difficulties whilst within the EU remember the French British lamb ban, the BSE ban, the issues over egg salmonella, the blockading of Calais and other French ports by French lorry drivers and farmers to mention just a few. Everything wasn't rosy in the garden without question.
I never anticipated the economic benefits to work themselves out in the next 10 to 20 years, but without question the Pacific Rim will be the economic giant going forward, with Singapore and HK the real future challenges to the London financial centre. UK membership application of the Pacific trading block especially for services will be key to UK growth whilst maintaining a trading relationship with the EU. The EU has been in world GDP% terms been in decline for decades, when it had all the capital, intellectual, economic and industrial infrastructure and an educated work force advantages when compared with the likes of many far east countries that have prospered.
In a strange way I was pleased to read that the UK has sent British Army Engineers to support Poland in defence of the EU borders in response the the migration and Russian military growth in the area. Obviously the human tragedy on the Belarus border is very telling of the future migration we can expect. It shows we still have a strong commitment to the defence of Europe. We however do need to get a greater balance back in our relationship with our European neighbours, but I cant see how that is possible whilst Macron is determined that the UK must pay for leaving the EU. Whilst I disagree with Poland's political situation, I'm lost for words as to France's refusal to sanction EU funds to build a border wall in Poland, whose border position is being used to try and destabilise the EU.
I've no time for the current political antics of all political parties, we need a strong moral, ethical government held to account by a strong opposition.
Last edited by JohnHarris; 19/11/21 05:17 PM.
