Quote:
Originally posted by Rihab95
The EU parliament is democratically elected as well. It doesn't 'overrule' the will of the people, it represents the will of all European people rather than just the will of the British people. It's okay to say you don't want a supranational parliament, but saying it overrules the will of the people is like saying Westminster overrules the will of the Scottish people whenever they disagree with Sturgeon.
And iirc Cameron secured reforms giving the UK a special status before he started campaigning for the Remain camp. That special status includes an opt-out from an 'ever closer union'.
|
The European Parliament is all but ceremonial. It cannot actually propose laws, only the appointed European Commission can do that. It's the equivalent of the House of Lords being the lawmaking chamber in Britain and the House of Commons being the revising one. Nobody would accept that, so why accept this? It's anti-democratic. It doesn't matter that the European Commission is appointed by the elected European Parliament. Peers in the House of Lords are appointed by the elected Prime Minister, but nobody is calling to give them any real power.
The EU adds so many unnecessary layers to the lawmaking process, it's actually ridiculous. Power should be as close to the people as possible. For that reason I am completely in favour full fiscal autonomy being granted to Scotland. If they are still really that unhappy with Westminster then they are free to vote for complete independence.
Our so-called opt-out from ever closer union is purely symbolic. The original phrase in the founding treaties had no legal effect so nor does the statement exempting us from it. It's just a meaningless talking point for Cameron, but it sounds good and keeps the public happy. In reality, it will be difficult for the UK to secure exemptions from further European integration. The other countries in the union are already unhappy with all of the opt-outs and special treatment we have gotten - after all, if it continues then every country in Europe will be running to the Commission asking for opt-outs in this, that or the other.
Give it a few decades and the EU will be reneging on everything we are currently exempt from. The goal is clearly a fully integrated European superstate, so they cannot possibly have a member that isn't signed up for every single aspect - including the Euro, the Schengen Area and the upcoming European Army. It just isn't going to work in the long run, so we are better to get out of it now.