this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2025
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UK Politics

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Should we try to bolster our friendship with Europe?

The author claims that the UK government "must unambiguously launch talks on a big, expansive trade deal with the EU coupled with a deal on European defence".

Do you agree?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Should we try to bolster our friendship with Europe?

I once had a girlfriend who started acting like a little bitch, created much drama and dumped me for no good reason. Then she tried to come back to me a few months later. Can you guess what I told her to do? It rhymes with "thereof".

Hint hint Britain.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Holding a grudge is for losers. UK is more than welcome to rejoin as far as I'm concerned, speaking as a Swede.

[–] makyo 16 points 1 month ago

Agreed and I feel like people are sleepwalking on this. Between Russian agression and concerns from the USA and China - we shouldn't just be welcoming the UK, we should be working hard to bring them back to the fold. If the EU want to keep living in a world where the EU is possible, they've got to start making stronger efforts to protect and shape it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Agreed, but none of the goodies they had last time around. Take it all or leave it 🤷

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I'd say anything's negotiable, really. No need to limit ourselves from either side of the table.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Well, I don't care either way personally. I'm just saying, not everybody is ready to welcome them back, should they so desire.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] bitchkat 3 points 1 month ago

If you can take a ferry to the EU from Canada, you should be able to join.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The UK doesn't need to necessarily jump straight back into EU membership. There are other ways we can work together with Europe. Maybe at some point the UK government will consider rejoining the EU customs union and/or single market.

[–] FelixCress 4 points 1 month ago

There are other ways we can work together with Europe

Like EEA membership.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

There are other ways we can work together with Europe.

My point was, Europe may not want to interact with a fickle country like the UK anymore than necessary again. They probably don't need the aggravation.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Who could blame them? Lots of European people take a “you made your bed, lie in it” attitude. When we were in the EU, we were in on excellent terms, which will no longer be available, which will be a hard pill to swallow for many.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Lots of European people take a “you made your bed, lie in it” attitude.

The problem is, lots of Europeans also think the UK shat their bed, then got up and left. That's not easy to forgive.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Made their bed, shat in it, and in many cases refuse to leave/accept it’s a bad situation. I can understand Europeans who won’t forgive. I was fucking heartbroken when I woke up that morning and found out Leave had won. I wouldn’t shut up about what a stupid idea it was, on social networks and real life.

[–] khannie 4 points 1 month ago

Not my view for what it's worth. I'd happily welcome the UK back in.

[–] FelixCress 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

EU would definitely need a firm commitment this time.

[–] makyo 3 points 1 month ago

Yes and readmission should certainly include things that they didn't insist on before, thing that made it easier for the UK to leave - common currency and the like.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

True, they probably don't want more aggravation, but they may well be open to closer co-operation on defence for example, which the article mentions.

[–] GraniteM 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It rhymes with "thereof".

...clear...off?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago