ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BEING A MEMBER OF EUROPEAN UNION

E.U Headquarters in Brussels(Belgium)

 Flag of E.U

The E.U is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 European countries that together cover much of the continent.The EU operates through a system of supranational independent institutions and intergovernmental negotiated decisions by the member states.

 The Advantages of Being a Part of the European Union

1. Membership of the Single Market:
The Single Market of the EU has meant that companies going about their
business in EU member states have been forced to lower the prices of
their products to become more competitive.
The single market benefits companies by making it easier & cheaper to
do business in other EU countries. No customs tax is charged on goods
that are sold or transported between member states.

2. Free Movement of Citizens:
European citizens have the freedom to live, work, study, and travel in
any other EU country. Since 1995 alone, about 100,000 young Britons
have spent time studying in another European country.

3. More Jobs:
It is estimated the 3.5 million British jobs are dependent on
Britain's membership of the EU. (Source: UK Jobs Dependent on the EU,
Brian Ardy, Iain Begg and Dermot Hodson, European Institute, South
Bank University)

4. Money for Development:
The EU is working to develop deprived regions of Europe. Such areas
might for example have high numbers of people unemployed, or be rural
areas without many facilities, like good roads. This development is
carried out using 'European Structural Funds'.

5. A Louder International Voice:
By working together in the EU member countries can ensure their
concerns are heard, and taken more seriously, on the international
stage. When the EU speaks it represents about 400 million people
(this will be 500m after enlargement). This is more than the combined
population of the United States & Russia. Margaret Thatcher has said:
''On our own, as a nation of 55 million, we would have some voice, but
not enough."

6. Greater Protection for Workers:
The European Working Time Directive is an EU initiative designed to
protect workers from exploitation by employers.
The directive lays down regulations on matters such as how many breaks
an employee can take, and how many holidays they are entitled to each
year. It also aims to limit the average time an employee can be
compelled to work to 48 hours a week.

European leaders in meeting.

   


Disadvantages of being a member of EU

1. Cost. The EU costs the UK £6.4bn.The Bruges (which is an anti European group claim the cost per head of EU membership is £873, but according to Foreign and Commonwealth office the cost is about £300 per head.
2. Inefficient Policies. A large percentage of EU spending goes on the Common Agricultural Policy. For many years this distorted agricultural markets by placing minimum prices on food. This lead to higher prices for consumers and encouraging over-supply. Reforms to CAP have reduced, but not eliminated this wastage.
3. Problems of Euro. Membership of the EU doesn't necessarily mean membership of the Euro. But, the EU has placed great emphasis on the Single Currency. However, it has proved to have many problems.
4. Net Migration. Free Movement of Labour has caused problems of overcrowding in UK cities. The UK's population is set to rise to 70 million over next decade, partly due to immigration. This has pushed up house prices and led to congestion on roads.
5. More bureaucracy less democracy.

 In conclusion the EU has more advantages than disadvantages to it member states.In my opinion the union has brought peace and prosperity among it member states,and they have unite their people ,they are also helping each other in solving problems either politically economically,socially or educationally.

Sources:
www.wikipedia.org
www.europa.eu
www.123helpme.com
www.ecomicshelp.org