max

That is wrong. We would not have to accept any EU law unless we agreed to.

In leaving the EU to join EFTA, the difficulties would mainly be in disentangling ourselves from the EU.

arden forester

I agree with Modern UKIP. EFTA suits the four existing members, although switzerland's government has tried to join the EU. If Switzerland did join the EU in the near future, then EFTA would be not much of a free trade area to talk of.

The long term aim of the Swiss Federal Council (basically the Swiss Government) is to join the EU. Joining has been rejected in two referendums. My feeling is that EFTA is a non-starter, because if, and in the next 10 years that's a big IF, the UK withdraws, it may well be to knock on the door of an EFTA without Switzerland.

Far better for a Commonwealth of Europe, which would have free trade, etc, etc, without the petty rules and regulations of the EU as is. A Commonwealth could be shaped to withstand the current centralising vision of the superstate federalists.

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max

The Swiss are against joining and there is a long list of problems which they have set out as being needed to be solved before they could join.

Then, as has been pointed out, the Swiss people do not want to join and have rejected doing so in referendums.

EFTA is a good option as it preserves our free trade status with the EU. To start trying to set up another organisation is unrealistic.

Britannist

Switzerland will remain in EFTA - it is the largest single member of it in population terms and has an important role in the organisation.

The Swiss people will continue to oppose the EU - apart from anything else they can see what damage it has done to the UK and don't want to end up in the same position. The Swiss also hear about the problems the EU causes their similar-sized neighbour and EU member Austria.

Britannist

We have no say now in making in EU laws.

The EU would also have to accept British trade rules if we were not in the EU. Rules and regulations can work both ways. And the EU needs our market much more than we need theirs.

The USA does not need to be in the EU to trade with it - and neither should we.

arden forester

Well, I accept your steadfast belief in the Swiss (the people, that is!) determination to say NO to joining in a further referendum, but, even though the Swiss government has gone cold on the idea, it is still on the table. A new set of ministers may push again.

I think one has to look at the possibility of an EFTA without Switzerland. And I also think that the leaders of both UKIP and the EDP, as well as other parties advocating joining EFTA, should know whether EFTA would want the UK. Has this question been asked and answered?

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www.ardenforester.blogspot.com
www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

Britannist

They may push for EU entry - but there would then be another referendum and another No to EU entry (hopefully). This would further damage the europhiles in Switzerland - they've already lost two EU-entry referendums and one for associate membership of the EU. Each time they lose a referendum more wind is taken out of their sales .

Meanwhile the popular anti-EU Swiss People's Party has high hopes of increasing its representation on the Swiss Federal Council (Swiss Government).

Britannist

They are more likely to want the UK (to join) than they would any other large EU nation - it was, of course, the UK which helped found EFTA (the European Free Trade Association).

It is also possible that the UK could join EFTA and that EFTA could expand to become an international trading group including in its membership nations outside europe.

Apart from the EFTA option, the Commonwealth may form a free trade area. It was pointed out some months ago that the UK could not - as an EU member - join such a free trade area. The same applies to EU members Malta and Cyprus (both also in the Commonwealth). However, once outside the EU, the UK (and Malta and Cyprus if/when they leave the EU) could become a member of such a group.

Westcountryman

I'll clarify - if we want to trade with Countries still in the EU (assuming we left) we'd have to abide by EU rules and regs.

And we'd have to accept theirs of course.

__________________
Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

Britannist

Yes, but at least outside the EU we could implement our own trade rules regarding imports from the EU into the UK in response to rules invented by the EU to keep out or damage British competition. This is something we cannot do as long as long we are stuck in the straitjacket that is the EU.

Once outside the EU all sorts of options open up for the UK to protect and defend her interests.

We are presently bound by the rules the EU which are often designed to stifle British industry and business in order to make it difficult for UK companies to compete in continental european markets.