Isolated by being outside the EU
THIS week celebrates the 20th anniversary of the single market.
For two decades Britain has been able to access the world's largest free trade area, comprising today of over 440 million consumers in addition to our own domestic market.
The single market now accounts for over 20 per cent of the worlds imports and exports despite only having seven per cent of the population.
Government figures show that 3.5 million jobs are dependent on our trade with the EU. That's 1 in 10. So at this juncture, how do we use the single market to secure the economic growth Europe desperately needs? There are many aspects of the single market that have yet to be unlocked. Services and telecom's for example. It is estimated that unlocking these barriers to trade could result in a seven per cent per capita increase in income in Britain.
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As Europe's second largest economy and third largest country by population, we can have a pivotal say on the future of the single market.
So let us take this chance to enhance our influence on the single market rather than having an almost weekly rendition of the hokey cokey by the Prime Minister, which is forcing even our closest allies in Europe to turn their backs on us, leaving Britain dangerously isolated in Europe.
SIR GRAHAM WATSON MEP
Member of the European Parliament, Langport, Somerset
Comments
by CharlieDodd
Monday, October 22 2012, 5:05PM
“The only UK politician i've seen consistently standing up to the Brussels mob is Nigel Farage of UKIP, he plays a blinder on youtube”
by nick113
Monday, October 22 2012, 4:47PM
“I am not totally against the EU, but to pretend that we couldn't exist outside it is nonsense. Switzerland and Norway have all the benefits of EU trade but don't have to put up with all the waste and nonsense which comes from Brussels. The EU needs urgent reform or we should start moving to the door.”
by drt346ys
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:14PM
“"Free" trade area? For some maybe.”
by circles1
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:06PM
“20 years my ar'se we joined in 1973, a whole generation ago”
by paperlantern
Monday, October 22 2012, 2:09PM
“Money, money, money, while our society and social fabric are being torn apart. What price wealth when we are a totally diverse, disunited country?
'Third largest country by population' - read overcrowded.
'Pivotal say on the future of the single market' - since when, for a start we are not in the Euro and second we always give way to France and Germany.
I read in the press this weekend that our future trade will be with BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China.
We have been scare-mongered for too long.”