[Geoffo]

[u2b]<object width="580" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/bypLwI5AQvY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/bypLwI5AQvY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="360"></embed></object>[/u2b]

Is this the general attitude of British citizens towards Europeans/ Belgians ??

I think Nigel Farage calling Belgium a 'Non Country' is bang out of order.

With regards to Van Rompuy, who did vote for him ?? Nobody over here did..



Your opinions please..

[zltm089]

whats this about? I don't really follow politics or even watch the news!...

[Geoffo]

Herman Van Rompuy is the new European president ( the guy with glasses ). He was for a while our (Belgian) Prime Minister.

Problem is ,he wasn't voted in by the citizens of the European Union to be President of the European Union, unlike Barack Obama who was elected by the the people of the U.S.

So are we really living in a democracy or a new european dictatorship ??

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by Geoffo

Herman Van Rompuy is the new European president ( the guy with glasses ). He was for a while our (Belgian) Prime Minister.

Problem is ,he wasn't voted in by the citizens of the European Union to be President of the European Union, unlike Barack Obama who was elected by the the people of the U.S.

So are we really living in a democracy or a new european dictatorship ??

The position of President of the EU is hardly comparable to the President of the US or indeed the leader of any country...

"The President of the European Council is the person responsible for chairing and driving forward the work of the European Council, the institution which provides political direction to the European Union (EU). The president also represents the EU on the world stage. The current president is Herman Van Rompuy.

From 1975 to 2009, the head of the European Council was an unofficial position (often referred to as President-in-Office) held by the head of state or government of the member state holding the semiannually rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union at any given time. However, since the Treaty of Lisbon, article 15 of Treaty on European Union states that the European Council appoints its president for a two-and-a-half year term, with the possibility of renewal once. Appointments, as well as the removal of incumbents, require a qualified majority.

On 19 November 2009, the European Council agreed that its first president under the Lisbon Treaty would be Herman Van Rompuy (European People's Party, Belgium). Van Rompuy took office when the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009 with a term stretching until 31 May 2012."

[warriorboy]

Farage made me embarassed to be British, no wonder we are hated around the world

[Geoffo]

Originally Posted by dar2008

The position of President of the EU is hardly comparable to the President of the US or indeed the leader of any country...

"The President of the European Council is the person responsible for chairing and driving forward the work of the European Council, the institution which provides political direction to the European Union (EU). The president also represents the EU on the world stage. The current president is Herman Van Rompuy.

From 1975 to 2009, the head of the European Council was an unofficial position (often referred to as President-in-Office) held by the head of state or government of the member state holding the semiannually rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union at any given time. However, since the Treaty of Lisbon, article 15 of Treaty on European Union states that the European Council appoints its president for a two-and-a-half year term, with the possibility of renewal once. Appointments, as well as the removal of incumbents, require a qualified majority.

On 19 November 2009, the European Council agreed that its first president under the Lisbon Treaty would be Herman Van Rompuy (European People's Party, Belgium). Van Rompuy took office when the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009 with a term stretching until 31 May 2012."

I'am aware of everything you say here, but did you know Van Rompuy get's paid a hell of a lot more than Obama just to be a puppet for Europe.

[chris330D]

Originally Posted by warriorboy

Farage made me embarassed to be British, no wonder we are hated around the world

+1 Nothing like intelligent, rational arguement........... not!

[peterg1965]

The EU is to democracy what the Nazis where to race relations.

Nigel Farage is precisely correct in 'most' of what he says. The EU Foreign Minister is a British woman who also has NEVER been elected to any office and was last seen in the UK running one of Gordo's quangos.

The EU is largely a joke organisation, which is self serving, anti democratic and costing the UK £Bn's just for the 'honour' of belonging.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by warriorboy

Farage made me embarassed to be British, no wonder we are hated around the world

Farage is a dick (anyone who would take payment as an MEP whilst being a member of UKIP must be by definition), but don't get too hung up about our reputation internationally.

This is what the Belgian Papers say:

Originally Posted by Libre Belgique

These English do not have any culture. When one visits museums it is Germans, Spanish, Italians, and French you see. The English 'get more' by asking for beer in low bars. You can recognise an Englishman by his football shirt on prominent paunch. His only reading is The Sun. The English are cretins, whose arrogance is only equalled by their mediocrity of spirit.

[SteveC]

That countries and organizations get the leaders they deserve

In the case of the EU, I think the maxim is about correct. Britain too BTW!

Farage demonstrated a distinct lack of intelligence, debating skills and all round ability to do his job. However, he was hired and sent to Brussels by the British people as their representative....Obviously a discerning electorate....

[Geoffo]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

The EU is largely a joke organisation, which is self serving, anti democratic and costing the UK £Bn's just for the 'honour' of belonging.

It's not just the UK that pay's £B's..

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Geoffo

It's not just the UK that pay's £B's..

We are the only country that actually seems to implement EU laws.

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by NFS

We are the only country that actually seems to implement EU laws.

And that is galling.... we need a big Repeal Bill to rid off us these ridiculous EU laws, which are implemented with very little oversight from our own Parliament.

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

And that is galling.... we need a big Repeal Bill to rid off us these ridiculous EU laws, which are implemented with very little oversight from our own Parliament.

Especially Maastricht,... freedom to travel within EU borders without needing a visa,... that's terrible. And of course the Euro currency, what an awful invention that is, it was always much easier and far more fun to have to get 10 different currencies when travelling across Europe...

It's very easy to dismiss EVERYTHING that the EU stands for without actually recognising that some things are for good.

[Geoffo]

Originally Posted by NFS

We are the only country that actually seems to implement EU laws.

Sorry NFS, but you couldn't get any further than the truth..

Britain has one of the worst, if not the worst record for not implementing the EU law's especially in the court system.Court system in Britain is sooooo old fashioned & weak, It's to laugh at..

[Steve A]

Belgium a country?? i thought that was a make of chocolate

Listen here you lot that is a very strong willed person speaking his mind. I agree some of his statements were a little personal but the basic sentiment is correct, If you listen the the message and not the bravado.

why does he have legitiment control over the EU

[Geoffo]

Originally Posted by Steve A

Belgium a country?? i thought that was a make of chocolate

Listen here you lot that is a very strong willed person speaking his mind. I agree some of his statements were a little personal but the basic sentiment is correct, If you listen the the message and not the bravado.

why does he have legitiment control over the EU

I understand that nobody in Britain had ever heard of Herman Van Rompuy, but In the rest of Europe he Is well Known ( In political circles).Plus nobody over here would want a Brit to be EU President like Tony Blair who Is pretty much hated throughout Europe.

BTW, LOL at the 'Belgium a Country ??' statement.Had a guy in Florida ask me that a few year's ago. He thought Belgian Wafels were made by a company called Belgian.

[SiKkBaSs]

Originally Posted by Geoffo

Problem is ,he wasn't voted in by the citizens of the European Union to be President of the European Union

House of Lords anyone?

[Mud]

Brown wasn't voted in either, and in fact we know he made a pact to become prime minister years ago....how democratic

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by dar2008

Especially Maastricht,... freedom to travel within EU borders without needing a visa,... that's terrible. And of course the Euro currency, what an awful invention that is, it was always much easier and far more fun to have to get 10 different currencies when travelling across Europe...

It's very easy to dismiss EVERYTHING that the EU stands for without actually recognising that some things are for good.

Sorry, you miss the point. Practically everything that Europe stands for, except the free trade element (the reason for initial entry into the Common Market), has never been specifically asked for by the UK electorate and we have NEVER been given a say in anything to do with Europe. It is the result of the largesse of the political classes, who think they know best. Can anyone tell me on here who their local MEP is? and what does he does for you?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Geoffo

Sorry NFS, but you couldn't get any further than the truth..

Britain has one of the worst, if not the worst record for not implementing the EU law's especially in the court system.Court system in Britain is sooooo old fashioned & weak, It's to laugh at..

I don't think so.

The English Judicial system is pretty much the oldest and fairest system in the world.

The reason it very often sits at odds with European 'law' is that English law is founded in the outcomes of cases tried over the last 1000 years. EU law attempts to codify 'justice' whereas English law has defined if over centuries.

As a specific example, under the Disability Discrimination Act, all building owners in the UK must now make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that their properties are accessible to disabled people, by law. This Act was introduced in response to an EU directive. Yet throughout the rest of the EU, new buildings are still being constructed now with no regard for disabled access.

The EU has agreed on a directive, but the UK is the ONLY country that has done anything to implement it.

[Geoffo]

Originally Posted by NFS

I don't think so.

The English Judicial system is pretty much the oldest and fairest system in the world.

The reason it very often sits at odds with European 'law' is that English law is founded in the outcomes of cases tried over the last 1000 years. EU law attempts to codify 'justice' whereas English law has defined if over centuries.

As a specific example, under the Disability Discrimination Act, all building owners in the UK must now make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that their properties are accessible to disabled people, by law. This Act was introduced in response to an EU directive. Yet throughout the rest of the EU, new buildings are still being constructed now with no regard for disabled access.

The EU has agreed on a directive, but the UK is the ONLY country that has done anything to implement it.

The English Judicial system is defo the oldest, but the fairest ??

Court system build up with cases tried over the last 1000 years !!?? That explains why It's still in the ' Dark ages' then ??

Can't speak for the rest of Europe when It comes to construction, but In Belgium new building code Is followed to the letter as It Is In the U.K.

Having dealt with European & British law Weekly/Monthly over a period of a few year's ,that It Is blatantly obvious that the Judicial system In Britain Is out of date & urgently needs dragging into the 21st Century..