WHY SWITZERLAND REJECTS EU MEMBERSHIP-A LESSON FOR ENGLAND
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Why can't we be more like Switzerland?
The Swiss system of open and direct democracy provides important lessons for those who wish to preserve the project of self-government
by
Anthony Scholefield
[Eurofacts-7th September -2007]
What is it about Switzerland that enables it to go on resisting the dubious allure of EU membership decade after decade and to show no apparent sign of weakening?
As in Britain the issue of EU membership remains a divisive one. As in Britain the
POLITICAL ELITES
are more sympathetic to the European political project than the
VOTERS
BUT
as a recent seminar at the Swiss embassy made clear no one believes that there is even a remote prospect of Switzerland joining the EU in the foreseeable future.
[This will certainly disappoint the Conservative West Midlands pro-MEP Mr Philip Bushill-Mathews who in 2005 in a robust defence of the EU in publication 'Who Rules Britannia?' an odd title as the majority of the electorate know it is the despotic gang of crooks and plunderers in Brussels wrote:
'Step by step Switzerland is edging towards ever closer union.'
By the way we didn't notice his name amongst the
but we hope he will support the cause.
The formal position of Switzerland is that the 1992 application, to open talks on accession to the EU. remains frozen following the rejection by the electorate in a
REFERENDUM
of the signed agreement by the
Swiss Government
to join the EEA in 1992.
Since then the Swiss government has developed its EU relations by two sets of bilateral agreements, both of which have been approved by popular referendum.
In 2001 a proposal to commence EU Accession negotiations was massively voted down.
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Double Majority
The continuous stream of referendums on EU matters put before the Swiss people since 1992 has led to well organised and vociferous opposition, spearheaded by the Swiss People's Party (SVP).
There are two notable characteristics of Swiss politics which have enabled the country to resist trends that elsewhere in Europe have proved irresistible.
THE FIRST and most important of these is its system of cantonal democracy which has existed largely unchanged since 1848. Under the system major constitutional changes must be approved by a double majority system-that is by a majority of voters and of cantons. Such changes are also subject to a process of optional referendums which can be called for by 50,000 voters.
This has made it all but impossible for ministers to bargain away democratic rights or to "share" sovereignty as has been the case in other European states.
The system has ensured that the Swiss people are
NOW ON THE ALERT
and opponents of the
EUROPEAN UNION
are ready and organised to resist further challenges.
[Our politicians since 1972 have been great give-away merchants and are still doing so in September, 2007. All parties are happy to destroy our democratic rights and pay billions to the EU which has been estimated in the past 35 years to be over
300 billion
the Defence Budget last year was
£35 billion.
The cost each year to each man women and child in the UK of being in the EU has now reached
£1,000 each.
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Direct Democracy
SECOND, the confederal nature of Swiss politics together with the country's traditions of direct democracy requires
FULL DISCLOSURE
[Not as in the UK]
OF
Economic and Political realities.
For example, when the Swiss government produced its
EUROPE 2006 REPORT
which made a careful evaluation of the costs of various alternative arrangements to
EU MEMBERSHIP
this highlighted all the costs of joining the EU.
The annual budgetary cost was put at
SF 3.4 billion (£1.41 billion)
As part of the rigoropus cost/benefit study of the type the British government has been studiously avoiding for the last 34 years, the report frankly acknowledged the implications of abandoning the
SWISS FRANC
and spoke quite candidly of the
'negative fallout for the economy'
arising from membership of the
EUROZONE
It was equally candid about issues relating to the country's external relations.
'..the purpose of Swiss foreign policy is to defend the national interests, whether material or immaterial.'
Another attractive aspect of the Swiss political tradition is that while ministers are obliged to bargain firmly for the national interest they are scrupulous about observing agreements with the EU.
'Switzerland is the most punctilious observer of
UNION DIRECTIVES
bare none'.
one of the EU academic acknowledged at the seminar referred to above.
Moreover, the recent bilateral agreements arranged with the EU are very different from the slipshod opt-outs negotiated by the British government from recent EU treaties.
TThis is not altogether surprising: they have to be approved by a substantial majority of the population
Take the free movement of persons. this is subject to the ability of Switzerland to introduce quotas if there is an unsustainable increase in the number of EU workers and is also subject to a referendum in 2009 on whether to maintain the present agreement or NOT.
Moreover, the free movement of persons is subject to caveats about proof of ability of immigrants to support themselves.
One can contrast this with the British government's carelessness about admissions of East European labour.
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Slush Fund
TO BE CONTINUED
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Don't forget
A CLICK WILL SAVE YOUR COUNTRY!telegraph.co.uk/eureferendu
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THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN-IS THE EU COMMISSION LISTENING? * Ditch the EU TREATY after IRISH REJECTION SAY VOTERS by Daniel Martin Political Reporter [Daily Mail-Wednesday, June 18,2008] MORE THAN HALF of voters believe Britain should drop the controversial European Treaty in the wake of its rejection in last week's IRISH REFERENDUM' The poll comes as the Tories launch a last-ditch bid in the HOUSE of LORDS today to delay the RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY. And 10,000 people have signed a PETITION on the DOWNING STREET- WEBSITE within the past few days JUNE16-2008 , calling on the GOVERNMENT NOT TO RATIFY THE BILL [WHY DON'T YOU?]
Downing Street website is http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Abandon-Lisbon/ * JUNE 18-2008
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IF YOU CAN SAY
'WE WANT OUT-WITHOUT A DOUBT'
THEN
[Only an ultimatum by millions of subjects that the new EU TREATY can never be accepted such as signing the
RENUNCIATION of EU CITIZENSHIP
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Optout
Details from petition creator
With the signing of the Maastricht Treaty the people of Britain were given
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
-both
EUROPEAN and BRITISH
The extra tier of citizenship was thrust upon the people without their consent -and in many cases knowledge.
The PEOPLE of GREAT BRITAIN should be allowed the option of opting out of the EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP if they so wish. The GOVERNMENT will then be able to provide those who have opted out with
BRITISH DOCUMENTATION
-only such as British (not EU) passports, driving licences and other national documents.
EU laws will also NOT APPLY to those who
HAVE OPTED OUT OF EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP
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Download the RENUNCIATION OF
CITIZENSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FORM. 
"Right Click" on the image and select "Save As.."to download the form
in word document.
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"ASK US FIRST"
PHILIP LOCKWOOD
Cambridgeshire.
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METRIC MARTYERS WIN VICTORY OVER EU
SOFT TALK FROM EU ON EVE OF OUR BATTLE AGAINST NEW TREATY-THEY
NOW BACK DOWN TO ALLOW IMPERIAL MEASURES TO REMAIN FOR EVER
[Daily Mail - Tuesday, September 11,2007]
PROOF OF WHAT WE SAY-ONLY DIRECT ACTION CAN GET RESULTS
Another blow to West Midlands MEP -who couldn't understand what imperial measures meant 'to the people'.
In one word 'IDENTITY' now do you understand?
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[Latest Addition - June07]
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Daniel Hannan - Forming an OPPOSITION to the EU
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GORDON BROWN WANTS TRUST-BUT WHY WON'T HE TRUST YOU?
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67% want powers back from EU-ICM poll-June 21-2007-95% of British people want a REFERENDUM
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FOR A
REFERENDUM
SIGN TODAY ON LINE
* July 18-2007
ALSO
JOIN THE 10 DOWNING STREET PROTEST
Readers can add their support to the growing clamour for a REFERENDUM on the '"REFORM TREATY" by signing up to a 10 Downing Street 0n-line petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/EU-treaty-NON/
The Petition reads as follows:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to guarantee that the British people will be permitted a binding REFERENDUM on any and all attempts to resurrect the EU " CONSTITUTION" (and any or all of its content) regardless of nomenclature."
Deadline for the PETITION is 31st January,2008
Eurofacts 27th July 2007.
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'The Spirit of England'
by
In London on St.George's Day -1953
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VOTE
-2007
WITH THE ONLY PARTY WITH A MANDATE
TO SET YOU
FREE
THE
UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY
THE QUESTION THAT THE VOTER MUST ANSWER
‘DO YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED BY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, LAW AND CUSTOM OR BY THE CORRUPT ,EXPENSIVE UNACCOUNTABLE AND CORRUPT ALIEN BUSYBODY BRUSSELS’
-SIMPLE IS IT NOT?
TO RECLAIM YOUR DEMOCRACY DON'T VOTE FOR THE TRIPARTITE PARTIES IN WESTMINSTER
BUT
SMALL PARTIES THAT SPEAK THEIR MINDS WITHOUT SPIN AND LIES.
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ONLY
WILL BRING DEMOCRACY BACK TO THE ENGLISH PEOPLE
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SCOTLAND -ITS PARLIAMENT -WALES-ITS ASSEMBLY-ENGLAND-STILL AWAITS ITS PARLIAMENT-WHY?
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[All underlined words have a separate bulletin]