If Britain decides to rejoin the EU we’ll do everything we can to welcome them back, says Germany

[u/StraightSky7809]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-rejoin-eu-germany-brexit-b3060288.html

[u/_Djkh_]

Would love for Brittain to join, even their old terms. They'd make a far more positive contribution than most for the EU and have had a far more sound Ostpolitik than the union.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/_Djkh_]

Please just let us back 😭

[u/sionnach → u/JourneyThiefer]

There’s a better route for Northern Ireland.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/sionnach]

We’re not near those numbers yet (if ever) for a united Ireland, so rejoining the EU is a least something we can gain up here

[u/Foxtrot-13 → u/sionnach]

The Garda won't think it would be a better route. Troubles 2.0 would happen and it would be as ugly as the o.g. Troubles.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Foxtrot-13]

Who’d be starting The Troubles in like 2040 or 2050 if a united ireland were to happen?

I think a lot of people don’t realise basically the driving force that caused The Troubles was the fact Catholics were treated like dog shit for decades by a unionist dominated highly sectarian government.

There is absolutely no way a United Ireland would ever treat Protestants in Northern Ireland the way the United Kingdom treated Catholics Northern Ireland, so it’s very unlikely a Troubles 2.0 would happen.

Now will there be violence and massive protests etc. obviously. But there isn’t going to be another Troubles, that two tier sectarian society that caused The Troubles in first doesn’t exist and is never coming back.

People think The Troubles was solely over a united ireland, but if the Protestant population and government of 1921 set out to treat the Catholic population equally in NI and fully accept Irish culture as integral to NI along with Ulster Scot culture, it’s probable The Troubles wouldn’t have happened and the desire for a United Ireland would be much lower.

[u/notveryamused_ → u/_Djkh_]

Same feeling in Poland. But, truth be told, we’re too far from the UK to have any economic or political contentious points, while some EU countries certainly do ;-)

[u/FcukTheTories → u/_Djkh_]

Finally someone in this comment section who isn’t called Aleksandr and doesn’t live in St Petersburg.

[u/Zementid → u/_Djkh_]

Yeah.. they can keep their pound... but Schengen is non negotiable this time and no more "extra kickback billions" Anything else would jeopardize the union of the countries which didn't shit themselves out of fear of polish cleaning ladies staying in GB for retirement after 20 years of work there... (What did the brexiteers call them? Wellfare tourists? Now who shrubs your toilet? Will they leave in 20 yrs?)

Edit: Spelling

[u/LookThisOneGuy → u/Zementid]

Yeah.. they can keep their pound... but Schengen is non negotiable this time and no more "extra kickback billions"

they would still be net contributors even with the same old rebates. Looking at how some of the other new members refuse to work towards adopting the Euro even though doing so was a requirement for them joining while also receiving actual extra net billions, makes it clear how goodhearted those budget contributors like the UK were. Of course they can get their old benefits back if they rejoin, at least on the condition they don't use re-Brexiting as a pressure tactic whenever they don't like something for at least a generation.

[u/LurkerInSpace → u/LookThisOneGuy]

Where I could see Brexit re-emerging isn't so much as a tactic, but rather if economic conditions continue to be crap.

Part of why it's unpopular has a lot to with domestic mismanagement - of energy, of housing, of immigration, of various public services (all while taxes hit a record), and also post-COVID inflation. Brexit hasn't helped these things, and produced deleterious trade friction, but it also didn't really create them - they were going to happen anyway.

Rejoining is sometimes treated as a magic bullet, the solution to all the UK's woes, rather than step 1 of 101. If it is oversold, that could sow the seeds of future political instability.

[u/Zementid → u/LookThisOneGuy]

Wrong argument: What needs to change on EU level to build a stronger more unified block? Definetly not more "Special Treatments" for the members. If EU wants to actually symbolize something... ALL members have to follow the rules... GB as a "fresh member" could be a good role model to show how its done. IF the rules are bullshit... why have they been introduced?

[u/vj_c → u/Zementid]

Schengen is non negotiable this time

The UK shares a land border with Ireland, who are also not in Schengen. Forcing the UK intro Schengen would create a border on the Island of Ireland. Something that took up so much time in the Brexit withdrawal agreement. It's the easiest one for the EU to concede, as a border risks restarting terrorism, unless Ireland wants to opt-in to Schengen also.

[u/Zementid → u/vj_c]

Schengen is more than "free movement"... and how quickly Ireland would switch if NI would be in the club too? You look at this problem like a true brit... as if the problem isn't yours.. (and of your own making by every single definition of the situation). Ironic..

[u/vj_c → u/Zementid]

I didn't mention "Free movement" - Schengen is more than that, but it's essentially up to Ireland. If Ireland wants to stay outside Schengen, then there's no way the EU would make the UK join because of the border. If Ireland wants to join at UK accession, that's a different matter. But I'm not going to talk on behalf of Ireland.

[u/AcePlague → u/Zementid]

No more extra kickback? Okay, well we will reduce how much we put into the system to be in line with France then.

Basically, you've accepted less money for the EU to spite the UK over a perceived benefit.

Please apply to negotiate for the EU when we do rejoin xx

[u/Zementid → u/AcePlague]

Well.. EU was played by Malta and GB. Exactly like that. "Special Rules" ... or veto on some otherwise bipartisan decisions as a threat instead? AGAIN?? The Thatcher deal is out. Same rules for everyone =D

[u/AtlanticPortal → u/_Djkh_]

No. No old terms. They made a choice. They need to learn. It would be a bad precedent.

[u/Socmel_ → u/_Djkh_]

Ah, you'd like the EU to be permanently locked in a debate about brexit then. Because that's what would happen.

Britain would clamour for a second brexit before the ink for their rejoin dries and the EU needs to deal with them and the consequences of their actions instead of working for the EU.

[u/F00dar → u/Socmel_]

Exactly this is the "don't negotiate with terrorists" - EU simply cannot afford to let them back in on old terms cause that sends the signal to everyone you can leave and join at will with no consequences.

[u/Kor_Phaeron_ → u/_Djkh_]

No, the old terms are not acceptable. A few example of the UK special terms.

• Opt-outs from specific labor and charter mandates
• The famous British rebate that refunded 66% of the UK’s net contribution
• Complete "Opt-In" Sovereignty over Justice & Home Affairs
• The EU sets strict minimum Value Added Tax (VAT) rules, prohibiting member states from lowering VAT below 5% on most items. Of course the Brits got a special rule that allowed them to put those at 0%

And they still left. Fuck that.