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Ireland to contribute €16 billion more than it receives to EU in next 7 years

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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭4068ac1elhodqr


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    None of them are remotely close to even holding any kind of initial steps towards leaving.
    The French elections of 2022 have not yet happened, maybe avoid looking at any poll data between now and then. Even 3rd place candidate (Eurosceptic) Melenchon is very critical of many EU policies.

    Italy is a wildcard, likely not best pleased with the EU response to COVID, among other matters that are all spanners in the works.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    There's very little room for context in the outrage engine rooms of social media. Ireland is a corrupt shíthole; our health care and housing issues are exclusive to us; the politicians are only getting elected so they can make money, and everything is terrible.

    The reality is we went from being the poorest country in Western Europe when we got our independence, to now being a country ranked 3rd in the Human Development Index. An extraordinary success.

    Much of that is down to our membership of the European Union. We now have to contribute back to it. We can never really repay what it did for Ireland.

    If much of our current success is down to the EEC/EU which we joined in 1973, how come Ireland was an under-developed backwater for most of the 70's and 80's with one in five unemployed and people flying out as soon as they got their degrees?
    What did the EU do in the early 90's to turn that around?
    Or a better question is what did we do ourselves?


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,401 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    Ireland will contribute vastly more to the seven-year EU budget (which is separate to the recovery fund) than we get back. In fact, according to a German MEP who has the official figures, Ireland will contribute almost €16billion more than it receives, while Italy and Spain will be net beneficiaries.
    Hmmm. Are we being taken for mugs?

    Contribution.jpg

    Taken for mugs?

    What?

    You were expecting to be a net recipient forever?


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    lawred2 wrote: »
    Taken for mugs?

    What?

    You were expecting to be a net recipient forever?

    Of course not. But we represent about 1% of the population of the EU, and yet we are going to be paying in nearly 6% of it's capital for the next 7 years.
    I think we should have fought for a fairer deal.
    Ireland is not six times richer than your average country in the EU.
    So why should we pay as if we were?



    .


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, and Germany. The last great postwar social democracies (Iceland, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia as well). To have Ireland in that company is a testament to what we've achieved since independence.

    These are the best countries in the world in which to live. We are very lucky people.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 736 ✭✭✭Das Reich


    c.p.w.g.w wrote: »
    Seriously what are Spain & Italy at...

    They have both being on the brink of collapse for years, their getting lots of EU money, what is it being spent on...Genuine question?

    Lots of orders and impositions from the EU against Spain and specially Italy that was the second economy in Europe in early 90's. French products couldn't compete with price so EU had to order Italy to produce less. Then you have the fines specially against Spain. And the sanctions against Russia during Crimean crisis that affect a lot Italy and its strong relations to Russia (that EU didn't give a ****). The thing is that both countries had a very submissive governments and were doing everything France and EU told to do. France instead have a very protectionist government that still make a lot of money on their "ex" colonies. Look at this list of most sold cars in France in 2019, the first non French car is at position 14 (excluding Dacia that is owned by Renault).

    https://www.best-selling-cars.com/france/2019-full-year-france-top-30-best-selling-car-models/


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, and Germany. The last great postwar social democracies (Iceland, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia as well). To have Ireland in that company is a testament to what we've achieved since independence.

    These are the best countries in the world in which to live. We are very lucky people.

    So drinks all around on us. Cool. :pac:


  • Registered Users Posts: 52,012 ✭✭✭✭tayto lover


    Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, and Germany. The last great postwar social democracies (Iceland, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia as well). To have Ireland in that company is a testament to what we've achieved since independence.

    These are the best countries in the world in which to live. We are very lucky people.

    Ah Jaysus that’s great. Add a few percent to the income tax so ffs.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    Of course not. But we represent about 1% of the population of the EU, and yet we are going to be paying in nearly 6% of it's capital for the next 7 years.

    What percentage have we been taking in the years leading up to now?


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Graham wrote: »
    What percentage have we been taking in the years leading up to now?

    I would guess not 6% of the EU's budget for sure. Far below 1%


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  • Registered Users Posts: 736 ✭✭✭Das Reich


    Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, and Germany. The last great postwar social democracies (Iceland, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia as well). To have Ireland in that company is a testament to what we've achieved since independence.

    These are the best countries in the world in which to live. We are very lucky people.

    The best example of a social democracy is Portugal. Ireland is actually a liberal democracy as many on that list.

    From wikipedia:

    "A liberal democracy may take various constitutional forms as it may be a constitutional monarchy (such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom) or a republic (such as France, Germany, Poland, India, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, and the United States). It may have a parliamentary system (such as Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Israel, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom), a presidential system (such as Indonesia and the United States) or a semi-presidential system (such as France, Poland and Romania)."


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    I give up lads.
    Start a Go Fund Me page for the poor EU.

    https://www.gofundme.com


  • Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭MidlanderMan


    If I was German, looking at that, I wouldn't be too happy

    Then you'd be showing your lack of understanding of how their EU status benefits their manufacturing exports.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/IRL

    Ireland is a brilliant country in which to have been born, lived in, worked, raised kids in, and to hope to retire in.

    You are the 1%. We are up there with Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    I would guess not 6% of the EU's budget for sure. Far below 1%

    Oddly enough 6% matches the net receipts we received from the EU as a percentage of GDP in the early 90s

    Interesting article:
    Despite being one of the richest countries of the European Union, Ireland will continue to receive significant amounts of what can be termed 'Foreign Aid,' until 2007.

    -//-

    It may surprise some of those voters who believe that immigrants (the bulk of whom are here on approved work permits) are costing us lots of money, that we are still receiving large transfers from the European Union. Other European taxpayers are still funding us, with the largest shares paid by the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. Germany has been the leading contributor to Ireland's net receipts of €34 billion since joining the then European Community in 1973-the amount would be considerably higher if stated in current money values. Today, Germany has many economic problems in particular in the former East Germany where unemployment is 20%.

    Ireland Tops Cash per Head Income Aid from European Union


  • Registered Users Posts: 22,312 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Time for us to walk away?
    No. Because that would be stupid. Might, in fact, entirely redefine stupid.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Graham wrote: »
    Oddly enough 6% matches the net receipts we received from the EU as a percentage of GDP in the early 90s

    Interesting article:



    Ireland Tops Cash per Head Income Aid from European Union

    How are you on the old sums?
    6% as a percentage of GDP not quite the same as 6% of the EU's entire income.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭hmmm


    Our contribution to the EU budget is tiny in comparison to the value of access to the enormous EU market, which has allowed us move from the poorest country in the EU to one of the richest over a few decades. We should be really proud we have reached this point.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    How are you on the old sums?
    6% as a percentage of GDP not quite the same as 6% of the EU's entire income.

    Here's a sum for you

    €40 billion received - €16 billion to pay over the next 7 years.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Graham wrote: »
    Here's a sum for you

    €40 billion received - €16 billion to pay over the next 7 years.

    -Minus the fact that the vast majority of it was spent 30-40 years ago.
    -Minus the fact that we could have reclaimed €10 billion+ after the crash from bondholders but the EU wouldn't let us.
    -Minus the fact that we bought a lot of EU merchandise over that 50 years ourselves.
    etc... etc....


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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    So you've been free to enjoy the benefits of what was spent over the last 30-40 years
    You've been free to benefit from access to an enormous market for 40 years

    But you're upset because now it's our turn to contribute?

    Got it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    9312.png


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Graham wrote: »
    So you've been free to enjoy the benefits of what was spent over the last 30-40 years
    You've been free to benefit from access to an enormous market for 40 years

    But you're upset because now it's our turn to contribute?

    Got it.

    Are we 6 times richer than the average EU country? Obviously the answer is no.
    So then why are we paying 6% of the EU's entire income?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    -Minus the fact that the vast majority of it was spent 30-40 years ago.
    -Minus the fact that we could have reclaimed €10 billion+ after the crash from bondholders but the EU wouldn't let us.
    -Minus the fact that we bought a lot of EU merchandise over that 50 years ourselves.
    etc... etc....

    I knew this spiel sounded familiar :D



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    The UK was also a net contributor and left partly based on this argument. Do we really need to entertain the idea that we'd be better off without the EU?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    Kalico92 wrote: »
    Do we really need to entertain the idea that we'd be better off without the EU?

    Fortunately we don't.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Graham wrote: »
    I knew this spiel sounded familiar :D


    Oh yeah, I forgot about the wine. :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,711 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    So the figure is 16bn over 7 years, which is around 2.2bn per year on an overall GDP of ~360bn. Have I got that right? Or assuming the GDP is more or less static then we are paying 16bn out of our 2.5tn GDP. I appreciate its back of the envelope stuff but in the grand scheme of things it's small money compared to what we get out of the EU


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    So the figure is 16bn over 7 years, which is around 2.2bn per year on an overall GDP of ~360bn. Have I got that right? Or assuming the GDP is more or less static then we are paying 16bn out of our 2.5tn GDP. I appreciate its back of the envelope stuff but in the grand scheme of things it's small money compared to what we get out of the EU

    10 years ago, the Troika were forcing us to cut €2 billion in spending per year.
    Now we all see what they were up to. The property charges, water charges and universal social charge, wage cuts. It was all to pay the EU.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 29,559 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    10 years ago, the Troika were forcing us to cut €2 billion in spending per year.
    Now we all see what they were up to. The property charges, water charges and universal social charge, wage cuts. It was all to pay the EU.

    ah its more to do with the failure of collective thinking, we are our own villain, which includes thinking within critical eu institutions


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