What benefits does the UK people get from EU membership?

Whilst the definition of benefit is a subjective issue, there are a number of items UK (and EU) consumers receive as part of their membership of the EU.

These items will continue in full whilst the UK remains a member of the EU.

Whilst not an exhaustive list, benefits will include:

• European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) – (Directive 2011/24/EU) gives EU citizens free or discounted medical care
• The Mortgage Credit Directive – (Directive 2014/17/EU) this places regulation on the mortgage industry to protect consumers taking out credit agreements relating to residential property
• Flight delays – (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004)“If you’re delayed for more than three hours on an EU-regulated flight, where it’s the airline’s fault, EU regulation 261/2004 allows you to get fixed compensation of at least €250 per person”
• The Workers Time Directive – (Directive 2003/88/EC) provides a set of rights to EU workers to protect their health and safety
• Mobile phone roaming fees – (Directive 2015/2120/EC) The “EU is set to ban roaming fees within the EU from June 2017”

As no member state has left the EU before, it is unclear what, if any, benefits will be available to the UK post Article 50. These would be subject to Article 50 exit negotiations.

Source: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com

 

Will the UK have to comply with the European Court of Human Rights if we leave the EU?

Yes. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is not an institution of the European Union.

The ECHR is responsible for a fundamental rights law called the European Convention of Human Rights which is enacted into UK law via the the 1998 Human Rights Act. The convention is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe.

Parties signing up to the convention include all 47 members of the Council of Europe

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news

Source: en.wikipedia.org

What happens to UK food which has EU protected status

A number of UK special food products have been awarded Protected Geographical Status under EU law. This protects their name and composition from inferior duplication. Examples of this include West Country Farmhouse Cheddar, and Scottish beef.

Once the UK withdraws from the EU these protections will no longer be available (as EU law will not apply in the UK). The protection of such products may be part of the UK-EU withdrawal negotiations.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

What is the Schengen Agreement?

The Schengen agreement “is a treaty which led to the creation of Europe’s Schengen Area, in which internal border checks have largely been abolished.”

Its signature, supplemented by the Schengen Convention, has seen the establishment of “measures intended to gradually abolish border checks at the signatories’ common borders, including reduced speed vehicle checks which allowed vehicles to cross borders without stopping, allowing residents in border areas freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints and the harmonisation of visa policies.”

Whilst the treaties enable easier movement between member states participating in the Schengen Agreement, the agreement is not related to the Free Movement directives.

The Schengen Area is bounded by the borders of 22 of the 28 member states of the EU – of the 6 remaining countries:

• Both the UK and Ireland have negotiated and maintain opt outs from the Schengen Agreement to retain border controls
• Four other member states (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania) are obliged to participate in the area however have not yet met the criteria required to do so.

Another 4 countries that are not in the EU, but are in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – have signed agreements on association with the Schengen Agreement, even though they are outside the EU.

Source: www.gov.uk

Source: en.wikipedia.org

What does Free Movement mean?

Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.

This directive is implemented in UK law via the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 No. 1003.

Under this directive, implemented in UK domestic law via the Act of UK Parliament, a member of the UK has the right to work in any country in the European Economic Area (EEA) without a work permit if you’re a UK citizen.

The EEA includes:

• all countries in the European Union (EU)
• Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

This is because those members of the EEA have signed up to implement the directive.

Source: www.gov.uk

Source: legislation.gov.uk

 

What is the EU Single Market?

The Single Market gives the UK access to the EU and facilitates access to wider markets, and works by treating the EU’s member states as a single economic area. It is founded on the ‘four freedoms’: the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. These are enshrined in the EU’s founding Treaties and the Single Market has developed progressively over the past half a century. The Single Market provides access to EU markets through three broad elements. First, it removes tariffs and quotas on goods trade within the EU. Second, it creates a customs union within the EU. Third, it creates a level playing field by reducing non-tariff and other barriers to trade within the EU.

Source: www.gov.uk (HM Treasury analysis: the immediate economic impact of leaving the EU Glossary)