And ask Norway, surprisingly! Like Britain, they have their own currency, pay a lot into the EU, but get zero rebate (as far as I know). Another big difference is that Norway is 'smaller' than Britain, seems richer (household average), and importantly, has much lower unemployment, as far as I know.
I'm not sure how knowing what other people in the EU think could help Britains in their decision at all. For every person saying they too would leave, there is another person saying they'd stay. The answer to this simply depends on who you ask and what newspapers you read. The reasons are all on the table, some explained better in detail than others. Although, I sadly have to admit, both campaign sides did an appallingly poor job in explaining. Rather it all sounded like the same slogans and commercial-like propaganda phrases (only one example: that ex-German Gisela-oh- my-finger-raised -itself-I-think- my-mind-has-occured-another-metaphor-for-you -- whatever her name is) being buckled over and over again. Especially 'debates' on British TV (I'm referring to both sides indiscriminately!) have caused me more than one fit of severe colon pain.
Let me say this, I guess everybody across the EU envies the Brits for three things:
- being a beautiful, proud country
- having a say in a referendum
- having that very special position within the EU
Here's what I think.
Within the next few decades, Europe will suffer a blow to its significance on the world economy map anyway, as China is lurking on the horizon. Yes, I know, the Chinese economy isn't doing as great as it used to (no 10%, no 7% of growth any more, only 6 point whatever), but hey, it's still doing way better than anybody thinks, and if they don't blow it entirely, they still have huge potential. Just right now they are on a big company-buying spree across Europe! Personally, I don't see this as a big problem (I like the Chinese, and their food), but still, after juggernaut China comes jugn'raut India and whoever else, and they will all catch up rather sooner than later. That's also one of the reasons why I'd rather see European countries stay close together.
Several EU countries, including Britain, have seen a series of governments systematically pushing wages down (in Britain ever since Thatcherism). And now they follow the fetish of 'austerity'. I'm not convinced that's an entirely good idea. Yes, it puts a stop to increasing state debts, but it also makes many people suffer, and it's always the wrong people suffering. It is just a matter of time that they got really angry (we are already seeing it: right-leaning parties and groups gaining ground across the EU). Here’s the funny thing: I know everybody hates Mr. Draghi and his printing press. However, Dracula et al. keep repeating that this economic experiment (i.e., reducing state debts by reducing purchasing power, accompanied by restructuring of debts toward cheaper conditions) can only be successful if local governments across the entire EU also implement structural (read: social!) reforms. They keep repeating it. But I don't see many countries doing that. Instead they all too often keep following the neo2-liberal course as if it we were still living the golden old days of the economic wonder years. The other day I read a specialist paper (can't remember by who though) claiming that any country can easily afford new and higher debts as long as inflation (read: interest rate) stays below 5% (which it will, cos -- let's face it -- the EU, and the US I think, have been in hidden recession for several years already, with the printing presses covering it up) and, the paper continues, that new debts will pay off in one or two decades. Maybe they would, maybe they won't. But it's a daring thought! Anyway, I do see the ECB and the EU trying to give us all a rather ‘soft landing’, but I can easily identify local (read: national) governments not getting into gear. And that is our all fault as voters!
At the same time, there is huge progress with regard to corporate and private tax avoidance across the EU and beyond; the entire banking sector is massively changing and being changed; financial market regulations are being put (back!?) into place (state debt crisis? pah, what we see is still the aftermath of the 08/09 financial crisis) etc etc etc etc. It's weird that any progress in these fields hardly ever features big (or at all) in the news. I guess they think nobody is interested, and I think they are wrong. They should try harder in explaining. And yeah, I know, it's all ever soooo slow, but some of these changes wouldn't be possible at all without the EU.
Immigration? To EU or not to EU, these people don't ask, they are coming anyway. Political refugees, we have to take them – like it or not. And those others? Didn’t Austria just do something that amounts to closing their borders? It's just another country going that direction (basically illegal). Do we hear any other EU country complaining about it? No, not really! And then there is also that dodgy deal with Turkey (a country I don’t see in the EU for decades to come). Anyway, there were experts warning to get prepared for masses of people coming. Now they have arrived and they keep coming. Either way I'd say cure the disease not the symptoms. The easy fix: withdrawal -- but that's not a cure! Sure, the EU will also have to alleviate symptoms and they should do so rather quickly.
In coming back to what other EU countries are thinking, I read several articles in which influential politicians across the EU are more or less saying: No matter whether the UK leaves or remains, the EU will have to change. So they seem to have heard the bang already. Let's hope it'll be more than just lip service. I really like the idea of them all sitting at a table working it out together -- that's what I call democracy. Sure, they all will have to compromise (agree to lose something to get something else in return) and we all know...
The worst thing about a compromise is it's a compromise.
