Petaltop wrote:It's not only the migrant problems, but the reverberations for the EU from Brexit.
I agree. If the UK votes to leave the EU, it will effectively be the second country to vote to leave the EEA on the grounds of opposition to unrestricted freedom of movement, Switzerland being the first.
It is interesting to note that both countries are relatively wealthy nations within the EU with their wealth primarily drawn from being the base for financial institutions and services and not from manufacturing, which could benefit from cheap labour moving about the EU. That may be construed as a possible cause of the opposition to free movement of labour.
Two countries walking out on the same principle will flag to the EU that however much it is a key principle for the six founding members in the 1960s, it may not be workable now in an EU of 28 member-states or an EEA of 32.
Indeed, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, has stated that the
risk of EU breakup is real. How much of that is political posturing and how much is for real remains to be seen.
Also, some more interesting reading:
What are the UK’s options outside the European Union?
I have also posted some links to how the draft renegotiations could be implemented in law in a post on the
Referendum thread here.
I am not a lawyer or immigration advisor. My statements/comments do not constitute legal advice. E&OE. Please do not PM me for advice.