They should call it “Made In EU” then. It’s not just us who are European but not in the EU.
It's interesting to note how different countries within the union are taking about who to include and who to exclude.
It clearly goes beyond the ostentatious justification for this of presenting a united front against Chinese protectionism.
The French representative talks about limiting it to only the EU27, which wouldn't even include the Nordics, who are almost EU in all but name. France would really like to be a big fish in a smaller pond, it would benefit their industry the most that way.
Poland’s economic development minister, Michał Baranowski, said it was too early to say whether countries such as Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Australia and Canada would be in or out, adding: “All these countries are in the mix of the discussion.”
This statement seems to implicitly include the Nordics in the arrangement by not mentioning them. In contrast to France, Poland's industry would benefit more from open trade with more countries outside the EU bloc.
It shouldn't be a surprise of course that politicians are prioritising their own countries' interests in such discussions - if anything, that's their job.
the EU27, which wouldn’t even include the Nordics
Sorry to be pedantic; I'm sure you're thinking of Norway, but the Nordics are: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland, and three out of the five are in the EU :)
Oh, that's Scandinavia, right? ~/s~
🥲
Are you going to demand voting rights for the "European Parliament" as well?
Yeah, self-inflicted. Sucks for us, but it's how we learn (hopefully)
I agree, but technically we are still a European country. We left the union, not the continent.
While I am irked somewhat when people conflate the EU and Europe, calling a EU-only policy a "Made in Europe" policy would still be technically correct. For example, if I told people I personally only bought products made in Europe, but in fact I only bought products made in Guernsey, my first statement would still be accurate.
If the EU ever grows to include Canada or Japan however, it would then no longer be possible to make such statements.
Well you could have made in EU but not made in Europe. For example you can buy products made in French Guiana which would be EU but not Europe. Also Cyprus is in Asia according to how some people draw the lines of the continents. Then we have the Spanish part of North Africa and arguably the Canary islands as well.
I challenge you to buy a product made in French Guiana
Point is that you shouldn't be excluding countries from joining a "made in Europe" certification scheme when they are, in fact, making products in Europe. If you want the scheme specifically to be highlighting and promoting products made in the EU, it should be a "made in the EU" scheme.
you're literally an island tho!
We left the union, not the continent.
Consult a globe. It's an island.
Really? Wild if true.
Yet the meatheads think that Japan is suitable for the branding. Seriously.
EU ≠ Europe, and its not just the UK but also Norway and Iceland etc. It would be more accurate to name the policy made in the EU.
Although how this impact NI will be interesting to see...
Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and other countries are in the European Economic Area, which is a superset of the EU. The UK had the opportunity of staying in the EEA, but that wouldn’t have been a hard enough Brexit to appease the gammon, so it was rejected. Of course, the EU could give the UK special treatment and include them in the programme, but it does not follow that they reasonably should do so, and there are competing political pressures against them making such an exception.
EEA is also not "Europe"
Its not a policy, or historical point: the UK is literally in the continent of Europe, so the term "Made in Europe" is factually incorrect here if it excludes the UK, regardless of what could or should happen with the politics.
"maybe Brexit was a mistake."
UK needs to rejoin quick before the war
My only concern now is that the EU has their own Trumpy parties that could soon have power in both Germany and France. I'm not sure now what we might be rejoining.
Scary times :(
If they want to exclude the UK, it's fair enough - but it should then be called something which excludes the UK. The UK is in Europe, so products made there are, as a matter of fact, made in Europe.
The UK is in Europe
Economically they told Europe to fuck off. Actions have consequences. UK never likes to be referred to as Europe.
Just to be clear, do you think "made in Europe" stickers should exclude countries which are, as a matter of fact, in Europe? Do you think that's better than making it a "made in the EU" sticker?
UK never likes to be referred to as Europe.
I'm trying to imagine what this could mean in a way that makes it anything other than obviously wrong or obviously dumb and I can't. Is it
- Citizens of the UK never like the UK to be referred to as Europe? This is obviously wrong. Many people in the UK recognise that the UK is part of Europe and refer to it that way. I believe you will find public statements from political figures from recent years saying as much.
- The UK itself never likes to be referred to as Europe? This is obviously dumb. The UK itself is either a bit of rock, or an abstract concept, and does not have feelings.
Brexiters are hilarious.
I can only assume you mean me, which would be hilarious if it weren't a terribly sad example of a terribly worrying trend.
So Canada will be in, because that's what the "associated member" thing is about. But UK will not.
"Made in EU or associated countries but not in non-EU Europe"
Hope there's a regulation on the labels size...
Europe isn't a continent, it's a club.
Eurasia is the continent. Europe always been a Club.
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