Benefits to the U.K.:
- Schemes such as Objective 1 in which the E.U. recently gave over �1 billion to some the most deprived areas in Wales and Northern Ireland.
- In the Foot and Mouth outbreak the U.K. benefited from E.U. stocks of disinfectant when it ran low in the U.K.
The E.U. also gives grants to modernise farms.
- Assured prices for farmers.
- The possibility to work and study anywhere in the E.U. without any restrictions.
- No border controls within the E.U., reducing international journey times for travellers and saving money for hauliers which can then be passed on to the consumer (waits at controls could often be upto 2 or 3 hours at some of the busiest check points).
- Already we benefit from the Common Market, we pay no tariffs to export goods to other member states, with whom we have over 52% of our trade.
- We are all benefiting from the Social Chapter, part of the historic Maastricht Treaty, which sets out rights and common regulations for the workplace throughout Europe on such things as pension rights, hours of work, health and safety and worker's participation in business decision-making.
- Consumer laws protect the consumer throughout the E.U. and free competition between businesses is upheld.
- A common E.U. wide environmental policy to reduce pollution.
- The European Charter of Human Rights sets out rights for all citizens of all member states and it will be seen as a long term piece of legislation, ahead of its time according to analysts.
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