So Germany, Italy, France, Denmark or Finland ought to be pulling out or arguing to pay less, and have stronger grounds than we do. Perhaps there aren't any Little Finlanders, Denmarkers etc to match our Little Englanders. But then those countries never had an Empire to hanker after or they don't have delusions about their world significance
Fred #Doesn't Germany pay as much or more than we do to the EU? Why doesn't Germany want to leave or renegotiate? It is the world's biggest exporter, much of the exports being within the EU. Is that the reason? #
Partly yes , but the difference is Germany has a positive trade balance , we have a massive deficit. In other words: The EU needs us more than we need them. So if we left they would not cease trading. Our net deficit last year was £28 billion , they are not going to risk losing that quantity of their exports, anymore than they have penalised Norway or Switzerland.
Figure of speech, em,
.
Modeller, after posting I did wonder about the other countries mentioned. It may be that they pay more than we do but get much more in return,on whatever basis 'pay more than we do, is calculated