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What Are The Eu Myths?

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ToraToraTora | 10:09 Mon 12th May 2014 | News
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Cleggy goes on about debunking the EU "myths" but seems very tight lipped about what they are...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27129819
Could it be that there are a lot of truths in among the "myths"?
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Could well be but I'd be surprised if he knows what the word means.
Lets face it, with the latest Yougov poll giving him 9% Clegg is history.

He is a typical right-on EUphile liberal who thinks he knows best and the rest of us know nothing. He also thinks that even as the real minority he should tell us what to do.

He was annihilated by Farage - twice. enough said.

My guess is he is already cosying up to the EU for a seat back on the Gravy train.
Myths or not, Clegg/ the LibDems and Miliband/ Labour are making a mistake in refusing to put the matter to a referendum.
Question Author
well jim they are terrified of getting the "wrong" answer!
And no vote from Cameron either let us remember.

Who trusts him to give us one if he gets back in - I certainly dont there will be some fudging around (nothing will really change) and he will claim we have a new deal and no referendum is required.

TTT, as I am sure you are aware, in EU politics you keep holding referendums until you do get 'the right answer' !
Yes there are a lot of truths among the myths. And similarly there are a lot of myths among the alleged truths. In particular the notion that 3 million UK jobs depend on our membership of the EU is absolute bunkum.
So am I, Tora... but I'd still rather the subject was up for debate. This pathetic state of finding excuses to not ask the people just serves to undermine what confidence was left in politics. Not at all what we need.

At least some of the support UKIP and the anti-EU movement gains is likely to come from people who know that their vote isn't going to lead to real change, but just as a protest vote. In a vote that really mattered as to whether or not we stay in the EU, it's likely that people would be rather less keen on just a protest vote. And the need to debate the issues sensibly, and properly, is real. I make no secret of the fact that I'd expect to vote "Yes" to staying in. But I hope I'm open to persuasion.
may1983

He might be talking about these...

Abattoirs – EC hygiene rules force closure of abattoirs, Nov 1992

Abattoirs – Local meat products under threat from new EC Health Directives, Jan 1993

Acres – Acres are outlawed by Brussels, Jul 2008

Aga – New EU sulphur rules will cause problems with oil-fired Aga’s, Dec 2009

A-levels – EU to phase out A-levels for EU style diplomas, Jan 2000

Acorns – EU to prevent the sale of English oak seeds, Nov 1994

Advertising, sex discrimination – EU to ban advertising for same-sex flats, Sep 2004

Advertising, sweets and toys – Swedish Presidency will force a ban on sweet and toy ads, Feb 1999

Agriculture, set-aside – Farmers to be encouraged to mow land early resulting in “massacre” of game, May 1993

Agriculture, subsidies and fraud – CAP spending and fraud out of control, Aug 1993

Aircraft, low flying jets – MOD to be forced to pay compensation for military jet noise pollution, Dec 1995

Alcohol sales – EU ‘bans boozing’, Feb 2005

Ale, name – Light ale to be forced to change its name, May 2005

Ambulances – False alarm over 999 calls, Dec 2006

Ambulances – Ambulances turn yellow for Europe, Mar 2002

Ambulances, St Johns – EU to force St Johns Ambulances to replace its entire fleet, Apr 2002

America - Let’s quit the EU and link up with America, Oct 1998

Animals, use of human medicines – Human medicines to be forbidden for use on animals, Feb/Mar 1995

Anthem, European – Europeans to find themselves singing about “the motherland”, Feb 2004

Apples, Apple orchards – British apple orchards to lose out to over productive continental farms, Mar 1995

Apples, Danish – EC regulations forbid the marketing of Ingrid Marie apple, Nov 1992

Apples, standards – Quality standards ban curved cucumbers and certain apples, Jun 1993

Aristocrats, and wine labels – EC to register aristocrats to check for improper labelling of wine, Oct 1993

Army vehicles – Army to be forced to upgrade trailers in line with EU Directive, Jun 2005

Asylum laws – Misunderstanding between EU and UN asylum laws, Feb 2000

Aviation – ‘Open Skies’ treaty threatens fight agains global warming, Feb 2006
And these:

Baby rattles – EC to ban noisy toys, Jan 1996

Bagpipes – EU safety directives to ban playgrounds, trapeze artists and bagpipes, Aug 2005

Bagpipes, noise levels – Bagpipes to be quietened by an edict from Brussels, Apr 2008

Bailout – EU demanding £6bn from Britain for a new bailout, Sep 2013

Balloons – EU bans children from blowing up balloons, Oct 2011

Bananas – Curved or small bananas to be banned by Brussels, Sep 1994

Bananas - Curved bananas, Mar 1998

Bananas, funding – £3billion for bananas, Feb 2013

Bank accounts, ID requirements when opening – Children to be prevented from opening bank accounts due to ID laws, Apr 1995

Barmaids – EU health directive to prevent barmaids from showing cleavage, Nov 2005

Barometers – Preassure rises on Britain’s barometer makers, Mar 2006

Barrister’s wigs – Traditional barrister’s wig to be scrapped, Apr 2002

Bed & Breakfasts, dogs in – Rules on whether dogs may be allowed in B&B kitchens or not, Mar 2006

Beer, ale – Light ale gets a name change, May 2005

Bells, church – EU law bans church bells, Oct 2002

Benefits, free movement, residency, NHS – EU rights to reside in another member state, EU benefit claimants and NHS treatment entitlement, Feb 2013

Benefit tourism, migration – 600,000 unemployed EU migrants in the UK, October 2013

Binge drinking – EU wants binge tax on our beer, Feb 2006

Bingo, phrases used – EU wants to ban bingo callers from using phrases like “two fat ladies”, Dec 2009

Black boxes – EU wants one in every car, Nov 2009

Birth certificates – EU to force the UK to change or abolish national birth certificates, Aug 2013

Buy one, get one free – 2-for-1 bargains to be banned, Sep 1999

Bombay mix – Bombay mix to be renamed Mumbai mix, Jul 2006

Bones – Butchers cannot give a dog a bone, May 2004

Books, standardisation of prices – Britain’s book export trade to be damaged by new price standardisations, May 1993

Books, VAT – UK government forced to abolish zero rate VAT on books and newspapers, Mar 1993

Booze – EU ‘bans boozing’, Feb 2005

Bottles and squeeze tubes, food outlets – Condiments must be offered in sachets, Apr 1993

Brainwashing , EU propaganda- EU brainwashing children, Jan 2012

Brandy butter – Traditional brandy butter to be banned, Jun 1998

Bread, size – British loaf of bread under threat from EU, Oct 1997

Breakfast, fry-ups – Traditional trucker’s fry-ups to be banned, Sep 2001

British meat – EU wants to ban Union flag from British meat packs, Sep 2013

Broadcasting, licence fees – EC planning to ban license fees as “state aids”, Sep 1994

Budget airlines, EU staff – EU officials banned from flying Ryanair, Mar 2012

Buildings, indoor air pollution research – EU trying to quantify smell of British workers, Sep 1996

Bull bars – EU halting British move to ban bull bars, Apr 1995

Bulldogs – EU seeks to outlaw 60 dog breeds, Jul 1995

Bus drivers – Driven crazy by barmy bus driver Brussels ruling, Jan 1999

Buses, double-decker – EU safety rules will dispose of London double-decker, Jan 1995

Buses, double-decker – Double-decker buses to be banned, Apr 1998

Buses, journeys – Passengers to pay a second fare for journeys over 30 miles, Jan 1999

Buses, passengers on ‘closed door tours’ – EC regulations forbid the carrying of British passengers, Nov 1992

Buses, seat belts – Britain powerless to introduce new seat belt laws without backing from the EC, Nov 1993

Business, red tape - UK businesses strangled by EU red tape, Oct 2013

Butchers (see also Meat products) – EC closes butchers shops, Nov 1992
And these:

Cakes – EU bans eating competition cakes, Aug 2008

Cannons – 21-gun salutes to be muffled, Mar 2006

Car boot sales – Brussels threatens charity shops and car boot sales, Oct 2000

Cars, vintage - Vintage cars to be forcibly removed from the road, Jun 1999

Cars, washing – EC to demand petrol interceptors in drains or ban car washing, Nov 1993

Casinos, ID requirements – ID required at casinos, Apr 1995

Census – EU asks women about their sex lives, Nov 2007

Chalet girls – Chalet girls to face extinction from foreign employment directive, Nov 1994

Charity shops – Brussels threatens charity shops and car boot sales, Oct 2000

Charity shops, toys – Charity shops banned from selling second hand toys, Nov 1992

Cheese, British – British cheese face extinction, May 1999

Cheese, Caerphilly - Caerphilly cheese production halted due to EU rules, Apr 1995

Cheese, listeria in – EC rules on levels of listeria threaten British cheeses, Feb 1995

Cheese, serving temperature – EC moves to ban Ploughman’s sandwiches with new cheese temperature regulations, Jun 1993

Cheese, soft cheese – Milk-based product directive to outlaw soft cheeses, Nov 1992

Child labour – EU meddlers ban kids on milk rounds, Aug 1998

Chinese toys – Chinese toy imports are to be banned unless humanlike in form, Jul 1994

Chips, prices – Potato prices set to soar due to bad crop and EU rules, Jan 1995

Chocolate – Chocolote or ‘vegelate’, Apr 1998

Christmas, costumes – Mother Christmas outfits are the result of sex discrimination laws, Oct 2001

Christmas puddings, Royal Navy – EU bans wooden oars for stirring the Christmas Pudding, Nov 1992

Christmas trees – EC to promote standardised Christmas trees, Nov 1992

Church, bells – Village church bells silenced by EU, Oct 2002

Church, VAT – EU to may churches pay full VAT, Sep 2003

Cigars, health warning and pub sales – Sales of cigars to fall due to be sold individually with a health warning, Jan 1994

Circuses – Circus performers required to wear hard hats, Jul 2003

Circuses – EU safety directives to ban playgrounds, trapeze artists and bagpipes, Aug 2005

Climbers, height – Mountains must display height warning signs for climbers, Mar 2004

Climbers, safety wedges – Brussels bans climbers’ safety wedges, Feb 1995

Climbers, safety wedges – Brussels to take the fun out of climbing, Jul 1995

Clothing, designer – UK supermarkets banned from issuing sales on designer clothes, Aug 1998

Clothing, kilts – Kilts to be classified as women’s wear, November 2003

Clothing, women’s sizes – Women’s clothes sizes to get bigger due to standardisation, April 2002

Clothing, zips – EU plans to ban zipper trousers, May 1999

Clotted cream – Cornish clotted cream to be made in Brittany, Mar 1998

Coaches, seat belts - Britain powerless to introduce new seat belt laws without backing from the EC, Nov 1993

Coaches, to replace buses – EU safety rules will dispose of London double-decker, Jan 1995

Cockles – Scores of foreign boats to invade Essex coast – Nov 1992

Cockles – Cockle traders to be forced to buy expensive steaming equipment, Feb 1993

Cod – Cod no longer to be called cod thanks to EU, Sep 2001

Coffins – EC to standardise coffins sizes, Feb 1993

Combine harvesters – “Ludicrous” EU regulation bans using combine harvesters in the wet, Oct 2008

Commission, building - EC to build £900 million tower for staff, Mar 1993

Commission, hot-air balloons – Commission wasting hundreds of thousands on hot-air balloons, Nov 1992

Commission, library – EC library to cost £2,138 for every book borrowed, Feb 2005

Commission, pensions – EU staff retire early with huge pensions, Aug 2005

Commission, staff pay and tax – EC employees are over-paid and do not pay tax, Mar 1993

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – CAP spending and fraud out of control, Aug 1993

Common Fisheries Policy – Common Fisheries Policy is illegal under British law, Jan 1993
And these:

Darts, to be banned in pubs – Commission plans to outlaws darts in pubs, Jun 1993

Data protection, and journalism – Data protection laws to “kill-off” investigative journalism, Oct 1993

Dentistry – EU outlaws teeth whitening products, Feb 2003

Designer goods – On Sale: The designer bargains Brussels banned, Aug 1998

Devolution – Devolution is an EU scam, Dec 1998

Diplomatic immunity – EU workers immune from law, Mar 2005

DIY – EU rules ban the DIY electricians, Nov 2004

Doctors, language skills – UK hospital have to employ people who do not speak English, Apr 2012

Doctors and GPs, training – Hundreds of GPs to be forced to acquire additional qualifications, Sep 1994

Doctors and GPs, working hours – 58 hour working week will ground hospitals to a halt, Aug 2004

Doctors and GPs, working hours – UK doctors unable to treat off shore patients at night, Feb 1999

Dogs, breeding – EU seeks to outlaw 60 dog breeds, Jul 1995

Dogs, breeding – Queen’s corgis to be outlawed, Apr 2002

Dogs, dog bones – Giving a dog a bone is to be banned, May 2004

Domain names – All “.co.uk” domain names to replaced with “.eu”, Feb 2000

Double-decker buses – EU safety rules will dispose of London double-decker, Jan 1995

Double-decker buses – Double-decker buses to be banned, Apr 1998

Drink-driving limits – EU to cut drink-driving limits, Jan 2001

Driving licences, HGV drivers – HGV drivers not permitted to wear glasses, Feb 1996

Dumping, fridges – EU environmental plans lead to thousands of dumped fridges, Nov 2004
And maybe these:

Eco-labels, toilets – EU wants to regulate toilets, Oct 2013

Economat – Officials shop tax-free in exclusive Brussels supermarket, Sep 1999

Eggs – New eggs cannot be called eggs, Aug 2000

Eggs, sold by the dozen - EU plans to ban the sale of eggs by the dozen, Jun 2010

Eggs – EU orders eggs to be stamped with home address, Feb 2003

Elections – EU may force UK to give criminals vote, Feb 2006

Electrical goods, voltage – EU voltage harmonisation plan threatens British appliances, Feb 1995

Electric blankets - Regulators to set maximum heat of electric blankets, leaving pensioners cold, Oct 1993

Electric plugs – UK to be forced to adopt continental two pin plug, Jun 1994

E-mark – 999 services safe from EU interference, Oct 2001

Emergency number – Britain to phase out 999 emergency number, Jan 2000

Emissions trading scheme – EU green levy will add £130 to the cost of a family holiday, Jan 2012

English Channel – English Channel to be re-named ‘Anglo-French Pond’, Apr 2010

Environment – ‘Open Skies’ treaty threatens fight agains global warming, Feb 2006

EU accounts, Court of Auditors report – EU accounts not signed off…again, Nov 2013

EU cost – Britain’s payments to Brussels rises by £500m, Aug 2009

EU flag – Brussels forces Government department to fly EU flag, June 2012

EU flag – UK authorities forced to fly EU flag, Jan 2014

EU flag sports teams – EU stipulates that sports teams should wear the EU flag, Nov 2011

Euro see Single Currency

European Rapid Reaction Force – EU launches its own army, Nov 2000

Exams – EU to scrap British exams, Jan 2000

Excavated earth – Excavated earth to become waste, March 1995

Eye tests, for HGV drivers – HGV drivers not permitted to wear glasses, February 1996
may1984

I'm sure you get the picture (in other words, I ain't gonna do 26 cut and pastes).

The following blog summarises the myths, together with handy links to the individual stories:

http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/euromyths-a-z-index/

Thank you for bringing this subject up. I would never have thought there were *so* many nonsense stories!
That's a nice list, sp, but I think you've mythsed the point...
jim360

Could be...but I suspect the corrosive 'drip drip' effect of the public being fed a stream of this nonsense (forgive the mixed metaphors) means that we now believe a whole load of stuff that isn't truth, and that informs our opinion on the EU.

Remember the jam jar story from a couple of years ago? Not a single paper bothered to correct the mistake they made. They just moved on to the next story.
Question Author
Thanks for the list SP, the thing is, there is some truth in most of them, like the famous bent banana rules, the fact is that there is a regulation specifying the curvature of bananas. I know the media have a way of cherry picking the "cornflake spittter" bit out of the full regulation but they are not totally made up.
Indeed.

And the very notion that the EU should attempt to legislate on the shape of bananas (especially when, as far as I know, there are no major banana producers in the EU) sums it up.

What next, legislating to control the weather? (Er...er...)
the fact is that there is a regulation specifying the curvature of bananas

sounds like a myth to me. Link, please!
just looking through your list SP, "black box for cars". this was back in the news this week. ostensibly the facility is to provide a means of locating cars that may have crashed out of sight, but you can lay bets that traffic enforcement agencies and insurance companies will also have access to the information.

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