Since World War II the European continent has witnessed many a change. Boundaries have been redrawn, walls have come down and a melting pot of cultures has changed the very fabric of European society. By and large, nations have embraced change and moved on – the good outweighing the bad.
For Britain, perhaps, one of the most vexing questions of recent times is whether to remain in the EU or bid adieu. Questions, debates and rhetoric, about the cost of leaving or staying, impact on mass migration and defence, all boggle the mind with no clear answers in sight. However, fundamentally, the concept of the United Statesof Europe was based on trade and one of free access togoods and people among its countries.
The cost of leaving or staying within the EU has both its advantages and disadvantages. After Germany, Britain pours the most into the coffers of EU than any other European nation. According to the Treasury, the annual net contribution of a British national to the EU is £100 per head. This, say experts, can be reduced to manageable proportions.
Immigration and Emigration
The issue of immigration has been bandied about frequently by the Leave-EU lobby to strike fear into the hearts of the population. Yes, an estimated 257,000 EU nationals arrived in the UK in the twelve months leading to September 2015. Official statistics show that there are 2 million EU nationals employed in Britain. According to Social MarketFoundation, EU workers make up 6% of the overall labour market and 13% of that in London. Sectors that trade with the EU or that benefit from free movement of labour, including financial services, tourism, construction and the automative industry, will be the most affected by exiting. According to analyses by accountancy firm PwC, in the short term, 950,000 jobs could be lost as a result of leaving the EU, although some experts argue for the long term benefits of leaving. Estimates by the UN show that 1.3 million Britons live elsewhere in the EU making Brexit a hurdle for them to live and retire in their adopted countries.
The refugee crisis
The influx into the EU ofmillions of refugees from war-torn countries, mainly the Islamic nations, is one of the greatest tragedies of our times. While it is a humanitarian duty to provide succour to the afflicted, in the long term, with adequate support these very people can be of benefit to host nations as shown by Germany. The age-old traditions of Europe and its Christian values have time and again demonstrated that race, colour and religion are no barriers to welcoming the needy and the marginalised. The prosperous and thriving Asian community in the UK is a living testimony to that. It was on the 4th of August, 1972, that the then President Idi Amin of Uganda ordered the expulsion of his country's Asian minority. Penniless, they arrived in the UK only to be welcomed with open arms and the rest is history.
Military
Although the EU has ambitions to play a bigger role as a military player, currently it has no military of its own. At the same time, with all its pros and cons, the European Economic Community and now the EU, through shared missions, has contributed a great deal to maintain peace in mainland Europe and elsewhere; the other major player being NATO.
Trade
On the trade front, traditionally, the UK has had strong links with the EU. Although the UK has recorded a trade in goods deficit with the EU, its trade in services balance with the EU is much more favourable, running a surplus since 2005.
Summary
Overall, one of the lessons from history is to have a federation of countries with common goals which need not be universally acceptable but work for the common good. By that principle the Asian Voice believes that we are better off in the EU than out.
