If you're thinking of emigrating to Europe and you're not so young think again perhaps

[Jake]

Give it up, Jacob. We never had "control" - we couldn't even get permission to take the VAT off sanitary towels.

We had lobbied since 2016 (only) to be able to introduce a new zero rate item for sanitary items and had persuaded the Commission to put forward a proposed change which would allow that. As that sort of change needs unanimous consent from member states, it did take a while. But we then left before that was introduced into EU law (that's now Directive 2022/542). So leaving got us there a year earlier.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

We had lobbied since 2016 (only) to be able to introduce a new zero rate item for sanitary items and had persuaded the Commission to put forward a proposed change which would allow that. As that sort of change needs unanimous consent from member states, it did take a while. But we then left before that was introduced into EU law (that's now Directive 2022/542). So leaving got us there a year earlier.

So it took six years to make a minor change for which there was general UK consensus, involving trivial sums of money, and for which there was a case based upon decency.

I thought Brexit foolish - this saga evidences a need for substantial change within the EU to make it fit for purpose, not proof it works effectively. It would been better to challenge processes from within

 

[Jake]

So it took six years to make a minor change for which there was general UK consensus, involving trivial sums of money, and for which there was a case based upon decency.

I thought Brexit foolish - this saga evidences a need for substantial change within the EU to make it fit for purpose, not proof it works effectively. It would been better to challenge processes from within

I don't think that's particularly bad for a process involving changes to very sensitive tax base matters involving so many different countries. Nothing is going to be simplistic, the (much more significant) advantages come along with inevitable complexity.

I do think the everything should be 'simples' attitude is a very real problem, driving stupid populism.

 

[ey_tony]

Populism. = "a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups."

I always find myself treating with contempt anyone who uses the word 'populism' to denigrate anyone's opinion which is based on common sense.

 

[Jake]

I always find myself treating with contempt anyone who uses the word 'populism' to denigrate anyone's opinion which is based on common sense.

Common sense is a short cut for saying "what I think without having thought through the reasons", so I guess that's not surprising - your contempt is a pure emotional reaction to being wrong but unable to understand why.