Brexit: Article 50 Has Been Triggered !

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Osem

Nah, they mentioned it because they were implying we wouldn't have to pay it at all...

Someone should've gone to Specsavers....

Ha ha.
But that's just one person, not "folks".

[Gavin78]

Originally Posted by Pierre

It would seem Juncker is determined to make this a nasty process

Juncker: English language is 'losing importance at EU'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39816696

I always said Europe was more racist than the UK this just proves it.

The fact there are those in the other 27 member states that don't want to be part of the EU or at least do not like the way it is going just shows that not everyone is onboard with this.

Whether this will favour the UK in the long run who knows but I certainly think there are those our there watching to see the outcome of this.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Gavin78

I always said Europe was more racist than the UK this just proves it.

The fact there are those in the other 27 member states that don't want to be part of the EU or at least do not like the way it is going just shows that not everyone is onboard with this.

Whether this will favour the UK in the long run who knows but I certainly think there are those our there watching to see the outcome of this.

IIRC 25 of the 27 nations agreed with the PM's offer to sort out the question of EU citizens in other countries. Only France and Germany objected - they who usually call the shots in that wonderful 'union' of nations...

---------- Post added at 15:31 ---------- Previous post was at 15:25 ----------

Meanwhile back on the subject of right wing extremism/Nazism simmering away in Europe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39835609

Inspections have been ordered at every German army barracks, after Nazi-era memorabilia was found at two of them.
The defence ministry said the command came from the inspector general of the Bundeswehr (Germany's armed forces).
All barracks will be searched for material linked to the Wehrmacht, the army which served Adolf Hitler.
The move follows a growing scandal over far-right extremism within the army, with an officer accused of plotting an attack disguised as a Syrian refugee.
The army lieutenant, who had expressed far-right views, was arrested in late April.
Prosecutors in Frankfurt said the 28-year-old suspect had a "xenophobic background".

No it's clearly not on the level of the 1930's/40's but we'd all do well to accept that it hasn't gone away and do our best to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Who cares what language they speak in the EU? Honestly, Juncker really does seem to be trying to be offensive. What a pointless exercise.

[Osem]

Maybe he should think about all the Brits who died freeing Europe twice before he opens his offensive mouth about how irrelevant the UK is.

[jonbxx]

Population of EU = 508,191,116
Population of English speaking countries (UK, Ireland, Malta) = 70,165,229 or 13.8%
Population of English speaking countries after Brexit = 5,055,229 or 1.14%

Also, over 30x more Soviets died fighting Germany than British so should the EU cosy up to Russia more as a gesture of gratitude for what happened 70 years ago?

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by jonbxx

Population of EU = 508,191,116
Population of English speaking countries (UK, Ireland, Malta) = 70,165,229 or 13.8%
Population of English speaking countries after Brexit = 5,055,229 or 1.14%

Also, over 30x more Soviets died fighting Germany than British so should the EU cosy up to Russia more as a gesture of gratitude for what happened 70 years ago?

do these people suddenly forget how to speak English then ?

[jonbxx]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

do these people suddenly forget how to speak English then ?

No, I am sure Ireland (population 4,625,885) and Malta (population 429,344) will be happy to continue speaking English. However, post Brexit, there are twice as many Catalan speakers than English

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by jonbxx

No, I am sure Ireland (population 4,625,885) and Malta (population 429,344) will be happy to continue speaking English. However, post Brexit, there are twice as many Catalan speakers than English

I think you need to revise your list.

[QUOTE]List of majority native English speaking countries

The UK government classifies the following overseas countries as majority native English speaking:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada*
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
United States of America

No other country may be considered as being 'majority English speaking' for visa purposes.[QUOTE].

[heero_yuy]

According to a survey published in 2006, 13% of EU citizens speak English as their native language. Another 38% of EU citizens state that they have sufficient skills in English to have a conversation, so the total reach of English in the EU is 51%

Wiki

Whereas:

French is spoken by 28% of the EU. Half of them are native speakers.

Source

Juncker halved his audience.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by jonbxx

Population of EU = 508,191,116
Population of English speaking countries (UK, Ireland, Malta) = 70,165,229 or 13.8%
Population of English speaking countries after Brexit = 5,055,229 or 1.14%

Also, over 30x more Soviets died fighting Germany than British so should the EU cosy up to Russia more as a gesture of gratitude for what happened 70 years ago?

Cosy up? Or just not go out of their way to offend like a playground brat? Bit of a difference methinks especially for someone at his level. Maybe you'd be equally happy had Juncker decided to say the Russia was increasingly irrelevant in Europe. I wouldn't because it'd be an equally insensitive and offensive remark. I'll leave the Russians to deal with that eventuality however and concentrate on the offence caused to the country I care about and the one people like Juncker have far more to be grateful for.

Much of former E Europe would probably disagree with you about being thankful to the Russians given how they chose to rule E Europe after the war. Bit of a difference between how they acted in their bit of Europe and the west did elsewhere don't you think.

Anyway if Juncker thinks the world's foremost language is irrelevant to the EU it just goes to show how deluded he is.

[jonbxx]

By no means did I want to say that we, or the EU should cozy up to Russia but if you pull the war card out, the Soviet Unions sacrifice stats will always win that game of Top Trumps.

---------- Post added at 10:32 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

[QUOTE=pip08456;35897969]I think you need to revise your list.

[QUOTE]List of majority native English speaking countries

The UK government classifies the following overseas countries as majority native English speaking:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada*
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
United States of America

No other country may be considered as being 'majority English speaking' for visa purposes.

.

None of these countries are particularly relevant for a speech about the EU at a conference on the EU at Florence's European University Institute (EUI).

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by jonbxx

None of these countries are particularly relevant for a speech about the EU at a conference on the EU at Florence's European University Institute (EUI).

So the EU doesn't trade with the rest of the world? Fine!

[Osem]

Me 'pulling the war card out' if that's what you choose to call it does not mean I don't acknowledge the huge sacrifices made by numerous other nations. However, that's totally irrelevant in the context of a debate about the very great offence caused to the UK by a jumped up EU official whose sneering attitude typifies the mentality which helped lead to Brexit in the first place. He could have just given his speech in French and no even mentioned English bu he couldn't resist the opportunity to insult.

It's really not necessary for us, each and every time we mention the major role the UK played in 2 world wars, to qualify that fact. It's perfectly obvious that without the UK, US and Russia's involvement, the Nazis would now be running the show but people from all around the globe fought and died. Juncker wasn't deliberately offending them though was he.


---------- Post added at 10:51 ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 ----------

Originally Posted by pip08456

So the EU doesn't trade with the rest of the world? Fine!

No they'll henceforth conduct their all negotiations in French.

[jonbxx]

Originally Posted by pip08456

So the EU doesn't trade with the rest of the world? Fine!

If it was a speech on global trade, then great, but it wasn't, it was a speech about the EU and its' position in the world. Here's the transcript - http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release...17-1238_fr.htm