Latviski
English
По-русски
Van Rompuy tells Britain: leaving EU is not for free
(No Ratings Yet)
Herman Van Rompuy
One of Europe’s most powerful officials cautioned Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday, February 28, that leaving the European Union could cost Britain dear and that the bloc’s other leaders do not want to renegotiate Europe’s founding treaties.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Britain had a chance to play a leading role in building the European economy now the euro zone had the “artillery” of economic tools to get itself out of the worst crisis in its history, Reuters wrote.
But Van Rompuy laced his speech in London’s financial district with a clear warning to Cameron: Europe will not countenance any attempt by Britain to win an a-la-carte membership, picking and choosing which of the European Union’s rules it will follow and which to reject.
“Leaving the club altogether, as a few advocate, is legally possible,” he said. “We have an ‘exit clause’.
“But it’s not a matter of just walking out. It would be legally and politically a most complicated and unpractical affair. Just think of a divorce after 40 years of marriage.”
“Leaving is an act of free will and perfectly legitimate but it doesn’t come for free,” he said.
Cameron has promised to try to claw back powers from the EU and put any new settlement to voters in an in-out referendum by the end of 2017, heightening fears that Britain could leave the club it joined 40 years ago, in 1973.
Ref.110.110.110.3566
Related posts
SEB: there is a 50% chance Lithuania will be eligible for Euro in 2015
The Baltic States have been the most rapidly growing economies in the European Union lately, and they can retain their positions in the future as well. Economic growth in Latvia and Lithuania is expected to slow down this year. That in Estonia will remain unchanged – 3.3% respectively.
Bank of Latvia: increase rate of the national economy to slow down
The general money offer index and attracted finances of credit institutions increased slightly this April. The general cash money demand, on the other hand, had reduced. There was also a moderate reduction in the general credit portfolio.
Apple and other great American companies that keep mountains of cash overseas
Apple found itself in front of a Senate Subcommittee Tuesday, May 21, defending its elaborate practice of keeping cash offshore in order to minimize their tax liability. But Apple is far from the only company that does this.
Oklahoma tornado: a lucky mistake in death toll
Oklahoma state officials have corrected the previously announced number of storm victims down from 91 to 24.
Economy Minister: Russian business interest increases in Latvia
There are two scenarios available for the development of Latvia's economy – stay smart and grow naturally, or use a basis of cheap expenses – attract cheap workforce, Latvian Economy Minister Daniels Pavluts believes. The minister points to the growing interest of Russian business in Latvia, which could potentially lead toward rapid development.
Ilves: Estonia is a world power in IT
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves who is on a working visit to the UK to attend the Google conference Zeitgeist 2013 said in his speech that IT solutions have made Estonia a world power in terms of IT.
Oil deposit exploration in Latvia's waters; project managed by people close to Lembergs
The company responsible for oil deposits surveying in the Baltic Sea in Latvia's economic zone near Liepaja – Balin Energy with its Ocean Nomad drilling platform has reached 525 m depth below sea level.
EU bathing water continues to improve
The latest data on EU bathing water quality has been released, showing 93% of sites meet the minimum standards.
Syria and Israel in exchange of fire
Israeli and Syrian forces have exchanged fire across the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights.
This week's special in Latvia – thunder and lightning
On Tuesday, May 21, most of Latvia's territory will have thunderstorms, which will be accompanied by gusts of wind, reaching 20 m/Sec.
Cypriot banks launder money, leaked EU report reads
It has been unveiled in a leaked EU report that close to 60 percent of the clients of a Cypriot bank are «high risk» as regards money laundering and a large part of all bank depositors' files present errors.
Lembergs on residents' complaints: not worth listening to chatter on the streets!
A serious competition for the seat of Mayor of Ventspils has been brewing for a good time against Aivars Lembergs.
Apple has avoided paying billions in U.S. taxes, investigation unveils
U.S. Senate has released a lengthy report outlining the corporate strateges the hi-tech giant has employed to avoid paying billions in U.S. taxes.
Latvian entrepreneurs have the longest hours in the Baltics
Compared to their colleagues in Estonia and Lithuania, Latvian businessmen are used to working longer hours. At the same time, they devote less time to physical activities than their counterparts in Estonia, even though they are more active than Lithuanians.
Friendship with Unity – the only thing that keeps Prudentia afloat?
The income Prudentia Advisers received from the agreement with Latvia's national airBaltic airline was the company's only source of income last year.
Microsoft monitors Skype more closely than previously believed, reports suggest
Your Skype conversations aren't very private, a new report reveals. In an experiment, tech news site Ars Technica found that two out of the four links they sent over Skype were accessed by a computer that matched Microsoft's IP address.
Tornado in U.S. moves on reaching 320 km/h in Oklahoma City
A suburb of Oklahoma City has suffered a massive tornado. 91 people, including 20 children have been left dead, Oklahoma state officials have said.
Reform Party: language problem popularization at kindergartens is a political game
The popularization of the language problem in kindergartens two weeks before the elections and without attracting experts is merely a political game, Reform Party believes (RP).
Education Ministry: the English language exam experiment was successful
The experiment with the centralized passing of the English language exam this March was fruitful, believes the manager of the State Education Contents Centre of the Latvian Education and Science Ministry Guntis Vasilevskis.
United Airlines restarts Dreamliner 787 flights
United Airlines is getting its 787s back in the air. The planes are returning after being grounded for four months by the federal government because of smoldering batteries on 787s owned by other airlines.
Riga mayoral candidate. Guntis Belēvičs: bull in a china shop?
Guntis Belēvičs, the Latvian Greens Party candidate for the mayoral position of Riga, describes himself as a successful businessman who doesn't need anything, for he has all. In other words, he has reached a state, in which he can fully devote himself to serving the society and development of Riga.
Tourists die in Turkey balloon crash
Two tourists have been killed and more than 20 other people injured after two hot-air balloons collided in Turkey.
China offers India a handshake across the Himalayas
India and China will study new ways to ease tensions along their ill-defined border, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday in his first foreign trip since taking office, which comes just weeks after a military stand-off between the Asian giants in the Himalayas.
Tornadoes leave a trail of destruction in central U.S.
In the wake of a tornado, one person is reported dead and several others injured in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
Prudentia distances from the consequences of the advices it once gave
In its secret report to the Cabinet of Ministers in regard to Liepājas metalurgs on April 16, Prudentia basically refused to take any responsibility for any losses that could arise from following the recommendations proposed by the company.
Recommended
May 21 in picturesLatest
- SEB: there is a 50% chance Lithuania will be eligible for Euro in 2015
-
Photo: Chelsea Flower show
-
Photo: Abandoned luxury cars in streets of Dubai
- Apple and other great American companies that keep mountains of cash overseas
-
Oklahoma tornado: a lucky mistake in death toll
- Large asteroid to fly past Earth
- EU bathing water continues to improve
- Syria and Israel in exchange of fire
- Dolphin finds rare torpedo
-
Man crushes 6 police cars with a tractor and becomes a folk hero
Most read
-
Infographic: How teens' habits threaten the future of Facebook
-
Bloomberg: The eurozone must be split to save EU | 1
-
Petrol price fixing scandal: oil giant bosses to be jailed if found guilty | 1
- Gold shipment worth EUR 483,000 lost in Miami
- French President: austerity endangers EU
-
May 16 in pictures
- Obama administration sacks U.S. Internal Revenue Service chief
-
The most horrifying industrial disasters of all time
- Angry Birds film in production
-
Cannes film festival suffers $1m jewellery theft
Most commented
-
Petrol price fixing scandal: oil giant bosses to be jailed if found guilty | 1
-
Parliamentary groups in Brussels struggle around controversial EU data protection bill | 1
-
Tornado in U.S. moves on reaching 320 km/h in Oklahoma City | 1
-
Syria army storms rebel town Qusair | 1
-
Bloomberg: The eurozone must be split to save EU | 1
-
Cypriot banks launder money, leaked EU report reads | 1
- Obama administration sacks U.S. Internal Revenue Service chief
-
Man crushes 6 police cars with a tractor and becomes a folk hero
-
Photo: The world’s tallest building will be in the middle of an empty field in China
- Colgate wants to patent caffeinated toothbrushes
Top 5 Business news
Latvia's foreign trade export is growing faster than import
Economic Diary: Smash Business with Taxes
Latvenergo's profits drop by 18.5% in 2012
Slow-down in Estonia’s growth expected
PAA bath manufacturer modernizes production plant and creates Silk Stone materialTop 5 Social news
Paul Krugman declined participation in the First Riga Economic Forum
Friendship between Unity and Prudentia: gigantic losses for state budget
HM: smoking in the presence of a child is considered abuse
Bathing season officially open in Latvia
Latvia's living costs reach record high levelTop 5 World news
Infographic: How teens' habits threaten the future of Facebook
Bloomberg: The eurozone must be split to save EU
Petrol price fixing scandal: oil giant bosses to be jailed if found guilty
Gold shipment worth EUR 483,000 lost in Miami
French President: austerity endangers EUTop 5 Video
Greek politician slaps woman live on TV
Colombia hosts Miss Pole Dance 2012
VIDEO: Airline fined for in-flight bikini show
VIDEO: The birth of a snowflake
VIDEO: World's most dangerous marketplaceNewest galleries
May 20 in pictures
Photos of the week, 2013.05.17.
May 16 in pictures
May 15 in picturesNewest comments
-
Bozo the clown @ 2013-05-22 11:22:05
No doubt Latvia metallurg will highly contribute to the growth of that country.
-
JPR @ 2013-05-21 19:07:44
-
Oddis @ 2013-05-21 18:22:38
So, according to your logic, you can tax as much as you can as long as you can afford it?
-
LH @ 2013-05-21 16:42:55
-
Hugo @ 2013-05-21 15:13:29
Loading ...
I think UK should leave the EU. We had enough of Brits thinking they’re better than everybody else. I thing UK would do just fin on it’s own and so would EU. Leaving EU like a divorce after 40 years of marriage is nothing in comparing to the tradition of the great kindom of her majesty -> the biggest farmer in the EU to collect money from EU fonds for her pastureland.
I agree. I am from the UK, but they are just being pathetic.
The sooner they leave the better :-)
Van Rampuy speaks just like any other power seeking bureaucrat. I saw him in the Old Town of Riga in October 2012. Noone except me recognised him!
Cash money???