Look forward to a future out of Europe

Sir, I am astonished at the downbeat response from many industries about the decision to leave the EU. They appear to have been deliberately misinformed by the government – and to have swallowed it.

Around three- quarters of EU legislation is geared to nudging us ever nearer to the single European state – a country called Europe. That is the main purpose of the EU – ‘ever closer union’. The remaining 25 per cent relates to trade regulation of the European single market, the only part of the EU project in which industry is interested.

Arrangements already exist for nonEU member countries to be in the single market without being in the EU political project. It is called the EEA – European Economic Area – the ‘common market’ part of the project.

You can Google the detailed plan for continued participation in the single market. It is called ‘flexcit’. There are two versions – a 48-page pamphlet and the full policy which extends to some 420 pages.

One objection to this policy is that the EEA involves the acceptance of the principle of free movement of people. But, under Article 112 of the agreement, EEA member states can unilaterally impose restrictions when they experience excessive immigration. They do not have to ask permission.

Another development which the government failed to mention is that most new business regulation is now global and comes from bodies such as UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) which, for instance, sets the standards for motor vehicles.

While there is an EU directive about this, it was not made in Brussels but merely transcribed from what UNECE agreed in Geneva.

As an EU member, Britain has no voice at the real top table in Geneva. As an independent country, it will be able to influence matters there.

So there is every reason to look forward to a period of greater British influence in the way world trade is regulated.

Gordon J Stewart, The Schoolhouse, Mackenzie Place, Avoch.