HOW DOES THE EU BENEFIT US? Only Positive Answers Please!?

As the UK is a nett contributor, nothing.

It keeps Niel Kinnock away from us.

The purpose of the EU is manifold. It is to ensure the survival of the nation state in a world which is more competitive and the principles of free trade and increasing technicalization make a single nation's voice weak and not influential; it is also to allow a completely level playing field for businesses and trades throughout the EU. Finally, it is an organisation designed to enhance peace and cooperation throughout a historically war-torn continent. It achieves this in being unique; it is an intergovernmental organisation with some supranational elements - supranational in that the EU can legislate independently of Member States, for the interests of the Union as a whole - not simply for that of a particular Member. The areas it is permitted to legislation on are marked out by treaties among the Member States, the series of which (Paris 1952, Rome 1957, SEA 1986, Maastricht 1992, Amsterdam 1999, Nice 2001) revise the Union's powers into different fields. Its aims since the Single European Act (SEA) have been to ensure that Member States allowed complete freedom of movement of capital, trade, and people. Maastricht expanded this to include INTERGOVERNMENTAL co-operation on international relations and security, as well as judicial practises - the so-called 'pillars'. I emphasize: these matters have been, are, and always will be, firmly in the hands of the Member States. The actual benefits change depending on who you talk to, but that's not to say they're not there. Over half of Britain's trade is with the EU - and it's extremely lucrative, as it's the largest single trade bloc in the world, with half a billion consumers. In addition, inside this bloc, Britain it's one of the biggest four economies, giving us a great deal of influence over it. It's very difficult to get any kind of measure passed in the EU against Britain's consent. It happens, but then you have to take the rough with the smooth. Anything seriously threatening, we have freedom of action to withdraw or exercise the Luxembourg Compromise veto. Moreover, with the EU's co-operation on foreign relations, the EU in some capacities represents the Union in one block in some issues. In the Kyoto Treaty discussions the EU represented the Member States. In others, individual Member States can help work for the Union by encouraging trade. In many other cases however, Britain finds it more convenient to speak alone. It depends on the situation. The EU's Member States are also obligated to protect British citizens in trouble abroad, and vice versa. That's what comes out from the top of my head, but I would encourage you to examine further. A lot of the benefits are things were appreciate now by standard and it's difficult to argue for them without sounding doom and gloom, like some paranoid people on Yahoo! Answers are prone to doing.

ummm, it keeps french farmers in businees, who's cheese i am partially to.

Well, the EU was really formed for economic reasons stemming from the aftermath of WWII. Really, it serves as a counterbalance to the incredibly strong US economy. This, of course, is primarily a direct benefit to the Europeans and not so much to the US. However, you must look at what secondary ramifications solidifying Western Europe into a more cohesive voice has. By galvanizing these separate nations into one voice, the EU has been able to effect change the US could never match. This includes bringing Eastern European countries into the EU (directly strengthening the World's economy, reducing poverty, stabilizing otherwise unstable regions); leveraging pressure against other Nations to enact EU and US friendly policies in ways that America never could (Germany currently has much stronger ties to Moscow than Washington); and validating US foreign policy with a strong supporting voice. One could also argue (probably someone falling on the Left side of politics) that they benefit the US in ways that initially seem counter- intuitive. That is, their strength provides a strong opponent when they diverge with US policy philosophy. In essence, a power check--too much power is usually never a good thing. While many Americans wouldn't agree with this, if the EU had been stronger, we would likely have never entered into the Iraq war. Europe's unique governments (which are not purely capitalistic but more of a social democracy), provide unique examples of national healthcare systems, infrastructure policy, drug programs, etc. etc. They, in effect, provide a great model for the US to look at when trying to determine domestic policies in the US; we are able to see what Europe has failed at, and what they have succeeded at. They have great healthcare policies, but higher taxes; spend less on defense spending, but hold less military clout, etc. etc

As the EU does nothing for us I suspect that you will get no replies.

we do most of how trade with the EU and since it was formed there as been less chance of war in western europe