David Cameron to offer Britons straight choice on EU exit

[Metryll]

Originally Posted by flash

Oh really? Like Switzerland and Norway then?

EEC and EU :

"Upon the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, the EEC was renamed the European Community (EC) to reflect that it covered a wider range of policy. This was also when the three European Communities, including the EC, were collectively made to constitute the first of the three pillars of the European Union (EU), which the treaty also founded. The EC existed in this form until it was abolished by the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon, which merged the EU's former pillars and provided that the EU would "replace and succeed the European Community." This article deals with the independent international organisation which existed prior to 1993."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europea...omic_Community

Norway :

"Norway is not a member state of the European Union (EU), but is closely associated with the Union through its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA), in the context of being a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway–...nion_relations

Switzerland :

"Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). It took part in negotiating the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement with the European Union. It signed the agreement on 2 May 1992, and submitted an application for accession to the EU on 20 May 1992. However, a Swiss referendum held on 6 December 1992 rejected EEA membership. As a consequence, the Swiss government decided to suspend negotiations for EU membership until further notice"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzer...nion_relations

[Acheron]

Originally Posted by flash

True,true,but perhaps the U.S is right to try and protect its indigenous workforce.Anyway,what's the big deal with procuring a work permit,it's hardly a show stopper is it?

In which countries did you so far procure your work permits?

[flash]

Originally Posted by Acheron

In which countries did you so far procure your work permits?

Equatorial Guinea,Nigeria,Angola,Tunisia,most mid east countries,S.korea and probably more but I'd have to check.
It's fair to say that the companies I worked for sorted visas out for me though.

[Acheron]

Originally Posted by flash

Equatorial Guinea,Nigeria,Angola,Tunisia,most mid east countries,S.korea and probably more but I'd have to check.
It's fair to say that the companies I worked for sorted visas out for me though.

I hope you didn't my question the wrong way, it's just, when someone says "how hard could it be to get [something involving the bureaucracy]?" My alarm bells rise. I am German by the way.
I would dare to say that you have highly valued job skills that are eagerly thought after. Your kind will get work permits easy. well, relatively easy. As you said, the company employing you might help out. However, for un- or undertrained people the situation is quite different, they usually find heavy, heavy obstacles put in their way by the bureaucracy. We Germans especially I'd wager, it is indeed to protect our local workforce, but is also completely at oddw tih a united Europe.

[flash]

Acheron.
I didn't take it the wrong way my friend,as for me having desirable credentials
I'm just a seaman.
Unfortunately in a lot of places like W.Africa,well, all of Africa really,Visas are difficult to get due to every level of the approval procedure requiring a "cut" or bribe,the actual process itself is surprisingly simple.
I have 2 passports ,one for my own personal use and one for sending away to different tin-pot dictatorships for approval.
Didn't Germany sign up to the Schengen treaty?

[Acheron]

Germany is indeed a Schengen member and citizens of other Schengen states may enter freely to my knowledge. However, everyone else is out of luck and if you want to live and work here but are from outside the EU (and sometimes inside) has to get permits.