The ability to travel, reside, work anywhere I desire in the EU as a right that I can rely on instead of having to ask for permission. The fact that I could marry another EU citizen from another country without having to ask for permission. That we have no extra paperwork related to that, even with a child. I still remember passport checks at the border.
Last but not least: 75 years of peace in Europe. Making the arch enemies of France and Germany friends.
Not all is good about the EU, it suffers from large deficiencies, but it has also brought great successes.
This was a founding principle of the EU and has been weakened recently as I'm sure you know. Also, in most countries you have to register and are only allowed to stay 6 months without work. Marrying people from other countries in Europe is not a problem and not an achievement of the EU.
> Last but not least: 75 years of peace in Europe. Making the arch enemies of France and Germany friends.
Here you lost me completely. This kind of revisionism is a real issue for the remain people. It was mostly EU countries who bombed Belgrade in 1999(!). 75 years of peace in Europe is a myth (there were plenty of other conflicts, including the current one in Ukraine!) and where it was peaceful it had nothing to do with the EU. The EU was formed in 1992, for heaven's sake.
I'm sorry for being brutally honest, but "75 years of peace in Europe" is one of these typical pro-EU talking points always brought up by badly informed people who embarrass themselves with it.
And guess what? Nothing will happen. At worst I'll show my tax statement from Germany and tax authorities will fuck off.
Now I moved to US.... Where I have to ask permission to fucking leave this shithole of a country.
Good for you, but I "can" sneak into any country of the world and remain there illegally like you. It doesn't mean I'm entitled to and neither are you.
> And guess what? Nothing will happen. At worst I'll show my tax statement from Germany and tax authorities will fuck off.
You are dreaming. Look at the legislation and don't argue with slacking bureaucracy.
> Now I moved to US.... Where I have to ask permission to fucking leave this shithole of a country.
Did anyone force you to? I perfectly understand "leave" voters who want to prevent this kind of migration: people who come for economic reasons but show no respect for the country and its laws.
Fun fact - nowhere have I been illegally. And yep, But sure... You define illegally however you wish.
> You are dreaming.
Yep... I've done that twice. That's my dreaming.
> Did anyone force you to?
I was lied to. You know Americans love to claim that USA is the greatest. It's not. And I made slightly more in Europe, than do now.
Whenever someone asks for one single thing, they don't mean it. I predict anything I name will either not be important enough or you will not consider anything less than complete unanimity across the continent to be satisfactory.
But fine, I'll play. Abolition of mobile roaming charges across the EU.
standardization of pallet sizes
classification of fruits and vegetables in classes so they can be more easily traded between member states.]
standardization of higher education between member states, so education is actually compatible between member states.
The pallets were standardized in a process that began in 1961, initiated by the UIC. It had nothing to do with the EU, except that its big bureaucratic machine introduced some more regulations.
So, ignoring your attempt at preventing the obvious answer with your introductory rhetoric, you honestly believe that roaming charges were a significant issue for the EU? Why didn't you mention banning curved cucumbers instead?
Free roaming within the EU
Standardization of chargers for phones
Free movement (including right to work and study) within most EU member states, plus I)celand, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Passenger rights for air travellers
75 years of peace
The UK government is far more consistent than the EU currently. Name one important issue where the EU has reached a satisfactory agreement and results. Migration? Social security? EU army? Nope.
But just like the tone of your comment, the EU position on Brexit is governed by arrogance, ideological motives and fear of a chain reaction, not reason. Therefore the result will likely be bad for both sides.