In this report, I’ll state the topic of the UK’s leaving the EU. On June 23, 2016, the UK has voted to leave the EU and those who want to leave won by 52% to 48%. Before telling the detail of this topic, I’d like to say my opinion. I believe that the UK should not have left the EU. The reason I chose this topic is that I’m interested in the economy and life in UK. And English economy affects not only in Europe but also in Japan, so we Japanese have to consider this topic, I think.
Then, I’ll talking about merits and demerits of leaving the EU.
First, I’ll tell you the merit of it. The UK doesn’t have to follow the rules of the EU. The UK can restrict a lot of refugees coming to there. For those years, a flood of refugees have come to UK. Most of them have been hired cheaply, and they have taken the place of low-wage workers from the UK. The UK doesn’t need to pay a tax to the EU, and can use that amount of money for itself. If they become an independent state, they will able to do their own trade.
But leaving the EU has also many demerits. When the UK trade with the countries which belong to the EU, it has to pay customs duties. The value of pound depreciates. Foreign companies will withdraw from the UK. Furthermore, in Scotland and Wales, an independence movement will become more popular.
Japan and other foreign countries are influenced by the UK leaving the EU. It is good that we can buy English products more cheaply. However, it will put the international currency out of balance and have a bad influence on the economy. Especially for Japan, it will cause a rise in the exchange rate of the yen. Taking this opportunity, it is possible that other countries in the EU also leave it.
According to the analysis of BBC, at age 18 to 24, there are 72% of people who want to remain the EU, 28% of them want to leave. But people over 65 years old, 58% of them want to leave, 42% of them want to remain. Young people who are familiar to enter school or company in other countries have different sense and view toward the nation from elderly people who have a nostalgia of the British Empire.
As mentioned, the decision that the UK leaves the EU has a few merits and many demerits. And People think this topic differently depending on age. Regarding this vote, Elderly people’s opinion had made decision, I think. The government should not have held a referendum at this time. People in the UK have to reconsider whether they should remain the EU or not.