EU Dangles Free Trade Talks 'If' Thailand Takes Democratic Steps
By Pravit Rojanphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Werner Langen, chairman of a delegation of E.U. parliamentarians to Southeast Asia, shakes hands with former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — The European Union is likely to resume Free Trade Agreement discussions with Thailand should the kingdom take steps toward democracy, the head of the EU Parliament’s delegation said Wednesday.

Two years after the Europeans shelved the prospect of a trade agreement in response to the coup d’etat, the European delegation said Wednesday that staging a free and fair charter referendum could lay the groundwork for the early technical phase of talks to begin.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1463630249

-- Khaosod English 2016-05-19

Yes, the EU is looking to print out more Euro to buy Thai goods...

Would that mean cheaper spam and other imported luxury foods?

Werner Langen shakes hands with Prime Minster, Yingluck Shinawatra.

It doesn't matter where you are in the world they are all the same, any excuse for an overseas junket.

Sorry, I do actually mean ' fact finding mission '.

Yes, the EU is looking to print out more Euro to buy Thai goods...

That's such a profound post!

In fact, it's so profound that the author is not making any sense at all...

Not good news for a democratic Thailand. It will be taken as the Thai government's 'explanations' and 'clarifications' having led to a 'better understanding' by the stupid farang.

After Thailand gets what it wants from any agreement, they will simply not reciprocate under their commitments - as a demonstration of their innate superiority. "It always worked before" will be the cry.

Winnie

Edited May 19, 201610 yr by Winniedapu

Farangs don't understand Thailand.....

Actually they do which is why they're trying to flog off the crap other nations don't want.

Even if they offer membership in EU, Thailand should turn it down.

If there is free trade, there should not be conditions.

No treaty or contract should be necessary if it is truly "free trade".

Langen said he is personally not optimistic about the democratic outlook of Thailand under the junta.

“I personally very much doubt if the situations are on the right track,” he said.

It's not about democracy for sure

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

Would that mean cheaper spam and other imported luxury foods?

According to the hysterical scaremongering tories if Brexit goes through the cost of spam will increase by 44% and all the spam trees will die

Yes, the EU is looking to print out more Euro to buy Thai goods...

That's such a profound post!

In fact, it's so profound that the author is not making any sense at all...

Read up on the coming financial crisis of the EU...profound!

Uncle will be working out which trough is the deepest for the boys - EU or Russia. That unexplained wealth won't grow on its own.

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

It does have a democratically elected parliament.

Would that mean cheaper spam and other imported luxury foods?

According to the hysterical scaremongering tories if Brexit goes through the cost of spam will increase by 44% and all the spam trees will die

That's complete rubbish. So it's on a par with a lot of the statements coming from both sides on the EU referendum.

Actually some of it is worse than your post. ?

Edited May 19, 201610 yr by kimamey

I find it amazing that the EU spouts on about democracy.

They are not 'undemocratic' they are 'anti-democratic'.

Hypocrisy at its best.

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

It does have a democratically elected parliament.

Made up of yes men from member states that are all net beneficiaries and who vote the way they are told to vote or lose their cushy benefits.

But even if the parliament votes against something the commission always puts it through any way.

The Parliament is a tissue of lies to make the institutions that have the final word on all policy to make it appear democratic.

The commission always has the last call on everything and still have the power to make policy despite the vote results in parliament and the commission are 100% appointed.

Even MEP's will tell you that.

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

It does have a democratically elected parliament.

Made up of yes men from member states that are all net beneficiaries and who vote the way they are told to vote or lose their cushy benefits.

But even if the parliament votes against something the commission always puts it through any way.

The Parliament is a tissue of lies to make the institutions that have the final word on all policy to make it appear democratic.

The commission always has the last call on everything and still have the power to make policy despite the vote results in parliament and the commission are 100% appointed.

Even MEP's will tell you that.

Exactly...a facist state in making hidden under a thin veneer of democracy just enough to keep the plebs believing they are in control

Yes, the EU is looking to print out more Euro to buy Thai goods...

That's such a profound post!

In fact, it's so profound that the author is not making any sense at all...

Then let me explain it for you.

The ECB (European Central Bank) is printing unbacked Euros at an alarming rate... 1 trillion last year and another trillion a few months ago and are already talked about printing another trillion. In Quantitative Easing.

The Eurozone and all the EU banks attached to it are going down the tubes fast and so is that dodgy currency they are all connected to.

Deutsche Bank is in real trouble, the 3 top banks in Italy are equally in big trouble, the biggest bank in Austria have already applied 'bail in' strategies where they will steal money from its depositor's accounts.

The EU currency is on the verge of collapse which will bankrupt many countries and the entire EU project will cave in.....

Many people have no clue how bad the Euro economy is. Why the hell Cameron and Osborne want to lash the UK to the mast of this sinking ship is a complete mystery.

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

It does have a democratically elected parliament.

....................which doesn't act particularly democratically!

She looks very Prime Ministerial. Well entitled to be considered the elder stateswoman of Thai politics.

Even if they offer membership in EU, Thailand should turn it down.

If there is free trade, there should not be conditions.

No treaty or contract should be necessary if it is truly "free trade".

yes, its misleading to call them free trade agreements, and they sure dont include free movement of labour, but hopefully they are freer trade agreements then the ones before, and if the conditions are reciprocal its a step forward for all countries involved

Even if they offer membership in EU, Thailand should turn it down.

If there is free trade, there should not be conditions.

No treaty or contract should be necessary if it is truly "free trade".

I didn't read were Thailand was being offered membership of the EU just that trade between the EU and Thailand could take place if democracy was seen to be strived for

The photos say a lot.

The junta installed, unelected P.M. must be seething.

She looks very Prime Ministerial. Well entitled to be considered the elder stateswoman of Thai politics.

The Prime Minister currently is a military representative who took power.

These representatives are interested in people's real leaders .

Not staged stuff.

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

It does have a democratically elected parliament.

Made up of yes men from member states that are all net beneficiaries and who vote the way they are told to vote or lose their cushy benefits.

But even if the parliament votes against something the commission always puts it through any way.

The Parliament is a tissue of lies to make the institutions that have the final word on all policy to make it appear democratic.

The commission always has the last call on everything and still have the power to make policy despite the vote results in parliament and the commission are 100% appointed.

Even MEP's will tell you that.

Have to agree with this.

Many times in the past have referenda been held over various issues?

These were rejected by member states, for example Denmark, The Netherlands, Ireland and even France.

The European commission (unelected) didn't like this of course, Hence all were forced through anyhow as the so called MEPs were pressurized into voting for it anyhow. Effectively denying these states of there independent rights! Democracy at its finest.

You would be surprised that a fair few of the states, not only the small ones, are not in favour of the EU and its present direction, totally unified Europe by 2020.

Although Brexit is the big issue at the moment it is not the only issue waiting to bite the EU in the proverbial in the future. This will surely be exacerbated if the UK does vote to leave.

As for the free trade stuff, irrelevant, they trade together now, hence the worry over the fishing red flag.

Here is the deal breaker quote staging a free and fair charter referendum unquote

I find it ironic that the EU is bleating about democracy in Thailand, given the EU is not a democratic organisation and is closer to being the United facist state of Europe than people realise

It does have a democratically elected parliament.

Made up of yes men from member states that are all net beneficiaries and who vote the way they are told to vote or lose their cushy benefits.

But even if the parliament votes against something the commission always puts it through any way.

The Parliament is a tissue of lies to make the institutions that have the final word on all policy to make it appear democratic.

The commission always has the last call on everything and still have the power to make policy despite the vote results in parliament and the commission are 100% appointed.

Even MEP's will tell you that.

Thus is a quite biased representatiom of EU institutions. The real power in the EU has always been the council of ministers, composed of prime ministers from the different elected government. No decision can be made without their approval. And they appoint the European Commision members.This power is now partly shared with the parliament.

Edited May 19, 201610 yr by candide