So what's all this fuss about the United Kingdom
wanting to leave Europe?
Well you've probably heard the term - it's
called Brexit.
The European Union is made up of 28 member
states and is a political and economic union.
But within that is the Eurozone, who’s 19
members share the Euro as their national currency.
The UK is part of the EU , but it is NOT part
of the Eurozone.
So why would some want the UK to leave?
Well it is a net contributor to the EU, paying
$17.4 billion in 2013 - that's compared to
$3.8 billion five years earlier.
The argument goes that much of that money
is spent on bureaucrats in Brussels rather
than infrastructure for example.
Another sticking point for the NO camp is
migration.
Some, like UK Independence Party leader Nigel
Farage, argue that there's a cheap flow of
Labor from former Soviet bloc countries causing
the loss of jobs for Brits.
So-called welfare tourism is another sticking
point. EU critics claim too many people come
to the UK solely to claim free benefits like
unemployment and healthcare.
But what about the YES camp - those wanting
to stay.
The biggest pro-argument seems to be that
there isn't a better and more effective economic
and trading bloc to be a part of.
The UK benefits from free trade between member
states and it also allows the bloc to negotiate
better terms with other countries.
So it is wait and see which way the UK will
vote in a referendum and whether the EU's
28 members might soon be 27.
