[mattmanser]

Think of 27 people negotiating, all with very different agendas, versus one person with a clear agenda.

Why do you believe that the EU would be in a better position? It's like a rat king when it comes to negotiating, 27 countries pulling in different directions all with different desires.

[_lbaq]

Access to the second largest common market in the world ?

[rmc]

Because the EU has a lot more to offer than the UK alone.

[mattmanser]

It also has a lot wider range of industries to protect, so if the UK would be happy in scrapping food subsidies to let African food be competitive in our markets, but other countries like France want to retain subsidies for protectionism of their farmers, it's no dice.

That scenario is exactly what happened in the Doha Development Round.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha_Development_Round

[bromuro]

The UE? I see just countries struggling with their own economies, and fighting against UE austerity rules.