Exploding the myth of EU dependency
03 January 2013
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister
“Frequently we hear pro-EU propaganda about how we are so dependent on the EU for our exports that we couldn’t survive outside the EU.
“Not only is that nonsense as far as our nation as a whole is concerned, but figures which I’ve obtained from DFP in answer to an Assembly Question demonstrate it is particular nonsense in regard to Northern Ireland.
“Even with an EU state just across the land border, less than 20% of our manufactured goods are exported within the EU. 59% of our exports go to GB, less than 10% to the Republic and a similar figure to the rest of the EU, with a higher percentage, namely 21%, going to the rest of the world. Indeed, it is interesting to note that we sell three times the value of the goods we manufacture within our own small country of Northern Ireland in comparison to what we sell either to the Republic or the rest of the EU.
“So, this notion that we must remain within the stifling and oppressive EU to survive economically is a myth. The EU is one of our least important trading partners. On the contrary, our primary market is the rest of the UK and thus our interests lie in sustaining and strengthening that link. As for the Republic it is but a bit player in our exporting matrix, yet, foolishly under devolution we have been tying our economic fortunes far too closely to it.”
The relevant Question and Answer are as follows:-
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what is the percentage of the annual exports to (i) the rest of the UK; (ii) the Republic of Ireland; (iii) the remainder of the EU and (iv) the rest of the world.
The information requested is currently available for the manufacturing sector only, for the period 2010/11. 2011/12 data will be available by the end of 2012.
Published data from the Manufacturing Sales and Exports Survey shows that Northern Ireland manufacturing businesses reported sales outside Northern Ireland of £12.4 billion in 2010/11.
The percentage of total annual sales outside Northern Ireland to (i) Great Britain was 59.2%; (ii) the Republic of Ireland was 9.9%; (iii) the rest of the EU was 9.9%; and (iv) the rest of the world was 21.0%. Additional information is provided in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Broad destination sales and percentage of total sales from Northern Ireland manufacturing businesses 2010/11
£m %of sales
Total External Sales (1): £12,384 100.0
Great Britain £7,327 59.2
Republic of Ireland £1,230 9.9
Rest of European Union £1,228 9.9
Rest of World £2,599 21.0
Total Sales (2) £15,914 -
Source: Manufacturing Sales and Exports Survey 2010/11, Economic & Labour Market Statistics Branch, NISRA
Footnotes:.1.Total External Sales = all sales outside Northern Ireland.2. Total Sales = all sales including sales within Northern Ireland.
