What you say is true, but I think the point was that the UK has consistently cherry picked rules and developments coming from the EU, while also benefiting from

What you say is true, but I think the point was that the UK has consistently cherry picked rules and developments coming from the EU, while also benefiting from the EU integration. Germany and France differ somewhat in that the EU structurally benefits them. However, they also participate in all mechanisms and, as a consequence, pay a lot of money toward other member states. The UK, by contrast, has tried to minimize obligations while trying to keep some benefits intact. Anyway, thing of the past.