Is the end nigh for the EU?

[General Nosaj]

As countries across europe went to the polls it was expected that the euro sceptics would make advances against the established parties. Germany and Britain saw a major increase in such parties which look to end the EU. Not only was there greater support for anti-euro parties in Europe but the overall turout was extemely low. Is it just me or are the boffins in Brussels being sent a clear message. The time for such a close nit Europe has ended.

[johnny]

Why doesn't this come as a surprise to me ?

[Stratos]

People across Europe have probably felt that they haven't been completely involved in the decision making processes in Brussels and feel the EU is just a bunch of bureaucrats telling them what to do. I also believe most Europeans doesn't have the 'united Europe' sense yet and are more interrested in what their own country will get out of it.

[ 06-15-2004, 07:44 AM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

[Black Baron]

the whole idea of a "global federation" is foolish and doomed to failure. As the chief of gestapo Mueller has said: As long as there would be at least 2 people they will struggle against each other like rats". In a several decades if not earlier the Eu will be disbanded, mark my words.

[Timber Loftis]

People across Europe have probably felt that they haven't been completely involved in the decision making processes in Brussels and feel the EU is just a bunch of bureaucrats telling them what to do.

Welcome to a federal system. Part and parcel of the territory. People in New Mexico will always wonder how someone in Washington D.C. can know what's best for them.

Black Baron, that's an exceedingly naive sentiment. The trend is, and will be, toward more globalism, more unification of nations through systems, mechanisms, and agreements. If the EU is gone in several decades, it will only be because there is some larger structure unifying nations.

I know Israel would like to believe the world would stay fractured and bifrocated forever -- that way Israel could keep playing it's "spoiled brat" "I do what I want" schtick forever, but that ain't how it is. Like it or not, you guys will get dragged kicking and screaming into some sort of system where you actually have to learn how to "play pretty" with the other schoolyard kids. Mark my words.

[Dreamer128]

Many of these were protest votes against their respective governments, not against the EU.

[ 06-15-2004, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]

[Black Baron]

The globalism and EU are 2 different things.
Economically the EU will be still unified, and act more or less like one. Politically EU does not exist, except on paper. They cannot have 1 statement wothout bickering all over it, and reaching diffeent conclusions in the end. So when we see this poll/elections results, i am not surprised. I also need to mention that after ww2 france and west germany had their economics tied together. Was then a EU? Of course not.


The EU will not survive "politically" due to the different political needs. France and germany are much pro arabic (read: pro oil), than the rest of the EU. Blair is less influenced by arabic states than france. The war in Iraq is a good example of it. EU will degenerate with time into a EEU-Economical European Union.

Nothing that you will do will not bring israel under the greasy wing of EU. Our needs and mentality are too diferent. As soon as you will bring us, you will need to kick us out, because our reaction to terror (that will always be) would be very violent (read-shoot first, sanction later). Economically we can cooperate, and we can be under some sort of organization.
Politicaly it is futile.

[Dirty Meg]

I might approve of the EU if it did something useful (like put a trade embargo on Israel). All it actually seems to do is redistribute money arbitrarily.

[Dirty Meg]

In defence of the EU, it succeded where both Hitler and Napoleon failed. (A united Europe!)

[ 06-15-2004, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: Dirty Meg ]

[Black Baron]

Why trade embargo on israel is useful? Economically it is not a wise thing to do.