EU Presidency proposed!

You DUDES read the link, there IS going to be a PResident of Europe which is why I suggested the Electoral College because the smaller nations are voicing the same fears as the smaller states did when the USA was forming and trying to elect a president.

But even though they are smaller states, they are still part of the same country. For Europe to "elect a president" means that European countries will have no choice but to eventually be absorbed by the system with the most power and that's just all out wrong.
I could understand it if it was a committee of EU representatives and the president presided over the committee, but the whole continent?
Look out Europe!

[Charean]

Hey Moni!! Long time no talk to!

I agree with you... frankly what power could the President of EU hold? It sounds to me like a figurehead position.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Moni: But even though they are smaller states, they are still part of the same country. !

As will the European states. This has been the direction for years now. Even the name "The United States of Europe" has been touted.

That's why MagiK is making his most interesting point.

We in Australia had a similar problem when we federated.

What will they do?

As far as what language will they speak? The same as they do if a German and Frenchman do business. English.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Moni: but the whole continent? Look out Europe!

This was the problem I mentioned a while back. We're talking about Europe, not Europe.

That being the European Union, not the continent.

As things stand, Norwegians, Swiss and Russians won't be Europeans. Or will they?

Are South Americans from Montevideo or Atlanta?

[Ar-Cunin]

Up til now only americans have posted in this thread [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img]

So for a European perspective:

Personally I have no fear of a 'United states of Europe' (or World for that matter) - I think it is the logical future for an increasingly 'global' world.

However I'm also realistic - it will take many decades for this to happen - quite possibly now in my lifetime.

As for a president of Europe - no thanks. Let us just have a Prime-minister to avoid that too much power is given to one person.

P.S. As for the electoral college idea: Isn't this the same college/system that insured that the candidate that got the most votes in the last US presidental election (Gore) did NOT win the election. If it is - then I think that Europe can come up with a better/more modern system of choosing a leader.

[WOLFGIR]

Very interesting topics, but if this would happened, the already angry people in Sweden would get angrier and we aould butt out of it, as well as many of the other smaller countries.

The idea of having one presidency for so many different countries and structures is bluntely stated stupid. Just trace back a couple of years and you will see many new countries that is formed and broke free of the superstaes as well as others that divided. Also cutural and political agendas differ alot. EU as it is makes it possible for every nation to make it´s voice heard.

Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: Up til now only americans have posted in this thread [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img] So for a European perspective: Personally I have no fear of a 'United states of Europe' (or World for that matter) - I think it is the logical future for an increasingly 'global' world. However I'm also realistic - it will take many decades for this to happen - quite possibly now in my lifetime. As for a president of Europe - no thanks. Let us just have a Prime-minister to avoid that too much power is given to one person. P.S. As for the electoral college idea: Isn't this the same college/system that insured that the candidate that got the most votes in the last US presidental election (Gore) did NOT win the election. If it is - then I think that Europe can come up with a better/more modern system of choosing a leader.

Ar-Cunin, if you read the article I linked in the first post, you will see that the smaller nations fear that France, Germany and the UK will rule and the smaller states will have next to no say, since their smaller populations will mean fewer votes for those countrys. The Electoral College was basicly created to keep the more populous states from bullying the smaller states and allowing the smaller states to have a meaningful impact on the nations elections, otherwise they may as well not vote at all.

I didn't say ya'll had to use it, Im justsaying it has worked quite well for the USA for 200 years...now we have grown beyond it and may not need it any more...but the EU is facing the same sorts of Iussues as the US did when it was first coming together.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: Up til now only americans have posted in this thread [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img] .

Oh really? You're wrong. I am not American thankyou very much.

Originally posted by WOLFGIR: Very interesting topics, but if this would happened, the already angry people in Sweden would get angrier and we aould butt out of it, as well as many of the other smaller countries. The idea of having one presidency for so many different countries and structures is bluntely stated stupid. Just trace back a couple of years and you will see many new countries that is formed and broke free of the superstaes as well as others that divided. Also cutural and political agendas differ alot. EU as it is makes it possible for every nation to make it´s voice heard.

Good points. But the forming of the EU will mean change and with that change this issue is going to have to be addressed eventually...as it looks now, there will probably be a EU president, or chancelor or prime minister...all means the same thing the actual title is just semantics.