NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you oppose the EU, or do you support it? Also, please post why you chose whichever option you chose.

Personally I strongly oppose it, as it is a substantial (sp?) threat to the national sovereignty, and identities of European Nations.

I strongly support it, for the opportunities it offers and for the way it makes life much less complicated.

Do you oppose the EU, or do you support it?

Personally I strongly oppose it, as it is a substantial (sp?) threat to the national sovereignty, and identities of European Nations.

i think it is a threat.in ireland we have a corporation tax lower than most of europe,and this attracts business here.but the EU wants to raise our corporation tax to bring it in line with the rest of europe.so we'll lose our competetive edge and our economy will suffer.

unfortunately if we try to pull out of the EU all our famrers will lose out on the agricultural subsidies and will be in total uproar,and our economy will suffer.i think we may just be stuck here.

watch this space for the united states of europe

Do you oppose the EU, or do you support it?

Personally I strongly oppose it, as it is a substantial (sp?) threat to the national sovereignty, and identities of European Nations.
Did you oppose it before Poland tried and managed to join it? I mean, you were happy with the NATO membership, but reluctant to join the EU, right?

I support it the sense of better trade and relations between countries within it. I do not, however, support complete integration that would lead to a United States of Europe, which is the way I believe it could go in the long term. While I think it's important that we get along, economically and socially, with our European neighbours, I see no need why we should govern them or be governed by them or why all the various cultures within the EU should be lost for the sake of its further integration.

If pushed, I'd support it, I'd imagine, but truthfully I'm pretty neutral. It has it's good and bad points.

Did you oppose it before Poland tried and managed to join it? I mean, you were happy with the NATO membership, but reluctant to join the EU, right?
I always hated the EU, and always will.

Well, I think it shouldn't interfere so much, but I do think that without it peace in Europe wouldn't be so easy to take for granted.

I always hated the EU, and always will. Ok. Got that. Let's put it another way; you'd be glad if Poland was a NATO member without being a EU member?

I think the EU is a great idea! I mean in the long run there will be no nationalism and so forth, which we all know has been the casue of nearly every war in Europe. This will eliminate that threat and also give a schance for European economies to flourish against the American economy.

I think it'd be useful if it were determined to make things simpler. As it is, it's getting to the point where we're going to have to nuke Brussels to get them to stop regulating the regulations of regulation.

To understand why the EU requires an idea of what it used to be. States could - and did - conduct trade wars with each other with extra bureaucracy, import licenses, and customs fees, not to mention exchange rates. They could even go to war with each other. Now, the original idea of EU was to create a system where the states are so much interdependent that they cannot fight a full-scale war with each other.

This expanded to a customs union, then common market with a common currency.

Later, the eurocrats stepped in, and the usual "village politics", now with villages replaced by nations, began. It's just silly that the "1st class" apple is by some strange coincidence just as large as a particular German variety. This is what I oppose, and everyone should. "Federalism" never meant that everything should be done at the federal level.

I find it slightly disturbing that the EU doesn't have a constitution, and more importantly, a constitution that sets what the EU CANNOT DO, or what is explicitly the states' right. The US Constitution has such limitations, and that should prevent the federal government overstepping their authority.

Moreover, the EU is still basically an intergovernmental organization, or a ministers' club. The attempt the sell it to the public as something different is dishonest.

The idea of a united states of europe doesn't appeal to me, but making trade easier, and supporting poorer nations does.

Whats the EU?

Is it a kind of food?

Whats the EU?

Is it a kind of food?
You do not know what the EU is? If thats the case, go here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU).

Whats the EU?

Is it a kind of food?
EU= European Union

The idea itself: Great. Cooperation of the nations in Europe, what a blast. Everyone pulling together to create an economic powerhouse that blows the US and China out of the water in one blast.

The reality: A storage place for second line politicians that you can't use at home anymore but can't really just dump either 'cause they know too much. Squabbling on how to bleed as much from the EU money into the national budget to stuff the holes, while at the same time creating insane laws and regulations.

Well, i'm completely for the idea of european integration, including a european confederation based on the swiss system of direct democracy and neutrality.

However, the European Union is a Bureaucratic, undemocratic and expensive mess. Why should ordionary working peoples' money be spent of palaces on Strasbourg and Brussels (And they are) and wasted on champagne and pensions. It focusues its policy on deregulation and pushing though neoliberal economic policy. And it is ordinary people that lose out.

It also compramises democracy since it has no constitution/treaty ratified by the people that limits - or even gives it - its powers. How can such anm organisation claim to represent or be for the People, when they have no say on its existence or law?

So i'll say i'm very anti EU, but pro Europe. The EU, kilroy and Mandelson diserve each other!

You do not know what the EU is? If thats the case, go here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU).

Oh, It's short for European Union, ok. Thanks.

I <3 the EU.

:fluffle:

:( I strongly oppose cementing trade restrictions and calling them "free trade". This is how I see the EU, so I voted strongly opposed. :(
:fluffle: :mp5:

If it went back to what it was designed to do which was simply to create a common market and trade links that is fine...but how it is now, basically governing every member country by imposing stupid laws and regulations just undermines the EU and thus i have voted Strongly Oppose as it does more harm then good!

Especially with countries like France that can't negotiate and just hate Britain nothing will ever get done.

Graham Harvey

When it stated out as the EEC I was all for it, then it became a bit more political with the EC and then it became the EU, and seemed to want everyones money, to make up nanny legislation, poke their noses where they are not needed and live on the gravy train/boat/private airplane/luxery villa etc etc ad nausium.
Worst of all (for me especially) is the bloody C.A.P. it drive's me and most of my collegues up the wall! Did you know I can't technically sell "milk" from my cows, it has to be called "lactose dairy product".
I am all for strengthaning trade links, making passport control and customs more relaxed between participating countries and helping out the people in the poorer countries, but the burocracy involved and the things they try to do, which are beyond what anyone wants...

To be frank it is a corrupt system in which only a few cream off the best and the rest all suffer (especially the British farmers).

Well thats my two pence worth.

I support the EU. Being Irish, I can see the positive role the EU has played in my home country, and our economy sky rocketed because of it. We are still benefitting from this boost several years on. Admittedly it has it's down falls, I wasn't not a fan of the combined currency, mainly because businesses went out of their way to screw the general public over - priced doubled over night, and people who didn't know better put it down to the change in currency and worth, but it's definitely got it's upsides, like boosting tourism and being able to shop and compare prices all across Europe.

As long as the EU doesn't try to become like the US, I think it will hold the support it needs to keep going

If it went back to what it was designed to do which was simply to create a common market and trade links that is fine...but how it is now, basically governing every member country by imposing stupid laws and regulations just undermines the EU and thus i have voted Strongly Oppose as it does more harm then good!

Especially with countries like France that can't negotiate and just hate Britain nothing will ever get done.

Graham Harvey
France can't negotiate? That's more a thing I would say about the UK. They still have the pound for example (like some others, but the UK is the most important member) and they have other exeptional privilleges. France is clearly pro-EU, while the UK seems to choose the most benefcial side at the time.

i thing the EU is a good idea, but it doesn't really work as good as it should be

the queen of England for instance gets lots of money and support from the EU because she owns much land but smaller farmers gain almost nothing.
and because the English don't want it to change and the French also relie alot on the money their farmers gain from the EU etc nothing changes.

I think the E.U is a good idea but a European superpower would be better and cut down on the bureaucracy and just think if Russia joins the E.U we will be unstoppable and finally get all those "crazy" threads saying were going to rule the world (shifty eye's)

I strongly support the EU and take pride in the deeper integration between european nations. Everything isnt perfect and probably never will, i rather doubt we will ever see a united states of europe. More likely a confederated europe (to use a different political science model). However the main problem with the EU is the farming subsidies, they are contra productive and creates a market that doesnt exist.

I support the EU as a concept but it is so flawed at the moment (like having meetings in secret, only North Korea does that.) that I find it hard to support it.

The EU is a freemasonic plot intent on subverting national cultures and destroying christianity in Europe.

The EU is a freemasonic plot intent on subverting national cultures and destroying christianity in Europe.

It's working, I'll give it that.

I strongly support it. A unified Europe would be a better framework for those nations to solve their many problems. Of course, it may very well remain where it is today, which is sad.

France can't negotiate? That's more a thing I would say about the UK. They still have the pound for example (like some others, but the UK is the most important member) and they have other exeptional privilleges. France is clearly pro-EU, while the UK seems to choose the most benefcial side at the time.


Hear-hear!

I strongly support it. Rome wasnt built in a day.

I hate it, have you been following the "bra wars" squabble?


Basicly french , portugese and other countrys have wanted to ban chinese clothes being imported because there cheaper, and there own textile industrys lose out.

The eu had just banned it, and as a result,, hundreds of businesses were left with tons of products they cant sell, many small businesses have been destroyed as a result, now both china and the eu have agreed that they will half the amount of bras etc imported.

This means , because we wont see as many cheaper chinese products, we'll see more french and potugese bras, t shirts etc, and higher prices.

Way to go EU,

Also thee thinking of making any employee who works outside, must be provided with protection from the sun - eg sunblock, how the hell can every employer who has outside empyee's sunblock?!?!!

Yet another hit on business for a law that isnt needed, and if it is passed, business will have to pay out for this protection, making european businesses, and thus european economy less competitive, way to go eu!!!!

(yes, i hate it, napoleons version of things was much better, well, the way he would of had it)

If chinese goods flood european markets, their industries will grow facile and weak. Its good to both build up european markets, and keep china partially in check at the same time.

I'm strongly for the notion of a united Europe. For the first time in a good couple of hundred years- there has been no large scale war on mainland Europe- part of which can be attributed to the good relations between Germany and France due to the EEC/EC/EU.

I dislike the bureaucratic side- but it takes time to develop properly.

Again, i'm a bit biased- it has done wonderful things for my home country- Ireland, and we are also doing our bit back now by accepting gladly the work force from the new accession states.

To keep the Irish economy growing at the same rate, 3,000 foreign workers need to be 'imported' every month. (on top of our own workforce) :eek:

I strongly support it as a model of international unity and peace. I'd go so far as to say that because of its novelty and nobility in trying to bring together in peace, prosperity and confederation peoples who just 60 years ago were at each others throats, it is the great political and moral experiment of our time.

I hate it, have you been following the "bra wars" squabble?


Basicly french , portugese and other countrys have wanted to ban chinese clothes being imported because there cheaper, and there own textile industrys lose out.

The eu had just banned it, and as a result,, hundreds of businesses were left with tons of products they cant sell, many small businesses have been destroyed as a result, now both china and the eu have agreed that they will half the amount of bras etc imported.

This means , because we wont see as many cheaper chinese products, we'll see more french and potugese bras, t shirts etc, and higher prices.

Way to go EU,

Also thee thinking of making any employee who works outside, must be provided with protection from the sun - eg sunblock, how the hell can every employer who has outside empyee's sunblock?!?!!

Yet another hit on business for a law that isnt needed, and if it is passed, business will have to pay out for this protection, making european businesses, and thus european economy less competitive, way to go eu!!!!

(yes, i hate it, napoleons version of things was much better, well, the way he would of had it)

You hate it, and don't even know why. Portugal is for allowing textile imports from china.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/08/31/eu.china.textiles.reut/index.html

I strongly support it as a model of international unity and peace. I'd go so far as to say that because of its novelty and nobility in trying to bring together in peace, prosperity and confederation peoples who just 60 years ago were at each others throats, it is the great political and moral experiment of our time.
The EU is far from being helpful now, it is being a big problem, and the only good solution to fix this problem is to nuke brussels.

The EU is far from being helpfu now, it is being a big problem, and the only good solution to fix this problem is to nuke brussels.

Now, that's what I call constructive criticism :p

I really don't have the slightest interest in seeing the EU gone, as it would mean the loss of my job, and that of thousands of others here.

Strongly support! I can hardly wait until they bring out deep blue passports with the twelve stars on them :D

Strongly support! I can hardly wait until they bring out deep blue passports with the twelve stars on them :D

Oh, I definitely want one of those! :D

Strongly support! I can hardly wait until they bring out deep blue passports with the twelve stars on them :D
The EU must be stopped before it does that.

The EU must be stopped before it does that.

Why? Don't you like the colour?

The EU must be stopped before it does that.We've already got them. They just don't have the design I'd like to see on them. You're too late to stop it.

Why? Don't you like the colour?
Not because I do not like the colour. Its because if the EU makes those, it will become more like the USA, which must never happen.

Not because I do not like the colour. Its because if the EU makes those, it will become more like the USA, which must never happen.

A common passport will make us like the USA? That's all it takes? I think you oversimplify the issue.
And why would that be a bad thing at all?

We've already got them. They just don't have the design I'd like to see on them. You're too late to stop it.

Mine still says "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" :(
But I'm hoping to change that to "Republic of Ireland" soon anyway :D

Mine still says "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" :(
But I'm hoping to change that to "Republic of Ireland" soon anyway :DMine says "Europäische Union" on it too. We already have European passports. They only lack the neat design I want. We could even put the national seal in the stars to maintain national identities. :)
Mine is newer than this one (http://igi.fh-luebeck.de/AuslandsSemester/Bilder/Reisepass.jpg), so it already says "EU", but you can clearly read the "Europäische Gemeinschaft" on it.

Mine says "Europäische Union" on it too. We already have European passports. They only lack the neat design I want. We could even put the national seal in the stars to maintain national identities. :)
Mine is newer than this one (http://igi.fh-luebeck.de/AuslandsSemester/Bilder/Reisepass.jpg), so it already says "EU", but you can clearly read the "Europäische Gemeinschaft" on it.

My German one is still valid till 2012, but I hope I'll get an Irish one before that.
And I think it would be great if it said "European Union" on that as well.

i think the EU is one of the 20's century political achivements..
it succeded in uniting nations with different languages, cultures, and even sects.
i strongly support the EU, and hope for the Arab States to become like it...

My German one is still valid till 2012, but I hope I'll get an Irish one before that.
And I think it would be great if it said "European Union" on that as well.Right, mine is only valid til 2008 so yours definitely has it on it. You probably haven't noticed it, that's all. But what Swilatia is afraid of has been around for years.

I don't support a EU which wants to include Turkey. Without regard for the will of it's people. Like they do now. Otherwise it's a swell idea.

I am a huge supporter of European Federalism. I believe we as europeans should work for closer integration, and also to set up a central government. A European parliament, European Prime Minister and a European President.

However I think that in terms of the European parliament's political parties currently in majority...
The situation of lefties... Communists and socialists... European Social Democrats/Socialists/Comunists
vs
the Euroskeptic majority on the conservative right... European People's party etc... will lead the EU absolutely nowhere useful

The ONLY political alignment with the ideological concern of setting up the EU as Federal European state is the liberal centrist: European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (http://www.eldr.org/)

They are currently the third largest party in the EU parliament.

I don't support a EU which wants to include Turkey. Without regard for the will of it's people. Like they do now. Otherwise it's a swell idea.

Whose people? Turkey's?

Whose people? Turkey's?
Of course not. The peoples of the EU.

The EU is far from being helpful now, it is being a big problem, and the only good solution to fix this problem is to nuke brussels.

...
You Eurosceptics are starting to scare me.

Of course not. The peoples of the EU.

I don't know about everybody else, but I'm still undecided on that issue.
And so's the EU, for all I know...

I don't know about everybody else, but I'm still undecided on that issue.
And so's the EU, for all I know...
Well. Berlin and Paris constantly hammered that the goal was Turkey's admition without room for anything else. And Günther "Gollem" Verheugen announced that negotiations with Turkey would commence even before the EU council made that decision public. So I'd say that the negotiations are a farce and the the outcome is already decided.

Well. Berlin and Paris constantly hammered that the goal was Turkey's admition without room for anything else. And Günther "Gollem" Verheugen announced that negotiations with Turkey would commence even before the EU council made that decision public. So I'd say that the negotiations are a farce and the the outcome is already decided.
Oh, i wouldn't say that. There's more to Europe than Paris and Berlin- and Turkey has many many problems to sort out before it gets a sniff of joining- economy, inflation, human rights, Kurds, Cyprus, constitutional matters etc etc

Plus won't it be swell to have an EU border with Iraq :D :D :D

I rather like the concept of the EU as a general free-trade/free-movement zone with common foreign trade laws. I don't like the concept of making one nation out of Europe, nor do I believe it to be possible. So I sort of support the EU.

Like most people I support the EU in principle but have issues with the high levels of bureaucracy and I think spending is somewhat dubious. I support a united continent and am pleased that the EU is trying to integrate Turkey. In it's efforts to join, Turkey has cleaned up several key human rights areas which is a good thing in my book.

I support a common passport and reduction of nationalistic posturing in favour of an open and democratic society where the people of Europe are free to move and live between nations. Where trade is fair (not free) between ourselves and the rest of the world. I think a certain amount of national identity should be preserved, I don't think we should all be identical, but I would like to see more integration over time.

I actually want to see worldwide integration long term, based on the European model but with the kinks worked out!

The EU is a nice idea; all the component states working together for the benefit of all. More or less. Kinda. I'm not even opposed to having a totally united Europe with a single Government.

Currently, however, the EU is a bit of an inefficient, bureaucratic mess. I know most of the stories you hear about it are blown out of all proportion, but they do seem to spend their time on some very silly things. Enough that I wouldn't cry if the whole thing decided to go away. And I'm not fond of the CAP.

But on the bright side, they only spend one or two percent of our taxes! The British government waste the other 98%!

I would be for it, but I have a nagging feeling it would turn out more like the Europe from Incompetence by Rob Grant than anything else.

I oppose the EU as it is a neoliberal attempt to replace the democratic process within each nation with the dictatorial rule of unelected bureaucrats and bankers in Brussels and Frankfurt who are in interested in one thing only and that is to maximise the profits of multinational corporations with no regard for the welfare of humanity. That does not mean I am in any way anti European and I support the unity of the international working class but this can only be achieved by destroying all forms of capitalist exploitation and empowering people to take democratic decisions over all the matters affecting their lives whether political or economic.

I oppose the EU as it is a neoliberal attempt to replace the democratic process within each nation with the dictatorial rule of unelected bureaucrats and bankers in Brussels and Frankfurt who are in interested in one thing only and that is to maximise the profits of multinational corporations with no regard foir the welfare of humanity. That does not mean I am in any way anti European and I support the unity of the international working class but this can only be achieved by destroying all forms of capitalist exploitation and empowering people to take democratic decisions over all the matters affecting their lives whether political or economic.

The standard of living has greatly improved and is improving in many EU countries thanks to the presence of the EU. Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and many of the emerging states in Central Europe.

The standard of living has greatly improved and is improving in many EU countries thanks to the presence of the EU. Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and many of the emerging states in Central Europe.

Living standards may have improved in the past but because of the aggressively neoliberal policies now followed by the EU they are beginning to fall (unemployment is currently at a record high in the Eurozone). These are the inevitable consequences of the insane rush to destroy the welfare state, end all regulation of big business and privatise everything.

Living standards may have improved in the past but because of the aggressively neoliberal policies now followed by the EU they are beginning to fall (unemployment is currently at a record high in the Eurozone). These are the inevitable consequences of the insane rush to destroy the welfare state, end all regulation of big business and privatise everything.

You're oversimplifiing a complex economic situation- the European states regardless of the EU, are economically linked with other blocs- the US, Middle East, East Asia, Japan etc. If America sneezes, Europe catchs cold ;)

One cannot blame the current European slight downturn based on neoliberal tendancies- what about the weak dollar? Middle East crisis? Israel/Palestine peace/violence.

I don't see the welfare state being destroyed at all- could you link some examples to back this claim up?

Nationalising industries is bad news- the more privitisation of public sectors the better- means more competition for the public and lower prices and therefore better value for money.

Living standards are not going down- please show examples of this widespread European problem and how the EU is responsible?

You're oversimplifiing a complex economic situation- the European states regardless of the EU, are economically linked with other blocs- the US, Middle East, East Asia, Japan etc. If America sneezes, Europe catchs cold ;)

One cannot blame the current European slight downturn based on neoliberal tendancies- what about the weak dollar? Middle East crisis? Israel/Palestine peace/violence.

Of course there are other factors which affect the economy but it is clear that the situation is made much worse by the neoliberal policies fanatically pursued by the EU. Unemployment, for example, is increasing because of the deregulation of the economy which has made it far easier for companies to sack their workers. The restrictions on government expenditure also now make it very difficult for a country to use public spending to help recover from an economic crisis despite the fact that this is often the only way.

I don't see the welfare state being destroyed at all- could you link some examples to back this claim up?

The welfare state is being cut across Europe and often on the advice of the EU itself. One of the countries worse affected is Germany where the government is reducing funding for public services and either cancelling welfare benefits or making them much harder to receive. This is something that is also taking place to a lesser extent throughout the EU including countries such as France and Portugal.

Nationalising industries is bad news- the more privitisation of public sectors the better- means more competition for the public and lower prices and therefore better value for money.

Privatisation is most certainly not a positive thing and all it does is to allow big business to steal from both workers and consumers while providing the worst service possible. A good example are the railways in Britain and when they were privatised the number of accidents increased, punctuality got worse, ticket prices rose and staff lost their jobs. This is all despite the fact that the privatised rail service is receiving government subsidies 3 times as high as it did when it was under public ownership.

Living standards are not going down- please show examples of this widespread European problem and how the EU is responsible?

Living standards are falling due to high unemployment and the attacks on the welfare state which I have already mentioned. This has clearly been encouraged by the EU, for example, in the Lisbon process which advocates privatisation, deregualtion, attacks on the rights of working people and a reduction in government spending.

I support the EU. The EU is far from perfect, but we've all have much in common. Common interests, so need for war, etc
What the EU should do is show itself. The only time I, as a EU citizen, am confronted with the EU is in the news.

I support the EU. The EU is far from perfect, but we've all have much in common. Common interests, so need for war, etc
What the EU should do is show itself. The only time I, as a EU citizen, am confronted with the EU is in the news.
I agree... I believe we should have an EU prime minister and president. Elected by the Hondt system and through popular vote respectively.
For that we need a European constitution first.

Strongly oppose.