EU a beacon of light for the World to follow

Only the poorer nations are benefiting from the membership of the EU. Countries, such as the United Kingdom is not benefiting from the EU membership at all.

REFERENDUM!

It is the opposite.The richer countries are benefited from the membership of the EU.

I totally disagree. Look at the Rep. Of Ireland for example. It's us that are making them richer.

Rubbish, all memberstates at one point in time, have benefitted from the membership.

M-G

In the beginning the rich countries pay the bill to bring the poorer, under developed newbies up to western standards.
But the moment they can walk alone and start to pull their weight they become a benefit for the whole EU.

Benefited from what? Surrendering our laws to the unelected parliament of the European Union? To an unelected European Union President? Are we going to have an election as to who we can choose to run the EU?

So here we are, people from Poland , Netherlands, England, Ireland and goodness knows where else, discussing (disagreeing) about the EU.
I hope the EU hasn't and doesn't become a dictatorship of our countries, yet we must unite to be competitive in the world market. There is no country in the EU or outside that does not have a dark past. One of the things I like about the EU is at least the pretence that our differences make us stronger.

And as far as what happened and is happening I hope Poland can do simular to Ireland and improve where we have not. One of the best things about the human race is the ability to learn from other peoples mistakes.

The EU are never going to be one big happy family (nor are we on pf) but I do think we can get along co-operate and achieve positive results for all member states.

HEY GUYS HAS POLAND BENEFITTED FROM BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE EU?

You can actively choose the representative of your country in the EU parliament...there are even the most parties active as they also exist in the countries.

The EU is going to be as democratic as the member states - inclusive steady whining and complaining about the governement...but with regular votings.

Still remember the EU is still in the works...nothing is perfect but surely it's not becoming a totalitarian dictatur as some nutters tell it...

Even new parties are in the build up...for example christian conservatives in all countries are about to found an EU party for all,
regardless from which country to heighten their influence...and that's just the beginning!

Yes, EU citizens WILL have a say about laws and who is running what!
No, not every decision will be to your liking and sometimes there will be somebody on the top who you don't like...till the next voting....

Business as usual as in the home countries!

Many voices make light work and there's safety in numbers.

The EU is far from perfect, but it's far better for Europe that it exists and that countries co-operate with eachother.

I'd only like to see the Euro introduced as the currency in the UK if they started making decent-sized coins that feel heavy enough. The current ones feel like they've escaped from the Fisher-Price post-office set. I'd also hate to see the demise of the 1 grosz coin.

This is a certain winner of the most stupid statement of the month award on PF. Sorry BB but you are totally brainwashed, you don't even realize how illogical your posting is sometimes. Somehow your brain cells received this above message from Brussels's propagandists and you without hesitation accepted everything.

In Sunday I have heard in TV a politician who explained how important Euro-election are, he told that already about 50% of laws are made in Brussels. I could even understand that if you would not care who is running your life. However your post show different attitude, you are glad that Germans are there. Think about it, before German society could elect all deputies who create law in their country. Actually you are glad because German society have the right to elect only few Germans who will create the law in your country. Before German people were responsible for everything what is happening in Germany, soon they will lost these rights and some completely ignorant of problems in your country people for example from far Portugal will be partially responsible for what is going on in Deutchland. Please... hopefully you were drunk when you wrote this post.


Because those ignorant Brits, Danes, Dutch, French or Czechs we were denied referendum. Our politicians told this to us. We cannot democratically decide because then other governments would be forced to ask their people. this is all about democracy in the EU, pathetic farce!

The continent of Africa has in recent years made a 'union' for itself (the AU). They're trying to sort things out for themselves but it hasn't been easy.

I disagree, the Eu is a bad joke!

Ideologically sound but, like almost any system, it has its flaws. I wouldn't describe it as a beacon of light tho

Look at it like this ladies and gents:
In your city or municipality, how much of a say do you have? That is, how much does your elected representative represent your voice or your concerns? And to what effect are they voiced?

Now ask yourselves that same question in regards to your county or district.
Take that further to your state or province.

Now take that one more step further and ask yourselves exactly how much of a say you have in how "your" country is run? That is, how much does "your" elected representative represent your voice or your concerns? And to what effect are they voiced?

Now ask that same question in regards to a continent-wide government.

Big government best serves big entities and let's face it people, if you're not running the show then you are not one of the lucky few to ultimately benefit from big government.

Peace.

I consider it very fair as long as Germany would be equally 'responsible' for things in Portugal (though I am afraid they would issist to assume much more 'responsibility' than the respective proportion between the 2 countries should allow!)

I would agree with the original comment that the EU is something that the rest of the world could follow.
NOT because it makes us all one happy family, since it clearly doesn't; but every country has a dark past and divisive minority factions that want "home rule" at any price.

India and China will suffer in the same way; as they become more affluent, religious and ethnic factions will all want their own slice of affluence and power.

The EU is the best means so far of papering over the cracks and maintaining a thin veneer of friendly dialogue throughout Europe; without the EU as a sounding board and nominal equaliser, we would all be backing up our prejudices with force of arms again.

Where else would a Slav, a Hungarian, a German, a Frenchman, an Irishman and a Britsh man ever meet face to face and discuss matters of importance?

No, they will have a say in what happens in the EU as a whole. This will include Germany, not Gemany specifically.
For me personally I dont see why I should agree to live by the laws and regulations created and agreed by the British population but say that those created by the EU are not relevant or legitimate to me. I think the various countries of the EU have the right idea on a number of issues and can teach us in the UK alot. Equally I think that many EU nations can learn much from the UK. Often I find myself agreeing more with the foreign or domestic policy objectives of France or Germany more than my own country and would rather be represented by them.

Now thats a horse of a different color.

Poland plays veto card in NATO row

russiatoday.ru/news/23295

An ordinary German care about laws in Germany because this have direct influence on his life. Why on earth a German should decide what to do in other countries and other way around if they have no idea about real problem in these places?? If you think that all world is the same, have the same problems, opportunities and there are some universal solutions which fits everywhere you are very wrong. Somebody from Greece have little idea about life in Ireland and a person from Poland has no clue about Cypriot issues. Why would average German care about rights of German politicians to co-decide about laws in some other countries? Why should average Irishmen tolerate French socialist wanting to impose high taxes in his country?

Tran Anh, why should not European politician co-decide about Vietnam and Vietnamese about European affairs? This is simply insane.

Perhaps those MEPs in fact have nothing to say and everything is dictated by all-knowing Central Committee based in Brussels? In the EU everything is wrong, we see how Berlin, Warsaw or Roman give up their competences to CC in Brussels. While we shoudl witness how Berlin, Warsaw and Rome give up their competences to Munich, Bremen, Hamburg, Wroclaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Torino, Bari or Florence. People in regions know much better how to resolve their problems than any all-knowing bureaucrats in Brussels! The latter are corrupt parasites wanting to keep their hands on everything what is going on in Europe.

EU a beacon of light for the World to follow

The only beacon of light for the world to follow is the Gospel of Jesus Christ...in comparison the EU is like a Chinese-manufactured flashlight with cheap batteries...pardon my Christianity!

Because when you join the EU you agree to have a certain amount of standardisation across the member states. Its supposed to be a common market of goods and services after all.

Lesser, I will try to answer you by quoting from other posters in this topic (there is no need to be original here)

And yes even a quote from the Kraut (sometimes capable of some sense, isn't he?)


To conclude, there are only two main problems that the EU must overcome to make it well-rounded as it should be:
-To make sure it will not be an oligarchy of big countries.
-To make a balance between all-affecting decisions from the top and the initiatives from individual regions (that's where you should jump in and make your voice count).


You know, i fully expect that pleasant scenario to happen in the next century. At this moment, however, we just try to make sure that in the next 15 years, well-informed Bangkokians or Manilans will really care and help solve some serious issues in Hanoi and vice versa. The establishment of a decently working ASEAN, especially in this critical moment, is probably just as urgent to us as the correct formation of a beneficial-for-all EU to the rest of Europe.

You don't need any EU institutions to create "free" market (in closed European version) , this is a question of one treaty. Of course I support such solution, even broader. This standardization like you wrote is necessary to Brussels bureaucracy only to fully control this market. They are parasites whom rob European taxpayers and create millions of useless regulations and barriers also to justify their existence.


These quotes does not represent any knowledge, just empty slogans of people who mostly probably don't even understand how the EU is run. One cannot even argue because nothing was really written.

Vietnamese public schools need to be even worse than Polish. I see that these utopian communist theories of central planning have second life...

Lesser, how does an LLM in European Law (and International) sound? It was my Masters. It's hard to gain entry to that course, let alone pass it. I scored well so please don't belittle my knowledge. I was told to do that based on my Honours year marks in European Law and get a scholarship, both of which I did.

Stop assuming that u r the expert on such matters. I don't profess to be, nor should you.

I have write "mostly" you must admit. Why to hide this sad fact, because of PC? In fact most of average people don't know what is really the difference between European Parliament, Council of Europe, European Commission, European Council or Council of the European Union. More complicated questions are not needed at all.

Whats your alternative then lesser? Come on,in one or ttwo short paragraphs what do you propose?

Bureaucracy must be drastically reduced, the EU should be back just to the common market idea from the beginning, Schengen zone should be expanded to whole Europe. Countries and Poland in particular should go towards regionalism and not all-European centralization as I stated earlier in this thread. I could recommend few books if you would be really interested.

Are you drunk or are you kidding? The EU is run by bureaucrats and apparatchiks not visionary statesmen.

As for the WU, sure, why not, that would allow just about anyone who turns up on these shores with a plastic bag in his hand to settle in Europe.

WB just wait till noimmigration sees your post and gets his paws on you once you return to Britain. :) Let's just say I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. LOL