It's something a core of Old Europe wants but no-one else does
For all their nationalistic fervour in certain quarters, a large rump of the original EU members quite like the idea of a federalised superstate along US lines, with strong subsidiarity on all matters other than finance, environment, defence, energy. That is certainly the "European Project" as seen by many serious politicians in those countries.
The UK and Scandi have never been on board with this, and never will be. By and large we are the countries that stayed out of the Euro (and it's very hard for anyone to argue that history has not proved that clearly the right call).
Since the Big Bang and the accession of much of Eastern Europe, this has all become a lot more fraught. Suddenly the balance between net donors and net recipients in any such scheme is very different. Notwithstanding, support for it remains extremely strong in central Europe.
It will never happen with all EU member states - as I said, it's not just us that would never go along with it - but probably will happen with a subset. The challenge is to make sure that the rules for the EU as a whole don't disadvantage those of us not on board with the superstate idea. For me this is one of many good reasons to vote In in the referendum - our voice in Brussels is stronger than is commonly realised, and without it the brakes on some of the ambitions of the more federally-minded might come off, to the detriment of everyone.
Posted By: Old Man on February 21st 2016 at 19:22:46
Message Thread
- Does anyone actually understand what the EU's "ever closer union is" (in layman's terms)? (n/m) (Other Football) - essexcanaryOTBC, Feb 21, 19:09:33
- What I find interesting is that all the same people opposing TTIP are all now shouting In (n/m) (Other Football) - Boris, Feb 21, 20:23:26
- what I find amusing is the UKIP argument that the likes of the US (Other Football) - CWC, Feb 21, 20:48:29
- Some bloke on Andrew Marr show described it thus... (Other Football) - Tombs, Feb 21, 19:27:33
- It's something a core of Old Europe wants but no-one else does (Other Football) - Old Man, Feb 21, 19:22:46
- Blimey (Other Football) - Jambocanary, Feb 21, 20:05:49
- It means; bend over, receive the bratwurst... (n/m) (Other Football) - avenging canary, Feb 21, 19:15:21
- I take it too mean every country that opts in to be run by Germany (n/m) (Other Football) - CB41, Feb 21, 19:12:06
- That's pretty Layman haha thx (n/m) (Other Football) - essexcanaryOTBC, Feb 21, 19:13:58
- S'wat you asked for bud (n/m) (Other Football) - CB41, Feb 21, 19:14:38
- Sure was! :) (n/m) (Other Football) - essexcanaryOTBC, Feb 21, 19:16:07
- S'wat you asked for bud (n/m) (Other Football) - CB41, Feb 21, 19:14:38
- That's pretty Layman haha thx (n/m) (Other Football) - essexcanaryOTBC, Feb 21, 19:13:58
- What I find interesting is that all the same people opposing TTIP are all now shouting In (n/m) (Other Football) - Boris, Feb 21, 20:23:26
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