Thread: Будущее Евросоюза.

The main reason lies in the field of economics. The rich North refuses to support the poor South. That is the problem. They don't mind European unity as long as they keep their money. Personally I don't see any future for EU in its present state. It's a confederation and confederations simply do not work. They either dissolve or turn into federations. In order to function EU needs centralized government, banking system, laws, etc. You cannot be unified 'just a bit' and keep the sovereignity at the same time.

Originally Posted by Ramil

They either dissolve or turn into federations. In order to function EU needs centralized government, banking system, laws, etc. You cannot be unified 'just a bit' and keep the sovereignity at the same time.

Yes, I think you are right about that...
Right now, it's a half-way house, so to speak.
The integration needs to be closer for there to be any point.

I think a lot of people in Brussels ARE in fact planning a federation.
There are several organisations for it JEF, Paneuropa etc.

I think they are pragmatic about it, and are prepared for it to take a generation or two for people to get used to the idea.
If they came on too strongly, then there would be a backlash.

And some countries may end up refusing to participate, i.e. the UK - maybe the UK should apply to be an American state instead... lol.

I think there is some mild pro-EU education in schools nowadays. When I went to school, the general idea was that we were too good for the EU... (in terms of social welfare for all, environmental support etc.) But now I hear that they have added "EU knowledge" the schedule in schools. Hardly any younger people in Sweden at least, are against the EU.

The language issue is a major thing too.
A union needs a common language. Right now it's rather chaotic and not much logic to what language is used to communicate within the EU.

Who should speak what languages and when....? English works as a lingua Franca, up to a point. But not with poorly educated people, older people.... and not so much in Eastern Eastern Europe or Southern Europe.

Statistically, the common EU language ought to be German -- it's the most commonly spoken language in Europe, followed by French, then English.

Personally I think we should use Esperanto, seriously!!!

Another thing is; without the freedom of movement of people in the EU, Western Europe would literally stop functioning. It's a fact that's obvious to everyone. More than half of builders, restaurant staff etc in the UK, Germany etc are from Eastern Europe.

Originally Posted by Hanna

I think they are pragmatic about it, and are prepared for it to take a generation or two for people to get used to the idea.
If they came on too strongly, then there would be a backlash.

But the time can play against the idea as well. If things go downhill with some other economy... or there is another crisis they wouldn't have the time necessary to complete the unification. Besides, nationalists are gainging more support facing the problems with immigration.
The ideas expressed by the 'True Finns' resemble national-socialism very strongly and we both know who advocated this particular -ism in Germany not so long ago.

Personally I think we should use Esperanto, seriously!!!

This again is a big problem. Esperanto is great but Europe will need at least three generations to introduce a common language. It might not have this time.