European Union Forums

[Benn]

I'm just interested in people's opinions about being a EU member-country. What is your thinking on it?

[Faw_Peter]

Advantage for developing countries - economy improving
disadvantage for develpped countries - they have to spend money for raising the poor countries' economy

[Terry]

there are tens of more advantages than disadvantages. An example is Portugal, Greece which were pulled out from poverty by EU

[LION]

in my opinion,a EU member has more advantages then other countries in the region,and in the whole world,because being a member of the most succesfull and wealthy union on Earh assure you a strong ecconomical and political support

[clearman]

[Terry]

in my opinion,a EU member has more advantages then other countries in the region,and in the whole world,because being a member of the most succesfull and wealthy union on Earh assure you a strong ecconomical and political support

in this case, tell me why the UK and Switzerland are not EU members?

[ser_toma]

Countries in Eu have had most advantage when there was only few of them. Now, when the most european countries are in EU, they move their production in countries that are not in EU, ore countries that are waiting to be members of EU. Eu is destroing the culural heratige of nations, and bring its own standards

[clearman]

[sasha]

I think that there are more advantages for being EU member today, because many aspects of public management are centralized at many countries wich makes huge savings for resources of a country within it. These are 14 aspects like agriculture, wood, fishing, transport, concurrention ... Law is harmonized, people can freely work in any of these countries, there are one currency, wast market etc. All of these things that are just balast for a state are centralized at EU. There is possible and recomanded for a country to delegate even more authority than these 14 aspects to EU which is base for future making of a solid state. When completition of EU is over, the next step is to make one country of EU which is for now just an organisation of independent states. I think that is the time when decomposition of EU will start.

In other hand I hope that people of the future will have more conscience and sence and that utopistic multinational state of future will be possible. Recent voting for constitution proved that it isn't possible now.

Switzerland is a country which is an island of neutral attitude. It'll never be a part of any international organization. The world needs such island.
The economy of Norway is mainly based on fishing. Entering EU Norway would be forced to drastically cut catch of fish, Italy had that problem and it weakened them.
Island wasn't allowed to reject EU because they were weak. They had referendum twice. Firstly they voted contra, but later they excepted (maybe there would be more voting if they rejected it again, until they approved entering EU). Probably people who once has voted against, was offended by repeating the question and they didn't went to the voting cites.

[Terry]

why wouldn't Asia then form a Union, like "The Asian Union"?

[sasha]

why wouldn't Asia then form a Union, like "The Asian Union"?

I don't know. Maybe they don't want to. Europe people have this dream, but could it be real? I hope, but I wouldn't bet on it?

[Steven]

I think the Asian tigers can form a union, and if they do that, they can surpass all the countries.

[LION]

Terry,Switzerland is not e EU member because as sasha said,it is a neutral contry and also the EU laws would affect their economical advantages,and have a negative impact on their economy.
UK has a strong economy and they are afraid that if they enter EU they will have to conform with their rules and promote a differnt from actual politic.
Asian countries had not formed a union yet because the region is not very stable,some countries have disputes between them.

[Faw_Peter]

If the European Union didn't existed, I think there would be a great difference between the economic level of, let's say, France, GB, Germany and the underdeveloped countries.

[clearman]

EU is most economical then cultural union

[Faw_Peter]

Probably you wanted to say "economic" it can't be "economical"? Or maybe I'm wrong?

[clearman]

yes, of course, nobody is perfect.....

[Benn]

the USA is also a union and it can as well be considered the most developed in the economic and cultural matter union.

[Faw_Peter]

Romanians and Bulgarians don't seem to complain about joining the EU. Who knows, maybe we'll see the times when countries will want to separate from it, because, maybe, of a crisis, or smth...

[Steven]

A disadvantage is: the local government may lose control over its country and local concerns of citizens might be ignored.

[Benn]

also one advantage: people can learn easily different languages not even attending special courses, but simply traveling without barriers

[Terry]

disadvantage: an great inflow of foreign guest workers in your country. Any member state knows and follows that. And nothing, well at least nothing, can be done about that.

[Faw_Peter]

Romania joined EU, and now it faces a big problem related to lack of high-skilled professionals. The best specialists emigrated to EU western countries so that they are paid for adequately for their qualitative job.

[M.Helen]

I'm in EU, and i feel myself protected, since this is the world's greatest union. I feel safe. This should be an advantage.

[clearman]

Helen, the “world’s greatest union” is characterized by Brussels bureaucracy and lack of cohesion between members. The European parliamentarians are the "second class" politicians in their countries and they are coming in Brussels with very divergent opinions about Union. (Ireland obtains money from Union for development and now they vote NO.)
I don't see a brilliant future for EU!

Peter, in that case, Romania is forced to get Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipinos workers; because their citizens prefer to work abroad for wages they can’t obtain home.