Do you support the EU?

[Intell]

If I lived in europe, i'd vote against the EU, and the shambles of austerity, it has placed against its citizens. Iceland and Norway are one of the most prosperous nations in Europe, and they're not the EU. I believe the EU, has failed Europe.

This is coming from an outsider's perspective of course, so I would like to hear European members thoughts and opinions of the EU.

[SNJ1985]

No, I'm a Eurosceptic. If I lived in an EU country, I would vote for it to leave the EU.

[DavidB.]

The problem is that the EU lacks legitimacy in many countries. The Netherlands never voted for the treaties of Maastricht, Rome, Nice, Lisbon, and for the accession to the eurozone - and neither did many other countries. We actually did vote against the proposed European Constitution, which has been implemented under the name Treaty of Lisbon nonetheless. Since that referendum, no new EU referendums have taken place: politicians don't trust the people anymore.

I support free trade, the European single market, and the freedom of movement and residence among most (though not all EU-28; the accession of Romania and Bulgaria was a mistake) European countries. It's not as if the EU has been all bad. However, I oppose a thoroughly undemocratic, supranational entity imposing legislation on the countries. I would like to see the EU implement serious reforms which will instigate more cooperation on some issues while causing much, much, much less European involvement on other issues. I would like the EU to become intergovernmental. It should become a platform for cooperation on all kinds of issues; countries should simply be able to join if they feel this would be beneficial for them. Sovereignity should flow back to the member states. In short, I would like another EU but I really oppose this undemocratic, Kafkaesque EU that renders the will of the people a total joke.

Given that I'm a pessimist regarding the EU reforms I would like to see (the reforms that do take place only strenghten the undemocratic, supranational "ever closer union"), I would probably vote for leaving the EU under the assumption that we can keep many of the benefits the EU provides, i.e. through bilateral Netherlands-EU agreements.

[The Free North]

Indifferent because its existence does not significantly alter my life here in the United States.


If I lived in the European Union, it would depend on the country I was from and my socio-economic status.

[Green Line]

No, I oppose any attempts at unions of nations unless the United States is the one taking it over.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

In theory, yes, and I will vote to stay in - out of lack of a better option. Seeing as Iceland is basically a small town on a cold volcano (and hardly in a great economic shape itself) and Norway is an unusually well-run petrostate, I highly doubt they can really be model countries.

However the institution should really be razed. In particular, I'd abolish the Commission and give the Parliament binding powers.

[Oakvale]

I'm Irish so

[DavidB.]

I'm Irish so

So what?

[politicus]

In theory, yes, and I will vote to stay in - out of lack of a better option. Seeing as Iceland is basically a small town on a cold volcano (and hardly in a great economic shape itself) and Norway is an unusually well-run petrostate, I highly doubt they can really be model countries.

However the institution should really be razed. In particular, I'd abolish the Commission and give the Parliament binding powers.

Icelandic economy is doing great, their tourist sector has never been bigger and unemployment is at a  record low, but yeah, those two countries are special, although your "Norway is a petrostate" line is somewhat exaggerated - and tiresome. Hydroelectric power with attached industries, fisheries and shipping are equally important. Norway simply has a lot of resources, the same goes for Iceland - and both countries having lots of cheap (and clean) electricity gives them a lot of freedom.

I would prefer to cut the EU down to basics - the inner market and a few rules against social and environmental dumping, at thats it. Drop the Euro etc. and all the federalist crap and return to a Europe of Nations. No commission, no parliament, no subsidies, no "foreign policy", keep defence cooperation elsewhere, no Schengen. Just keep it simple.

[Cassius]

My ideal position is roughly similar to that of Politics', but in practice I support leaving the EU.

[TNF]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

[PJ]

In theory yes. I'd like to see EU transferred to a federalist state and the commission dissolved. However, I probably would support leaving the EU at this point if I were Greek.

I'm Irish so

So what?

Ireland is pretty much devoid of any Eurosceptics that aren't far-lefties.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

are you equating a socialist "united states of europe" to the soviet union? lol

[Classic Conservative]

No, I'm a Eurosceptic. If I lived in an EU country, I would vote for it to leave the EU.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

I would prefer to cut the EU down to basics - the inner market and a few rules against social and environmental dumping, at thats it. Drop the Euro etc. and all the federalist crap and return to a Europe of Nations. No commission, no parliament, no subsidies, no "foreign policy", keep defence cooperation elsewhere, no Schengen. Just keep it simple.

^^^

I voted Yes, because I support some form of the EU, but if asked in its current state, the answer would be "no"

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

are you equating a socialist "united states of europe" to the soviet union? lol

It would probably turn out the same way.

[OSR stands with Israel]

No

[TNF]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

are you equating a socialist "united states of europe" to the soviet union? lol

It would probably turn out the same way.

yes, because a federation of the most advanced economies on the planet, organized on a socialist basis, would turn out exactly the same way as backwards countries liberated by the Red Army after a horrifying world war did

[OSR stands with Israel]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

are you equating a socialist "united states of europe" to the soviet union? lol

It would probably turn out the same way.

yes, because a federation of the most advanced economies on the planet, organized on a socialist basis, would turn out exactly the same way as backwards countries liberated by the Red Army after a horrifying world war did

LOL

[TNF]

Would you describe the Nazi occupation of those territories as a step up from the regimes imposed by the Red Army? I certainly wouldn't, but then again I'm not a liberal who would apologize for fascism, either.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Would you describe the Nazi occupation of those territories as a step up from the regimes imposed by the Red Army? I certainly wouldn't, but then again I'm not a liberal who would apologize for fascism, either.

Yes the USSR occupation was a step up from the Nazis occupation but they werent liberated until 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union began there fall into the ashes of history. Those territories were enslaved from 1939-1989.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

are you equating a socialist "united states of europe" to the soviet union? lol

It would probably turn out the same way.

yes, because a federation of the most advanced economies on the planet, organized on a socialist basis, would turn out exactly the same way as backwards countries liberated by the Red Army after a horrifying world war did

I guess it might be a little better then.  But the failed ideology will cause it to eventually collapse like the USSR.  Communism won't take hold in rich countries like Britain and France anyway unless there is a major economic collapse several times worse than the Great Depression.

And yeah, the Eastern Europeans were "liberated."  The Communist governments weren't as bad as Hitler, great accomplishment.  It's a good thing that the Soviets didn't help the rebels in the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.  I can't imagine what kind of horrible oppressive government the Poles would have formed had they been successful!

[DavidB.]

No, I oppose any attempts at unions of nations unless the United States is the one taking it over.

I love that this comment is probably serious.

[OSR stands with Israel]

I am not opposed to the unity of Europe, but I am opposed to the European Union. A socialist United States of Europe is worth fighting for

Because it worked so well for Eastern Europe.

are you equating a socialist "united states of europe" to the soviet union? lol

It would probably turn out the same way.

yes, because a federation of the most advanced economies on the planet, organized on a socialist basis, would turn out exactly the same way as backwards countries liberated by the Red Army after a horrifying world war did

I guess it might be a little better then.  But the failed ideology will cause it to eventually collapse like the USSR.  Communism won't take hold in rich countries like Britain and France anyway unless there is a major economic collapse several times worse than the Great Depression.

And yeah, the Eastern Europeans were "liberated."  The Communist governments weren't as bad as Hitler, great accomplishment.  It's a good thing that the Soviets didn't help the rebels in the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.  I can't imagine what kind of horrible oppressive government the Poles would have formed had they been successful!

TNF hates the US for that reason as we brought his beloved "utopia" the USSR down