Next Wave of EU Expansion

[ukchris82]

Countries that wish to join the EU must address human rights.
In the last wave of entrants, some have still yet to implement human rights, this is not acceptable, you must meet the criteria before you join, simply saying, we will meet them if you let us join first, is not good enough.

Iceland is the only country that meets my criteria at the moment, but i'd like to see all Europeam countries joining, and having a system similar to the US.

[ukchris82]

I think Turkish membership in the EU would be of immediate and immense benefit to both democracy and secularism in Turkey and therefore have no qualms whatsoever with admitting it more or less as is. Same goes for corruption problems in Ukraine.

My own experience indicates that corruption actually increases after admission in the EU. And if Turkey is admitted unreformed, the anti-democratic forces will become entrenched and reforms will be far less likely.

Countries that wish to join the EU must address human rights.
In the last wave of entrants, some have still yet to implement human rights, this is not acceptable, you must meet the criteria before you join, simply saying, we will meet them if you let us join first, is not good enough.

Iceland is the only country that meets my criteria at the moment, but i'd like to see all Europeam countries joining, and having a system similar to the US.

Which countries admitted recently have yet to implement human rights?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Romania
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Bulgaria

Don't get me wrong, I think these countries have came a long way, but membership should be as a reward when you've finished the test. What motivation do the countries have now to address the remaining aims?

[ukchris82]

Romania and Bulgaria entered too quickly. I support moves for Iceland, Croatia and Turkey to join next wave.

And Scotland, should we become independent.

Amen to that!