Subject: European Union

I don't live in the EU, fortunately. There is a large fishery and agricultural lobby in the national delegation in WTO though. If we were EU members we wouldn't even have a WTO delegation.

OK I see that the topic is being continued.

We have 25 in our Union now. Such countries like Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey want to be the members of EU too. What do you think about it, especially I'm interested in your opinions about Turkey.
(Personally I'm against Turkey's joining in. It's not that I don't like Turkey or something. As far as Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania is concerned my opinion is that both EU and those countries should wait until let's say 2009.)
What do you think about that?

I think that with the current structure and function, it is already waaaaay too large.

Why are you against Turkey joining the EU?
Do you want it to be a cristian club or...?

Personally I think we should let Turkey, Romania, Albania and the rest of Europe join the EU.

With Turkey in the EU it might be easier for EU to gain influence in the Middleeast. And that would be nice.

I totally agree. It's too large. E.g. Poland is not developed enough to be a member.

ed: to Rasputin:

I'm against because Turkey is a completely different country with distinct culture. It's an Asian country actually. Only 3% of it's territory is situated in Europe. Do not be stupid. Terrorists are simply waiting for this moment. Do not let them get in. But it's not about the terrorists actually. EU doesn't need Turkey, at least in closest 15 years. Even now EU it's too big.
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The EU is way to strict in the rules, the only way such a union is to work is if there were a loose union-structure, like the USA.

EU didn't need Poland either - or Denmark.

So what if most of Turkey is located in Asia. Turkey is not close to the Atlantic but they are still a member of Nato.
I think we you should keep expanding the EU. When Israel, Jordan, Syria etc. is a member of EU then we might bring peace to their region.

And the countries develop faster within the EU than outside. Albania and Turkey might not be ready to be a member of EU tommorow but it doesn't have to take that long.

I don't think Turkey is that different. It is a westernized country in a non-western region. If we want the countries in the Middleeast to act more like us and carry our values, then we should show them that if they "do the right thing" (like Turkey has been doing) they are welcome in our "club".

Their religion is islam but the state and the church (mosque?) is not connected at all. In contrary to most European countries. Personally I don't think religion should have any influence at all. Islam, budism, protestant or whatever.

And why is it a problem if EU is growing bigger. Right now you just say it is to large. I guess people were saying the same 10 years ago and 35 years ago when EU was much smaller.
Do you think the United States would be better if it was split up in 3 or 4 different countries?

There has been terrorists in Europe for many years and that wont change with or without Turkey.
The more EU is closed and turns towards itself - instead of oppening up to the world - the more terrorist attacks will happen in Europe.

EDIT: Spelling. I probably should be editing a lot more...
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So you think EU should change name to Eurasian Union? Or maybe even Eurasiafrican Union?

World Union would be the best ;)

That's what the UN is for.

So you think EU should change name to Eurasian Union? Or maybe even Eurasiafrican Union?

Not a bad idea.

I don't care about the name. It's what's inside that matters - the politics.

And even though I might sound like a big fan of EU - I'm not.
I don't like most of the politics, but I do think it's better working together than everyone working for themselves.

My opinion is that having a regional UN-like organisation is a good thing, but when you start forcing politics on nations, the whole point falls away.

Fair enough.
But if you can't force anything upon the nations then it is very difficult to get anything done.
Especially when you have 25 members - but that might be the reason you think EU is to big.

But if you can't force anything upon the nations then it is very difficult to get anything done. Especially when you have 25 members - but that might be the reason you think EU is to big.


That's exactly my point. The politics which work brilliantly in Portugal doesn't necessarily work so well in Estonia (just an example).

I agree. And there are some rules that allow the nations to follow their own way - when it is best. But these rules can't allways be used.

And to continue I throw in another example: if the portugese (or estonians) is poluting a lot, shouldn't we force them to stop?
Instead of just asking them to stop poluting.

Well, those sorts of political decisions is easy, it's worse when the forcing conserns economical, agricultural, or even foreign policy. That's when the trouble really begin. What's good economical politics in the brilliant French (or whichever EU-nation has the best economy, not really sure) economy can be shitty politics in worse economies, like Germany or the 10 new nations.
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