European Politics
Out of context: Reply #9
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- Corvo20
I have some remarks to the Lisbon Treaty (although they're mostly from hearsay, which is why I'm not keen to post them, since they're not my own. But whatever...)
1. bigger institutions to tackle bigger questions. Fine, I agree on that principle - but how do you enforce different industrial rates between countries? Buying quotes?
2. Identity issues - e.g. Brits will never give up the Pound or the Red Buses circling Picadilly even if they rot dead. But some norm from Brussels might enforce them to do so (isn't that 50% of the fear of the EU?). The Iberians (PT, SP) will never give up their rotting bad-dressed smoky taverns and their smelly food. Wouldn't a super-state tend to "normalize" all of this?
3. Funds - Being from a small-country myself, I admit we received a lot of funds. Sure. We got the money from the northern EU tax-payers, but we also had to give up on our farming, our fishery and our language and we mostly buy their products now... Who got the jobs in the end? In what way would a stronger EU benefit that balance? Are we to stay in the end of the chain forever and be a tourist resort?
3. Job market - Best thing that ever happened to every country in the EU. Honestly.
4. Knowledge - Best thing that ever happened to every country in the EU. Cross-university projects are brilliant and there's many stuff going on. Best practice, ihmo.
In short, the trouble is still the money, and how people feel about it. Otherwise I'm pro-EU although I'm keen on Identity issues.