What do you think about the prospect of European integration?
Do you want the Euro? Do you want the Constitution? Do you know a single thing about Europe, or is it some vague and distant bogeyman awaiting you in Brussels? I'm very interested to know what people on this site think. Personally, I'm all for Europe, and I think that integration is the way to go. I don't think we really need the Euro, at least not yet, because the pound is doing pretty well on its own steam. I really want to see a common policy on asylum seekers and immigrants adopted, because otherwise we will never be able to counter the recent ressurection of the far-right, which uses immigration as it's main fuel. I don't really want to see a single political unit because I think people are still too nationalistic for that sort of thing, and I doubt that it would be very effective or efficient.
I'm usually a pragmatist, and I see that European integration has been very positive - both economically and socially. We would never have got a minimum wage without the EU's Social Chapter, and Liverpool would never have had such a huge revival without the European City of Culture scheme. Sometimes I worry that the politicians are going too fast without ever considering public opinion, or without educating the public on European issues. I also worry that the media is being deliberately belligerent on the issue of European integration.

I suppose this is mainly aimed at Britons and Irelanders, but if you Americans know anything you can of course chip in (the majority of Europeans don't know a damned thing about the EU, so I would be very surprised if anyone outside of Europe knew any more than we do).

Whoops, I guess I forgot about good old-fashioned apathy. So much for that.

Personally a big no to the Euro, i want the U.K's economy to based on what is happening in the U.K, and not a country like Spain (this is just a randomly picked EU country). As for my political views on full intergration, i can't say as i'm a civil servant (and i can get told off for airing my views, as i have had a sensitive government job ...and it means in a public forum i have to shut up.) ...(yes even if i hide behind a nick ).

Well, the reason we would go into the Euro would be because it would be beneficial and practical, so it would be in our interests. What pisses me off is all that nationalistic bullocks that tries to justify its thinly veiled xenophobia.

I see no benefit other than not changing currency to go abroad. Ireland got slammed with fines when it joined the Euro due to the boom it was having at the time and the slump alot of Euro countries was in, it was fined daily for exceding (typo? to tired to check) intrest rates and such.

Well, surprisingly, joining the Euro isn't just about convenience for tourists. Businesses can save millions of pounds (or Euros) by having a single, stable Europe-wide currency. With the Euro we would be impervious to fluctuating exchange rates, which would benefit our economy.
Ireland benefitted in the long term as their economy was growing too fast for them to handle - that's why they were fined. Also, their rapidly growing economy would have unbalanced the Euro, which in turn would have damaged other European economies, which in turn would have come round and bit the Irish on the arse by damaging their economy. So all of these rules are generally beneficial in the long run. The ECB will not go out of its way to damage any European economy, and will try extremely hard to satisfy everyone, so you shouldn't be afraid of the Euro.

I'm not afraid of the Euro, i just don't think it will do any good to the country (but then i can't tell you my feelings on Europe (politically) that is).

Sorry Polo you seem to know what's going on but without being able to go indepth into certain things, i really can't debate it that well sorry.

I think the EU is attempting (and suceeding) to 'meld' europe into one power that rivals america. and good for them, i say! having only one superpower has some pretty bad results. in the EU, there is (or will be if russia isn't in it already. i don't think it is) the 3'rd and 2'nd most powerful militaries on earth. and the two most powerful currencies on earth. (the pound and the euro). the EU is a really good idea, in my opinion. just in general. whether it's because it makes trade easier, semi-unites europe, or any of the other reasons, it's just a genius idea.

ok, so there are 15 countries in the EU (yes, thank you captain obvious. captain obvious DOES have a point he's getting to however.) there were 13 countries being considered to be made candidate countries. recently, every single one of them was made a candidate country. now THAT is what i call a step in the right direction for the EU.

and i personally think the UK should change to the euro. i mean, the pound is stronger, but if you contribute england and all the canditate (i'm pretty sure they'll get accepted into the EU) countries' economies into the euro, it'd probably end up being stronger than the pound. of course, that's only the logical argument. there ARE a few (i think. someone correct me if i'm wrong)xenophobic politicians in the UK. you can't change someone's xenophobia, or at least it's damn hard

What your forgetting there is England is just ONE country in the UK, there are Three others Wales, Scotland and Northen Ireland (this has it's own struggle), each have over many years and Wales over the last 50 discovered there own nationality again and take pride in it. Why should we let another "state" swallow us and then forget that we exist.

BTW i would like to make a point here, and i will always make it, just like people being brought up for being racist, sexist, homophobic ect, i find it really offensive when people call the United Kingdom, England.

I'm all for a united Europe in terms on economy, merely to allow a decent level of competitiveness with the US dollar. From the teeny-weeny bit that I know, if we're not careful, in 100 year's time, we'll all have pictues of George Washington on our money. And a unified Europe will be able to compete.

After all, a monopoly is usually though to be a bad thing.

As for social integration though, that's just ludicrous. So many different nationalities with so many different cultures, rich in history and diversity deserve to retain their personalities.

"What your forgetting there is England is just ONE country in the UK, there are Three others Wales, Scotland and Northen Ireland (this has it's own struggle), each have over many years and Wales over the last 50 discovered there own nationality again and take pride in it. Why should we let another "state" swallow us and then forget that we exist."

see, that whole thing is the result of this stupid little tendancy i have to VERY occasionally (but often enough that it annoys me) to refer to the whole UK as england without even noticing.

The whole calling-the-UK-England thing is pretty annoying, actually. It makes people sound ignorant - particularly when they're from the UK itself.



I don't think anyone in the EU seriously thinks we should become some kind of hideous monoculture like *cough* America *cough*. Mind you, America isn't a complete monoculture, but it's pretty close. In fact, I see the EU taking serious steps to preserve local and national identities by funding programmes to revive dying languages (like Welsh, Cornish, Mannish, etc) and that whole City of Culture thing. It's not like some fascistic Belgian bureaucrat is sitting in Brussels plotting the downfall of Englishness, and we aren't going to wake up tomorrow to find that French and Polish are our only official languages, and we certainly aren't going to start wearing lederhosen as national dress. You'd be damned hard put to eradicate national and regional cultures in Europe, particularly with politicians treading on eggshells since the resurrection of the Far Right.



Sorry, insensitive of me to forget your history in MI6 like that. Keep up the good work, Mr Bond. And the winter in Moscow brings snow.

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Actually, the EU has been actively encouraging regions to seek some independence with its Committee of the Regions. The Spanish regions and German states particularly benefit, and Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland have benefitted too. I don't think there is anything really to worry about.

I have just returned from living in Greece which is now a European country.
We went from using the much loved Drachma to the Euro. Consequently ALL prices where rounded UP. This happened in ALL European countries. Do you think England (and the English people) could afford this price increase?
Border control has been lightned and this has greatly been taken advantage of. There are now not enough jobs in Greece because the Albanians are taken over (they are cheaper labour). The situation will be 100 times worse when the other nations join.
IF the english government allow a public referandom then I for one will be voting a big NO.

LOL wish it was that good

Well, rounding up is slightly inevitable - whenever you change currencies you're bound to get a certain amount of short-term inflation in prices. Don't worry, the market will sort itself out within a couple of years and prices will be at a fairly reasonable level. The EU's Eurobarometer said that all over Europe people got the impression that there had been serious price rises, but overall prices didn't actually change very much. I guess it was just a few people making a fast buck (or Euro - it really needs a slang name) that gave the whole thing a bad name. Besides, it only happened once, so I would get over it.
And Albania isn't in the EU, so relaxation of borders and stuff has nothing to do with the EU. You can only have free movement if you're an EU national (which Albanians aren't). The Albanians all fled the former Yugoslavia, or they came from Albania itself. And do you know why? Because the EU has been pumping money into Greece since the 70s and now Greece is rich! rich! rich! Europe is a good thing because it makes us all rich, even if that does mean our poor Albanian neighbours get envious.

Overall prices don`t change very much??
You should try living with the euro for a while then you would know what you are talking about.

I realise Albania is not in the EU at this moment but they are looking to join asap. If you went to Greece today you would fing that ony a small percentage of the jobs are taken up be Greeks as the Albanians (and the like) are such cheaper labour.

im prettymuch against assimilation. i think diversity is better than conforming people into your views. my line of input.

OK, MarJ, I appreciate that living under the Euro is somewhat different to reading statistics and news reports. Could you tell us just how much prices changed? From the reports I read, inflation was said to be much, much lower than public opinion would suggest. It could just be your perception of the situation, but if you did go around with a calculator or something and check the price of everything you bought, I will accept that inflation was much bigger than the EU and the media made out. I believe people were able to inform local authorities about serious prices rises, and businesses would have been fined.


And acid, I'm not sure I understand. The EU isn't some kind of hideous Borg collective assimilating everything in its path, could you elaborate on your point?

from what not all that much i read in the thread it sounded like assimilation was some kind of issue in EU. ive never known this to be the case, but regardless, i was putting my (apparently irrelevant ) info in on the subject.

Oh, I see. Thanks for your point then, but seeing as assimilation isn't really a problem, it might be considered irrelevant. You do, however, have the right to express yourself. Thanks for bothering - this seems to be becoming a one man show. Gah!

The great thing about the Euro? It allows the entire German population to make the wonderful Teuro pun EVERY SINGLE DAY.

LMAO! i dont get it...?:-|

And puns are all that matter in complex econo-political debates, right Commie?

It is when it's that witty. Or that annoying.

YOU spend ten days in Germany when every single newspaper and news channel keeps making that joke. GO ON.

I'm sorry, Commie, I hadn't realised how badly affected you were. I can give you the number of a counsellor if you want?

Do YOU want the Teuro?

alright, im getting fed up. if nobody noticed the invisible text in my last post-
WTF IS THE TEURO! I DONT GET IT!

If you can't be bothered to post in visible writing, I can't be bothered to answer your question. Go spam somewhere else.

BAH!

/me runs off laughing manically and raving about polos evilness

Teuer is German for expensive. AHAHAHAHAHAHA OH GOD SYPHILIS TAKING ITS FINAL DEVASTATING TOLL ACKKKK


And I have no opinion, not having a degree in Economics.