EU Constitution

[Neko]

If you're a foreigner you'll just have to pretend, distasteful though it may be, that you're an EU citizen (or subject, depending on the text you're reading), and reply accordingly. They're ranting on about it over here, and I'm quite interested to see waht other people think.

[infinite chaos]

Ah, the big "E...."

there's a lot good about the European coalition but also a lot of bad. I think the Common Agricultural Policy is a complete waste of money but then I'm not Spanish or Greek or French even - they benefit most from it.

The idea of a "United States of Europe" is a worthwhile economic idea but it won't work in the same way that the US economy does - language is the biggest barrier followed by the cultural one. Economically, giving up National Veto or Rights on finance and budgetary controls is dangerous and I think will lead to disaster. However the flexibility of labour is important to make the economy of Europe work.

In other areas - Borders... theres's a long way to go yet. However in terms of tying Europe together and embracing the old Soviet Bloc countries and re-generating them there's much good that can be achieved.

[Neko]

The clause that really stood out to my mind was the one that said that European defence will be carried out within NATO. I don't know how the Englihs puts it, the French text uses dans le cadre de, and it seems pretty wateright.

When I first heard about this my reaction was something along the lines of "Yeah, and why don't we just go the whole hog and make Ronald McDonald defence minister?" But actually, the more I think abou it the more sensible this seems. Not only does it have the benefit of allowing Blair to prove to Bush that he still loves him, it means that as far as war is concerned the EU is basically "excused games" (given the European track record with NATO)- an entirely good thing since in the new world order it seems that wars which cover their participants in glory will be a very rare occurrence indeed, and really, who wants to get involved?

Of course, everyone knows that the Constitution is a crappy text, but they're going to vote for it anyway because the whole thing's gained momentum now. As with all European initiatives, the constituants are apparently frantically hoping that no one will hate it quite enough to do it in.

[thescotster19]

It has been a disaster.

Blair is right, we need better leadership in Europe. People must be persuaded (especially Brits) that the Centralisation of European Government is a good thing. We have a great opportunity ahead of us to achieve great things as a United Europe, in that we can pool our resources to take on huge projects. We musn't allow ourselves to dissolve into seperate entities, becoming too centred on the petty issues that seem so important to inward looking, non progressive governments.

The sooner Chirac and Schroeder are displaced the better, they are fossils with overly large egos.

[ALASKA]

i am strongly oppose to the conctituition at themoment i believe it to be curupt how can it work with all the leaders argueing all the time and i am proud if the way my country the uk is doing

i also disagree with teh common agriculture policy how dare the french say we are enmoral to keep it with them taking 40% of the eu budget i wouldnt mind if they look at the entire budget there is urgent need for change in all areas including law which is too weak and helps criminal more then i halps teh victem its all wrong