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28 comments on Toughness is so manly--and so effective at grabbing gas--just ask Russia
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I agree with most of what you write.
BUT, the most important goal of the EU is to stabilize Europe and to prevent wars breaking out. It stabilizes the continent that was embroiled in wars for centuries. This is the main point of having the EU - to give nations a place to discuss their differences instead of going to war. And this works. If it were not for the EU, the break-up of Yugoslavia could have lead to a larger war including many countries in the region. Many-many countries have minorities in other countries in Europe and this is a possible source of conflict.
Also at the current time, the EU is divided over many issues and there is no hope yet to make a more centralized federal government (like the USA). But this could change with time. It is utmost of importance for the USA to prevent a more centralized European state. They use the UK and other means of 'divide and conquer' strategy to slow down the integration of Europe. Why? Because Europe then could become a major international player (which currently it is not).
As for the Euro, it is considered by many a safer currency than the dollar. The US prints the dollar limitlessly and this causes its value to fall - an eventual collapse of the dollar is also possible. European nations do not have very high debts and trade deficits, even though the Euro is not backed by gold reserves either (which is a weakness).
You make good points regarding the "stabilization" function, although one wonders why the UN or a "World Court" funtion at the Hague would not work to do that for cheaper...but no war in Europe for over a half century has been a victory for all and for the people of Europe.
ON the issue of: "European nations do not have very high debts and trade deficits", I frankly do not know how anyone would know. The U.S. accepts that all European nations are running close to the "Memoranda of Understanding" of the EU members, but most of the big players have never been in compliance witht the EU "Memoranda" and have shown no real effort to get there.
When American debt is counted, we count the debt we owe ourselves in upcoming social contractual obligations (Social Security, projected Medical obligations, etc.), do the Europeans count in this way? I would have to learn more on that, real statistics are hard to find on Europe, surprisingly. If the EU proclaims a goal, most Americans simply assume this has the force of law, and they have met it. That is in no way the case in most instances.
RC
Dear RC
As a Citizen of a small sovereign state (1300 years) in Scandinavia, I can tell you that for many of the 450 million EU zitiens, the EU project is primarily a stabilisation project after the fall of the iron curtain and secondly a fair trade arrangement.
The much critizised EU "bureaucracy" is actually much smaller than the administration of a small city like Copenhagen.
The most important work, being done at the moment is the harmonisation of trade and environmental rules, making trade flow easy, without barriers.
The coming REACH chemical/environmental regulations is another example.
This part of the EU is running smoothly and is integrated in national legislation, because all involved see the use.
On the other hand a lot of countries, mine included see the EU as a loose cooperation, and we do not really want it to be a union or a state. Maybe we should have have an constitution - but not too much.
We have done our business for 1300 years- occasionly being invaded by large neighbours and we like the idea that the EU makes this impossible. And we like to keep it that way.
Similarly , most Europeans (maybe not journalists)see clearly that our security lies within NATO, for the same reason and are thankful for the support we have had from the NATO nations.
You could imagine the problems You would get in integrating North and South America in the same level of close cooperation like the EU. Just think.
And please dont embrace the EU in one.
The just published EUROBAROMETER investigation http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb/eb66/eb66_highlights_en.p... warning- large file. will show the wery different attitudes towards the EU from member states.
In terms of energy the EU has a growing import problem. But we are tackling it rationally. On all EU- and national levels this is sinking in at the moment and the plans for energy efficiency, biofuels etc published this spring is just a small image of what to come.
IMHO, the EU will in a few years be world leading in conservation, in power supply, in energy efficiency, in domestic energy use and industry, doing more with less energy, and will be eminently placed to show the rest of the world how to powerdown. Some Nuclear and some Coal and a lot of renewables will help us get along.
Kind regards And1 :-)