I have changed my mind - the EU is growing on me.

[Revolver]

After being very anti EU for all of my political life and being anti EU for the sake of it, I have recently started to take an unbiased objective look at the WU and the future potential of the Union.

I know the EU has a long way to go before it becomes totally acceptable, i am starting to believe that it can become acceptable. I know there are many examples of ridiculasness and various horror stories but i am starting to see past all that.

[Eureka]

Interesting. What do you see as the positive side of the EU?

[Revolver]

Interesting. What do you see as the positive side of the EU?

The big one is a joint and unified military. That is not a collection of nations each with their own military offering troops as part of the EU military, Just one military controlled by the EU.

[paralreg]

The big one is a joint and unified military. That is not a collection of nations each with their own military offering troops as part of the EU military, Just one military controlled by the EU.

Against what? Most of the eastern bloc's men of military age are working in the EU!
AS one who has been on multinational exercises and duty with both NATO and the UN believe me it's a recipe for utter disaster, everyone wants to be chief and no one wants to be an Indian, out of 6 or 7 every one was a catastrophe. Popped by your own air support, supplies and rations etc 100 miles away and your on foot, medics running all over because the French guy in dispatch does not or will not understand English. In the pursuit of common sense NO EU ARMY! Please>

[Revolver]

Against what? Most of the eastern bloc's men of military age are working in the EU!
AS one who has been on multinational exercises and duty with both NATO and the UN believe me it's a recipe for utter disaster, everyone wants to be chief and no one wants to be an Indian, out of 6 or 7 every one was a catastrophe. Popped by your own air support, supplies and rations etc 100 miles away and your on foot, medics running all over because the French guy in dispatch does not or will not understand English. In the pursuit of common sense NO EU ARMY! Please>

The problems you describe are because of the current many armies cooperating with each other situation. Once there is just one army i believe things will be very diffferent. Current probles arise becasue there are many different ways to do any particular task. Each nations traditions and training means that any particular task is done differently according to whatever nation it is. One army with one training scheme and no set traditions will work well.

What is the usefulness of an EU army? China and India are rising powers both with vast resources. Relations may one day turn nasty. A strong Euro army will help prevent that from happening and if things did turn nasty we would have an effective deffence.

[Patman Post]

What is the usefulness of an EU army? China and India are rising powers both with vast resources. Relations may one day turn nasty. A strong Euro army will help prevent that from happening and if things did turn nasty we would have an effective deffence.

EU = 350 million people
India = 1.1 billion
China = 1.3 billion

The "rising powers" of China and India won't worry about the gnat bite the EU can give. And if push comes to shove, why should the US (always Europe's saviour) kiss off its now more important trading partners to help a rag bag of old world nations?

There's brighter ways of handling international relations than relying on old-fashioned military deterrents.

[Britannist]

EU = 350 million people
India = 1.1 billion
China = 1.3 billion

The "rising powers" of China and India won't worry about the gnat bite the EU can give.

The EU has already admitted that its share of world trade is declining and that it will continue to do so.

The EU is a decrepit old horse-and-cart on the world stage and the UK should get out of it as soon as possible.

The richest nations in europe are not in the EU.

[Britannist]

I know the EU has a long way to go before it becomes totally acceptable, i am starting to believe that it can become acceptable.

You're kidding?

The EU will never be accepted. It is a power-hungry authoritian bureaucracy in decline.

The British taxpayer is forced to pay at least twice as much to the EU as we get back. The UK has built up a gigantic trade deficit with EU nations since were forced into the EEC/EU without a referendum first and EU Directives and regulations are damaging UK economic competitiveness.

The EU is going to collapse - just like other artificially-constructed nation mergers and international organisations have done: the League of Nations, Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and United Arab Republic being examples.

The sooner we are out of the EU the better.

[SDP]

After being very anti EU for all of my political life and being anti EU for the sake of it, I have recently started to take an unbiased objective look at the WU and the future potential of the Union.

I know the EU has a long way to go before it becomes totally acceptable, i am starting to believe that it can become acceptable. I know there are many examples of ridiculasness and various horror stories but i am starting to see past all that.

Revolver

Are you serious?

The European Union has just precipitated a world economic crisis. The doomed Euro currency is dragging Britain into a economic quagmire. The Greek economy has collapsed. The Irish economy has collapsed. Portugal and Spain are teetering on the brink. Italy is also getting near to the edge.

So suddenly you have converted to the EU cause.

You have seen the light like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus?

[TashkentFox]

The concept of a united Europe might have worked if led by Sir Oswald Mosley instead of German and French bankers, but now the British people would never accept it under any circunstances.