why has Europeans been dying for a united Europe?

Question

well the two world wars where started by germany over some way of crating a unifide europe under german rule. and when the EU finaly was formed , on the news it seemed as if europeans where littley cry about the fact that they are finaly united hum? and is europe finaly over the ethnic and nationlistic ideals that has divided it for so long? i as an american wonder if europe can realy and truly become united

Answer 1

"United in diversity" - this is united Europe's motto. Although there has been a lot of criticism lately on various aspects of EU membership, the last decades have shown that united Europe is economically stronger and with better prospects of political stability and economic development than if the Union did not exist.
There is a big difference between a Europe conquered by one single nation (the situation you are refering to) and a democratic alliance of member states, where decisions are based on democratic vote. In fact, the EU was formed with the idea and the determination that there will never again be a war on this continent over land, trade, influence or the like.
So far, this has been working as the EU allows for a free movement of capital and people - the adoption of the Euro (currently doing better than the dollar) being one of the last expressions of this unity.
Regarding the nationalistic ideals - the two biggest nationalistic controversies of the last century were the Irish and the Basque separatists' movements. Presently they are not an issue any more.
Nowadays, there are two major challenges for the EU: a) development and strengthening EU institutions and b) enlargement. Europeans need time to get over the dramatic changes enlargement brings and this explains the amount of criticism and confusion we are witnessing. But in the long run things are about to work well. So far they have.
The European idea is not only to achieve prosperity for the citizens of the EU, but a quality of life, marked by access to good education and health care for everyone, a balanced work-family life, a clean and healthy environment.

Answer 2

Wow! Excellent use of the English language - Europe shouldn't need to worry about the USA in the future. I do believe that the USA is still fighting its ethnic and nationalistic ideals. Does the average American actually know where Europe is - by the way it isn't a burger.

Answer 3

Europe is united to keep peace. Countries with same currency have never started a war against one another.

Economic unification helps businesses somewhat.

Bureaucracy is a big problem, but maybe less than most countries with close to 500 million people.

Turkey will never join, the negotiations will be terminated February latest, follow the news. The only country that wants them in is USA.

Europe will never unite culturally and be such homogeneous, monolingual, monoculture as USA. Governed by marketing and media with one truth and a president of ... brain.
God bless us for that.

Answer 4

With the current policies of the EU, common people in all of its countries seem to suffer from various problems spawned by this unity. The fledgeling economy of the Eastern European states crumbles, unable to live up to Western European standarts. It's extremely difficult for them to produce anything that their partners may want to consume. At the same time, Western Europeans experience a severe influx of immigrants from the newly included states that strip the locals of their jobs. It's obvious that they're better than immigrants from the Middle East or from Africa, but they still cripple the lives of the natives.

The EU also suffers from a flawed identity. In it's current state, it is a flimsy formation with no apparent goals in the world but to provide a very vague form of prosperity for its own citizens (most Western European countries could do that without a union). Its image epitomizes everything one hates about globalism and democracy, and is far more disgusting to behold than the aggressive democracy-imposition of the USA in this respect. Despite the high standarts of living, it seems powerless, bereft of ambitions, and at times very self-loathing. It's in opposition with everything that Europe took pride in during its better times. It seems that the true European spirit has moved to the US (even though it's pretty twisted even there, thanks to their melting pot).

Besides, I find it troubling that they should consider Turkey a more or less viable candidate for a union that is supposed to identify itself with Europe. This country is the very reason of why some Southern European countries are occasionally accused of not being fully European, and yet, it somehow dares to even think of membership in a presumably European organisation. At the same time, some absolutely European states such as Russia, the Ukraine or Belarus are treated as if they're alien to Europe just because their policies are different. The way the EU tries to subsitute the term Europe with itself is quite depressing, considering these facts.

The answer is, Europe can become united under certain circumstances (in fact, I believe there are reasons for it to form a single political body with the USA, Canada, Australia, and possibly a couple of South American states such as Argentina). But it hopefully won't happen under the flag of this sissy European Union that we have at the moment.

Answer 5

We in Europe want a strong and United Europe,of 450 millions,
Democratic,civilized,educated and peacefull
The poor countries gain stability,the reach gain markets

Answer 6

Since the European Union is already corrupt and getting more so I would give it another twenty to fifty years tops to exist. It will implode peacefully I hope but in conflict is an option

Answer 7

because they want to clobber the us economically and thats what you guys are due for since you have ruled for about 50 years now and we are all fat and bored by your culture

look at the EUROMARK compared to USD

that explains WHY

Answer 8

i can't remember...

theres no balance and no equality
it takes time..

we are too different..too much history and bad emmories..too many stereotypes..
neighburs will be neibours....
money will be money...

+ west doesnt try to anderstand eastern and souther/central europe...

Answer 9

They can get on with it , give me a united Scotland ..

Answer 10

TO FACE US ECONOMY