Will there ever be a United States of Europe?

Question

The European Union currently has 27 member states. 13 of the member states have the Euro single currency. These numbers for participating countries are steadily increasing. It is hoped that eventually all European countries will be members of the EU and will use the Euro single currency.

The population of the EU is 495 million. This is third only to China and India, and compares to 301 million for the USA. The EU has the same size economy as USA ($12,900 billion) with China coming in third with $10,000 bn.

So will the future of the European Union be a single country spanning a continent called the United States of Europe? Is such an outcome desirable for Europeans and/or the world? Will Europe become the next superpower to rival the USA?

Answer 1

Why would they want to change the name of their union to "United States of Europe"? European Union is just fine, they don't need to copy the US name.
The EU is currently much like the very early US was -- a confederation of independent states. In the US, the federal government -- considerably weaker in early US history -- has taken on more and more power over the states, and today is the primary source of government, with the states themselves much weaker than they used to be. In some ways that's good (for "common defense," national economic policy, etc.) and in some ways that's bad...
Hopefully the EU will learn from the history of the US, and keep the good parts of a large union of independent states, while avoiding the bad parts.

Answer 2

The European Union was formed and exists primarily to allow the small countries in Europe to be competitive against America and the Far East. The countries are still unique and will probably remain so for a long time. Their customs and languages etc. will be much harder to change. They also band together for security, albeit loosely. No I don't see a United States of Europe. They are lucky to have what they do in the EU.

Answer 3

Impossible! The complexity of European culture and history needs to be considered. Economy may bind countries together as a union as EU, but not as a country as the U.S.

Answer 4

Could happen. The plan is for a 1 World 1 Government

Answer 5

It took a great deal for these countries in terms of political will and leadership to get together to form the EU (previously EEC). It is a economical union, but not a politically one. 13 of them (only 13) may have one currency but they will never become one country. They have different languages, different cultures and different political systems. I think if any leader in any of the countries agrees to give up their own soveriegnity , he will be committing political sucide - his own cititzens will raise up in arms to give up their citizenship and become a member of the "USE". In other words, it is a non-starter... Don't you think so?

Answer 6

No EU is not a real union. Its more like people that have to live together.

Answer 7

No it would be impossible. Thousands of years of mutual antipathy and bloody conflict means that it would be unaccpetable to the germans for a frechman to command german troops, unacceptable to the spanish to have an italian deciding on their forgien policy. Just won't happen

Answer 8

It's possible after hundreds of years. If the economicial intedependance of the Eruo can cause the meber states to overlook thier need for autonomy and sovernigty. wouldn't count on it ,though.

Answer 9

No its isnt possible and I want Nationalism in Europe.

Answer 10

no the french complain too much the russians are too poor, the brits to stuck up and the irish are to drunk, and the other low grades would become nothing more than welfare checks waiting to happen

one giant cluster **** of bastard nations, too bad they werent more like austrila