Is the EU going to work in the long term when most of the member countries have so much historical baggage?

Answer 1

Two of the few things that made EU was geography (all countries are in Europe) and its historical baggage. All countries in Europe are linked with each other, either because they had wars on the past, or treaties, or alliances, etc.
The beauty of EU and Europe is the fact that it's a huge group of countries that are tied together by history and geography, and these roots are deep and ancient.
EU is blamed for a lot of things, but this is result of prejudice, false propaganda that our politicians make to cover their mistakes. Don't forget that a lot of countries in Europe (eg Spain) profited a lot with EU and its financial help. EU is creating laws that are approved by all members states, which creates better working conditions, minimum wage, 20 days holiday, etc, etc, etc What is happening is the creation of homogenised laws in all member states, in order to be able to function properly. But these doesn't mean that the countries will loose their individuality, or culture, or historical baggage. Quite the contrary, Europe values history and learns from it.
Unfortunately, a lot of countries are afraid of all the changes that will come with EU, and do not realise that this is the only way that Europe can survive. Europe can be strong and be a world power, together with USA, China, Japan.
These days a lot of people blame EU and its laws but they know very little of it and its real intentions, because of all the propaganda spread by our politicians, media, etc.
If you look to USA, you will see a big powerful country, and this only happened because this country is a federation of independent countries (States). It has its differences from North to South, East to West, but each state still preserves its historical and cultural baggage.
The next step that EU needs to take is to approve the Constitution and then become a federation of states. In this way we will secure (even more) the historical baggage.
This is my personal point of view, I come from a EU member state (Portugal), that has grown a lot ever since it joined EU and preserves its cultural, historical baggage and its individualities that made that country one of the most powerful countries during the XV and XVI centuries.
This is a theme that can provide food for thought.
And now to conclude my long, long speech EEC was created in 1957, which was the foundantions of today's EU (formed in 1992), during this time, do you think any country in EU lost its historical baggage? I don't.

EDIT: The polish are coming to UK, because the British government (together with Sweden and another country that I can't remember) allowed Polish people to come freely to UK. This measure was not made by EU, it was a decision made entirely by British government. What EU wants at the moment is to go to East Europe, because it is much more beneficial in an economic point of view. And the last thing they want to happen is to have Polish people leaving Poland, because they need someone to work in their factories, and companies, etc. And the rich countries, opposite to what you wrote, benefit a lot with other poor countries. Why do you think our clothes are made in India, Pakistan, and our toys, computers are made in China? Because it is cheaper than having the factories in UK, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, etc. Yes, salaries in Poland are very low, and that is the reason why they are coming to UK, and that is the reason why the factories are closing on this side of Europe and opening on East Europe.

I know I am going to receive a lot of thumbs down, but those that will do that are those that are not properly informed about EU and its intentions and are blinded by this false propaganda spread in UK. EU at the moment is one of the strongest economical groups in the world, and that is thanks to this union and to achieve this we all have to make sacrifices, we can't have the goods things without the bad ones as well.

Answer 2

I think so, the point is are historical baggage is shared historical baggage, it was the fear of war in Europe that led to the develpment of the EU. We can all ramble on about square bananas' and all that euro skeptical nonsense but the EU is making a difference to peoples lives. The social chapter of the treaty of Maastrict for example giving workers real rights. Or I can get a job, buy property, get health care or live in any of the member states. I think really its strengh is it's a economic relationship I think a war would test its resolve though.

Answer 3

The EU worked better before when all the members were rich countries and had languages which are useful like French, Spanish and German. However today we have let into the EU countries who shouldn't be allowed in, like all these poor countries like Poland and the Czech Republic who have different inflation rates to us, they have a language that we didn't learn at school and they are benefiting from our system because they can come to rich countries learn important languages like English and earn 4-5 times more than what they would earn in their own country.
The whole purposes of uniting Europe is to prevent wars happening and to integrate Europe more, but it is having the opposite effect as some countries benefit from the EU and others don't. I never had any negative thoughts about Polish people until they came to our country and exploited it in such large numbers. Britain has never been at war with Poland as far as I know, but opening our doors to over 2 million Eastern Europeans in the last two years is making me not like them, as I see how they benefit from our country and we don't benefit from theirs at all.
So having historical baggage is not the issue, the issue is what is happening now. I don't mind the French, Germans, Spanish and Scandinavians being in Britain because we can benefit from their rich countries and learn their useful languages, and they can do with us, it is reciprocated in other words. The Eastern Europeans countries who are not a fret to us in any case, so they should not be allowed to of joined the EU, we owe them nothing so why are we giving them so much as a nation and not looking after our own? So no I don't think the EU will work in the long term, it is already causing problems and they are going to get bigger unless this situation with Eastern Europeans being allowed to work in managerial jobs in the richer countries, in such large numbers continues.

Answer 4

Well its been a great success so far. No wars amongst member states and a general improvement in the economic condition of many members. UK, Ireland, Spain, Greece have all prospered significantly in economic terms since joining the EU. So has Iceland, which, although not in the EU, accepts all trade, economic and social regulations implemented by the EU.

Answer 5

i think that the beauty of inter state cooperation, working around your difference.in most cases you cant work through it you work inspite of it.the E.u as a study in interstate cooprtn has been and will continue being a success in the near future.as with any joint venture there are bound to be setbacks but history is learning about the past in other to understand the present and predict the future.they can use their "historical baggage"to the advantage.

Answer 6

I think it's necessary to remember that the Common Market was created for a safe and secure trading environment, not a political free-for-all. In that regard, it has worked well. Unfortunately, once politicians see a gravy train, they jump on board very quickly, so we what we have now is the road to a Federal State. Fortunately, even France rejected the Constitution, thus saving Blair's face on that one. In my view, it is now too large and if Turkey, heaven forbid, is ever admitted, I sense a certain degree of fallout.

Answer 7

If it doesn't then there are gonna be some hurting economies over there.But it will work because big business in the US Europe and Asia want it to work.

Answer 8

the e.u. would have worked had it not wanted to dominate everybodies life through the laws. we are actualy forced into it against our will and they wont give us a vote.you see what happens when politicians egnore the cry of the people, everything goes wrong. it will collapse.

Answer 9

the EU is a JOKE!!!