EUROPE UNITING AT LIGHTNING SPEED

They'd have to. Each of them has the economy of a US state and militarily none of them are much of an issue. Many would say that united they aren't much of an issue.

Either way, I dunno why there'd be much reason to fear them. Why would you consider them to be a threat? You say a lot about who they are, but not a lot makes me cower in fear.

What is the point of this article Marvin? I am no self professed expert on tone and expression, but i would almost try to suggest you are saying this is a bad thing?

BAM!!!

Also worth noting that the EU finally agreed upon a constitution at the end of last month. Another important step as it defines the rights of all these 450 million people, as well as the clear divide between centralisied EU authority and localised National authority. Admittedly this constitution now needs to be ratified across the entire union, which will take time, effort and lots of education to informat EU citizens of what it all means.

To clarify the key points for those who don't know.

- National governments are supreme in all areas except for those that they have given the EU authority over. It is a union of Nations not states.
- EU has a parliament and president voted for by the populations and an executive body appointed by the president (granting posts to a nominee from each member state).
- Top EU decisions are made by the leaders of the Nation states based on a double majority of nations and population. Some areas are considered national topics and nation states retain vetos against any EU decision. This includes taxation and defense.
- The EU does NOT have an army, though there is a desire among some countries to form one, which the US opposses.
- Politically the EU ONLY speaks as a single entity on topics ALL nations agree on.
- The EU is primarily an economic and legal union.

Paul.

EU has a parliament and president voted for

So the presidency isn't gonna be a rotating seat anymore? I was under the impression they were gonna leave it that way so the more populous nations could have a regular shot at it.

- The EU is primarily an economic and legal union.

Not for long, if the EU-politicians have their way. Wish it was, though.

So the presidency isn't gonna be a rotating seat anymore?

The rotating bit is still there. But it's the position of chairman for the EU, the president is chosen by the leaders of the nations, the chosen representatives have no say in that; truly democratic isn't it?

Bakerstreet - Maybe a post was deleted in between yours and the original post but...

I dont think Marvin is saying that the EU is a 'threat' to the US in a military sense, although quite obviously if required it could be. However, I can only assume that the worlds largest single market and over a fifth of the worlds trade is definitely something the US markets should at least be concerned with.

Here is an interesting site for any Americans wanting to find out more about the EU. www.eurunion.org though some parts are a little out of date now. This site is also good reading: europa.eu.int.

Well... I am from Europe (germany, to be precise) and I can assure you that from the 'inside', pretty much nothing is developing with light speed.
The unification process of europe is pretty much limited to the economical sector, everything else is pretty much like it always was: Still a bunch of nations with differing politics who often can't stand each other. On the political scene, the EU doesn't have to much influence on it's member states. The EU parliament is, here in germany, mostly viewed as a place to sent obsolete politicans to to get rid of them. We are lightyears away from becoming anything like a political united europe. Plus, the changes you mentioned... have been discussed for several years before they were implemented... so no lightspeed here

Bakerstreet,
I need to clarify a bit more here. The old system had the EU presidency, which was the presidency of the council of ministers, being controlled by individual countries. They rotated this presidency around between countries every six months. The presidency had three primary tasks, presiding over meetings of the council and its working groups, representing the council in other EU bodies such as the commission and parliament, and representing the EU abroard.

So how does all this work?

Well the parliament legislates (usually using the codecision procedure with the comission), excercises democratic supervision, and is responsible for the budget. The council (made up of the heads of state, foreign ministers and the head of the commission) dictates the strategic direction of the EU, and agrees legislation. The comission runs the EU, submitting legislation, implementing decisions of parliament and council. It is run by the head of the commission.

What's changing?
Well more of the commission's work and power is being transferred to parliament (as the democratically elected body) and the presidency will be a fixed appointment for 3 years, no longer a rotating one.

So where does Prodi fit in?
Prodi is the head of the commission. He runs the commission implementing the decisions the council and parliament have made.


Hope this clears it up a bit.

The EU president will therefore no longer be rotational.

Paul.

Awake98,
there is little risk of the EU becomming a political union. This is not what most member states want. Yes Germany and France would like closer union, but the structure is now in place for them to achieve closer unity between themselves without forcing the entire EU together. In particular they will initiate an EU defense force, and start harmonising some of their taxation and pension laws. This is something most other countries do not want for themselves though, and will never have to. The current system guarentees that any further political unitity must be approced by ALL 25 countries.

Paul.

Paul,

there is little risk of the EU becomming a political union

OK, maybe that took it a few steps too far. I'd say though that the efforts towards a common foreign policy or a common defence force point to more than just an economic union And if all the legal stuff is decided in Brussels (which it already largely is) there won't be much difference from a full political union. Except that you don't get to vote for your favorite representatives if they happen to be from a different country, which I've always found a bit silly.

Awake98,
you'll be very pleased to note then that the new constitution clearly indicates that foreign policy is a national issue and that the EU can only speak on foreign issues when ALL 25 member nations agree on the policy. What will happen is that on issues where the EU does agree (such as the roadmap to peace for the middle east) the EU will be able to act as a single unit, agreeing economic actions and aid packages, or sanctions, or possibly even a peace keeping mission (assuming there was an EU army). On other issues such as Iraq, the EU will say nothing as not all member nations agree.

A future EU army would only be based or have authority in those countries that contributed to it. It would be paid for by those contributing countries, and do duties as dictated by those countries. They would release the force to EU missions as they saw fit. France and GErmany want such a rapid reaction force so that the EU could intervene in conflict areas such as the Balkans. They see it as unacceptable that Europe had to request the US to shoulder the lions share of the burden. Europe should be able to take responsibility for it's own security and policing. To do that they believe Europe needs to intergrate it's forces and provide a cohesive joint force, not 25 individual forces. many other EU countries don't agree.

Paul.

With this new german pope at the vatican, i imagine europe will be uniting at a much swifter rate now. The Germans have always been very nationalistic and the new pope is a true facist. I would guess this pope will be very involved with the EU in the coming years.