VIENNA -- Ten EU foreign ministers, including Austrian FM Michael Spindelegger, are planning on turning the EU into a federal state modeled after the U.S.
Ministers want to “transform EU into federal state”
VIENNA -- Ten EU foreign ministers, including Austrian FM Michael Spindelegger, are planning on turning the EU into a federal state modeled after the U.S.
Source: Tanjug
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The group was initiated by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
Foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Span have been holding regular meetings since the beginning of the year. They submitted their proposal to European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Central Bank Head Mario Draghi and Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday.
The EC president should have a more important role, similar to the role of a prime minister. The EC president would be elected in a direct vote and would be able to form their own team, Die Presse has reported, adding that the EC president would become the most influential politician in Europe since they would be responsible for new laws and their implementation.
The daily writes that completely new democratic structures are envisaged by the draft agreement. The EU should become a federal state modeled after the U.S., with a two-house parliamentary system and a president that would be elected in a direct vote.
According to Die Presse, the system would create democracy in the EU.
The foreign ministers stressed in the draft document that the EU was in need of new democratic structures due to the economic crisis and tendencies to make the monetary union irreversible.
They also advocate joint European protection of borders and support the joint foreign and security policy that could even include forming of an EU army.
The ten ministers also advocate a direct control of national budgets, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently requested with her fiscal union initiative.
According to the daily, they also want national parliaments to be more involved in the decision-making process in the EU.
Oh that is silly Leonidas. Instead of say, Greek kids learning a second language in school, say English, you are saying the solution will be to outlaw the Greek language. Wait a minute, Greek kids are already learning a second language at school aren't they? I hope they are, every country teaches a second language to their youth at school, usually English, sometimes French. So there is an easier, perfectly normal solution to the communication problem, which has been in place for years, you yourself are a witness of that writing English here, yet you are imagining another one that involves who knows what. Very amusing. Invent stuff and fight against the stuff you invent. Like Don Quixote.
(Reader, 21 June 2012 14:32)
@Leonidas, what uniqueness are you talking about? What disappearing of culture? Would you care to give some examples of what will disappear instead of talking in general terms about this abstract 'culture'? Concrete examples, like "feta cheese will disappear" or "the greek language will disappear" What will concretely happen?
(Reader, 21 June 2012 01:47)
The first thing that will disappear in a federal state will be the languages of member states.Without a common language there can be no labour mobility.Secondly,a federal state cannot be envisaged without a common nationality for ll the citizens of the new entity.Therefore all national characteristics of member states at present will disappear.
A federal state is the last throw of the dice for the Germans.It won't work.Peoples National Characters are completly different, a Greek person thinks differently from an Austrian, A Finn Won't agree with a Frenchman and an Irishman won't work with a German.
(Leonidas, 21 June 2012 12:39)
I like this. The US is a model to follow. This crisis showed how things half done are not good. This should proceed like any other EU project, Schengen, Euro, etc. Those countries that express the will to be a part of it (as in voting in the parliament), can be a part of it. Those that don't can stay out of it. For example, Greece and Cyprus do not appear in the list of ministers, so I guess Leonidas has nothing to worry about. And if in the future the majority of Greeks vote for this, as they recently voted to stay in the Euro, who can say no to the will of the people? Greeks invented these rules after all
The US is more than 200 years old. They had the same situation at the beginning. The federal government had very little power, then slowly the states transferred powers to the federal government. They had divisions too, even completely different economic models between north and south that led to a civil war. Europe is not in that state, it is more advantaged, plus it has seen wars already, two big ones and a bunch of smaller ones. One should not forget that it took 200 years to the US however, so this is not going to happen tomorrow or next year
@Leonidas, what uniqueness are you talking about? What disappearing of culture? Would you care to give some examples of what will disappear instead of talking in general terms about this abstract 'culture'? Concrete examples, like "feta cheese will disappear" or "the greek language will disappear" What will concretely happen?
(Reader, 21 June 2012 01:47)
To force together different sovereign nations was, and is, a dangerous mistake.Such a union,in the present economic crisis afflting the EU, will be a constant malaise between the electorates of the creditor countries and the debtor ones.Democracy is something people fight and die for not something to be given up because the Euro elites so decide.
(Leonidas, 20 June 2012 15:27)
Euro elites are literally playing with fire.Once people get angry with all their dirty tricks I can gurantee Dohány street will be in flames.And these are not the kind of flames you can see in Gate 7 before an Olympiakos-Panathinaikos match.
(szemi, 20 June 2012 18:53)
And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
Who ever thought that when Sinatra sang this song, he was singing about the EU? RIP, EU, you had it coming.
(Ecoman, 20 June 2012 18:52)
Ten EU foreign ministers, including Austrian FM Michael Spindelegger, are planning on turning the EU into a federal state modeled after the U.S.
B92
Really? What has Europe got in common with the US, language, culture, history or all the other elements that go with it?Why would any country want to give up it's own uniqueness and ideals to forge a massive entity in which it's own cultural influence will be greatly reduced if not dissappeared?
To force together different sovereign nations was, and is, a dangerous mistake.Such a union,in the present economic crisis afflting the EU, will be a constant malaise between the electorates of the creditor countries and the debtor ones.Democracy is something people fight and die for not something to be given up because the Euro elites so decide.
(Leonidas, 20 June 2012 15:27)
Ten EU foreign ministers, including Austrian FM Michael Spindelegger, are planning on turning the EU into a federal state modeled after the U.S.
B92
Really? What has Europe got in common with the US, language, culture, history or all the other elements that go with it?Why would any country want to give up it's own uniqueness and ideals to forge a massive entity in which it's own cultural influence will be greatly reduced if not dissappeared?
To force together different sovereign nations was, and is, a dangerous mistake.Such a union,in the present economic crisis afflting the EU, will be a constant malaise between the electorates of the creditor countries and the debtor ones.Democracy is something people fight and die for not something to be given up because the Euro elites so decide.
(Leonidas, 20 June 2012 15:27)
And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
Who ever thought that when Sinatra sang this song, he was singing about the EU? RIP, EU, you had it coming.
(Ecoman, 20 June 2012 18:52)
To force together different sovereign nations was, and is, a dangerous mistake.Such a union,in the present economic crisis afflting the EU, will be a constant malaise between the electorates of the creditor countries and the debtor ones.Democracy is something people fight and die for not something to be given up because the Euro elites so decide.
(Leonidas, 20 June 2012 15:27)
Euro elites are literally playing with fire.Once people get angry with all their dirty tricks I can gurantee Dohány street will be in flames.And these are not the kind of flames you can see in Gate 7 before an Olympiakos-Panathinaikos match.
(szemi, 20 June 2012 18:53)
@Leonidas, what uniqueness are you talking about? What disappearing of culture? Would you care to give some examples of what will disappear instead of talking in general terms about this abstract 'culture'? Concrete examples, like "feta cheese will disappear" or "the greek language will disappear" What will concretely happen?
(Reader, 21 June 2012 01:47)
The first thing that will disappear in a federal state will be the languages of member states.Without a common language there can be no labour mobility.Secondly,a federal state cannot be envisaged without a common nationality for ll the citizens of the new entity.Therefore all national characteristics of member states at present will disappear.
A federal state is the last throw of the dice for the Germans.It won't work.Peoples National Characters are completly different, a Greek person thinks differently from an Austrian, A Finn Won't agree with a Frenchman and an Irishman won't work with a German.
(Leonidas, 21 June 2012 12:39)
I like this. The US is a model to follow. This crisis showed how things half done are not good. This should proceed like any other EU project, Schengen, Euro, etc. Those countries that express the will to be a part of it (as in voting in the parliament), can be a part of it. Those that don't can stay out of it. For example, Greece and Cyprus do not appear in the list of ministers, so I guess Leonidas has nothing to worry about. And if in the future the majority of Greeks vote for this, as they recently voted to stay in the Euro, who can say no to the will of the people? Greeks invented these rules after all
The US is more than 200 years old. They had the same situation at the beginning. The federal government had very little power, then slowly the states transferred powers to the federal government. They had divisions too, even completely different economic models between north and south that led to a civil war. Europe is not in that state, it is more advantaged, plus it has seen wars already, two big ones and a bunch of smaller ones. One should not forget that it took 200 years to the US however, so this is not going to happen tomorrow or next year
@Leonidas, what uniqueness are you talking about? What disappearing of culture? Would you care to give some examples of what will disappear instead of talking in general terms about this abstract 'culture'? Concrete examples, like "feta cheese will disappear" or "the greek language will disappear" What will concretely happen?
(Reader, 21 June 2012 01:47)
Oh that is silly Leonidas. Instead of say, Greek kids learning a second language in school, say English, you are saying the solution will be to outlaw the Greek language. Wait a minute, Greek kids are already learning a second language at school aren't they? I hope they are, every country teaches a second language to their youth at school, usually English, sometimes French. So there is an easier, perfectly normal solution to the communication problem, which has been in place for years, you yourself are a witness of that writing English here, yet you are imagining another one that involves who knows what. Very amusing. Invent stuff and fight against the stuff you invent. Like Don Quixote.
(Reader, 21 June 2012 14:32)
Ten EU foreign ministers, including Austrian FM Michael Spindelegger, are planning on turning the EU into a federal state modeled after the U.S.
B92
Really? What has Europe got in common with the US, language, culture, history or all the other elements that go with it?Why would any country want to give up it's own uniqueness and ideals to forge a massive entity in which it's own cultural influence will be greatly reduced if not dissappeared?
To force together different sovereign nations was, and is, a dangerous mistake.Such a union,in the present economic crisis afflting the EU, will be a constant malaise between the electorates of the creditor countries and the debtor ones.Democracy is something people fight and die for not something to be given up because the Euro elites so decide.
(Leonidas, 20 June 2012 15:27)
I like this. The US is a model to follow. This crisis showed how things half done are not good. This should proceed like any other EU project, Schengen, Euro, etc. Those countries that express the will to be a part of it (as in voting in the parliament), can be a part of it. Those that don't can stay out of it. For example, Greece and Cyprus do not appear in the list of ministers, so I guess Leonidas has nothing to worry about. And if in the future the majority of Greeks vote for this, as they recently voted to stay in the Euro, who can say no to the will of the people? Greeks invented these rules after all
The US is more than 200 years old. They had the same situation at the beginning. The federal government had very little power, then slowly the states transferred powers to the federal government. They had divisions too, even completely different economic models between north and south that led to a civil war. Europe is not in that state, it is more advantaged, plus it has seen wars already, two big ones and a bunch of smaller ones. One should not forget that it took 200 years to the US however, so this is not going to happen tomorrow or next year
@Leonidas, what uniqueness are you talking about? What disappearing of culture? Would you care to give some examples of what will disappear instead of talking in general terms about this abstract 'culture'? Concrete examples, like "feta cheese will disappear" or "the greek language will disappear" What will concretely happen?
(Reader, 21 June 2012 01:47)
To force together different sovereign nations was, and is, a dangerous mistake.Such a union,in the present economic crisis afflting the EU, will be a constant malaise between the electorates of the creditor countries and the debtor ones.Democracy is something people fight and die for not something to be given up because the Euro elites so decide.
(Leonidas, 20 June 2012 15:27)
Euro elites are literally playing with fire.Once people get angry with all their dirty tricks I can gurantee Dohány street will be in flames.And these are not the kind of flames you can see in Gate 7 before an Olympiakos-Panathinaikos match.
(szemi, 20 June 2012 18:53)
And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
Who ever thought that when Sinatra sang this song, he was singing about the EU? RIP, EU, you had it coming.
(Ecoman, 20 June 2012 18:52)
Oh that is silly Leonidas. Instead of say, Greek kids learning a second language in school, say English, you are saying the solution will be to outlaw the Greek language. Wait a minute, Greek kids are already learning a second language at school aren't they? I hope they are, every country teaches a second language to their youth at school, usually English, sometimes French. So there is an easier, perfectly normal solution to the communication problem, which has been in place for years, you yourself are a witness of that writing English here, yet you are imagining another one that involves who knows what. Very amusing. Invent stuff and fight against the stuff you invent. Like Don Quixote.
(Reader, 21 June 2012 14:32)
@Leonidas, what uniqueness are you talking about? What disappearing of culture? Would you care to give some examples of what will disappear instead of talking in general terms about this abstract 'culture'? Concrete examples, like "feta cheese will disappear" or "the greek language will disappear" What will concretely happen?
(Reader, 21 June 2012 01:47)
The first thing that will disappear in a federal state will be the languages of member states.Without a common language there can be no labour mobility.Secondly,a federal state cannot be envisaged without a common nationality for ll the citizens of the new entity.Therefore all national characteristics of member states at present will disappear.
A federal state is the last throw of the dice for the Germans.It won't work.Peoples National Characters are completly different, a Greek person thinks differently from an Austrian, A Finn Won't agree with a Frenchman and an Irishman won't work with a German.
(Leonidas, 21 June 2012 12:39)