Is it time for Europe to unite?

[Latvijas Otra Republika]

No, Not gonna bend myself over to foreign bureaucracy. You’d have to line me up against a wall for me to stay silent.

[Ifreann]

No, Not gonna bend myself over to foreign bureaucracy. You’d have to line me up against a wall for me to stay silent.

You're already subject to various foreign bureaucracies, even if you don't live in the EU.

[Sundiata]

Yes, but it's even more important that the world should unite.

[Latvijas Otra Republika]

No, Not gonna bend myself over to foreign bureaucracy. You’d have to line me up against a wall for me to stay silent.

You're already subject to various foreign bureaucracies, even if you don't live in the EU.

Yes but at least I’ve got the delusion of at least living by my flag. Hope for a better country, independent and free.

[Kargintina the Third]

Yes, but it's even more important that the world should unite.

Meanwhile, in reality...

[Ifreann]

You're already subject to various foreign bureaucracies, even if you don't live in the EU.

Yes but at least I’ve got the delusion of at least living by my flag. Hope for a better country, independent and free.

Why can't a united Europe be better, independent, and free?

[Shanghai industrial complex]

"As long as the Germans are paying for it yes Europe should unite."
Some Greek Government Official.

So why is Greece so dissatisfied with Germany?They should have gone to oppose the Turks and the governor of Venice.

[Vivolkha]

I'm kind of neutral on the issue of European federalism as a whole, though I would support more integration. I think that the main problem in the European Union is that decisions are taken extremely slowly between states that often have different priorities, and also there is no consequence for blatantly breaking the EU's own rules (case in point, Hungary and Poland; also Turkey, Serbia and Montenegro being candidates, seriously?).

I see no easy solution to all of this, but the possibility of ejecting Hungary from the EU should be seriously considered (and, as far as I know, there is no mechanism to kick out a straight out dictatorship from the EU). And all mechanisms that ensure compliance with EU law should be strengthened immediately. Perhaps the issue is that the EU, just like the UN, lacks enforcement powers - transfering the highest levels of the judiciary to the EU would solve this problem, but good luck convincing even one state that this is the way to go.

On the issue of coronavirus recovery fund talks, I actually support the northern states here. Countries like Spain have horribly mismanaged the pandemic through gross incompetence and now they go to Europe to beg for money. Pathetic. The day this country gets a decent government I'll be dead in exile, sheesh.

[The Islands of Versilia]

A part of me says it should, another says it shouldn’t. I fear a federated Europe would be detrimental to the preservation and independence of Europe’s multitude of cultures and peoples. The status and power of states like Germany and France have over the EU in its current form makes me fearful for them being favoured over, say, the Silesians, the Bretons, and so on. Only if every native culture was treated equally and properly, then yes.

Ideally, Europe should unite into a single monarchic polity not unlike a kind of reborn HRE (but not German-dominated). Crowns and thrones should be revived in order to cement ourselves strongly in our collective European heritage.

I would not be against the UK joining if a united Europe was to my liking. If nothing else it would further break Washington’s hold on global hegemony.

A united Europe needs to have a Palmerstonesque leadership, however. Russia and China aren’t threatened by fancy letters, there needs to be real fear of European retaliation against them for any transgression.

[Geneviev]

I'll let Comedians for Worldpeace answer this.

More seriously, yes, Europe should unite. America can become a real danger otherwise, as Trump can't recognize who his allies are.

[Araru]

Yes, i think it's time for an European Federal or a Confederation, i don't see why it's stupid or a bad idea. In 1945, France and Germany have a unquenchable hatred of each other, Europe have changed that.

[Vivolkha]

Also, if Europe finally unites, I surely won't be there to see it. It is definitely not happening in the short- to mid-term.

More seriously, yes, Europe should unite. America can become a real danger otherwise, as Trump can't recognize who his allies are.

Luckily, Trump won't be on power forever.

[Socialist States of Ludistan]

That would be like North and South America uniting into one country.

It’s stupid, I’m happy with the living standards in my nation, and I don’t want them to get worse because other more corrupt nations get mixed with mine.

[Geneviev]

More seriously, yes, Europe should unite. America can become a real danger otherwise, as Trump can't recognize who his allies are.

Luckily, Trump won't be on power forever.

I wouldn't depend on that.

[Vivolkha]

A part of me says it should, another says it shouldn’t. I fear a federated Europe would be detrimental to the preservation and independence of Europe’s multitude of cultures and peoples. The status and power of states like Germany and France have over the EU in its current form makes me fearful for them being favoured over, say, the Silesians, the Bretons, and so on. Only if every native culture was treated equally and properly, then yes.

The different European cultures should definitely be protected, yes. But I actually fear more the enormous economic asymmetry, Germany already accounts for over a fifth of the EU's entire economy.

Ideally, Europe should unite into a single monarchic polity.

(emphasis mine) Hell no.

It’s stupid, I’m happy with the living standards in my nation, and I don’t want them to get worse because other more corrupt nations get mixed with mine.

An intergated EU would have much more power (and hopefully political will) to combat corruption that countries like say Romania have today.

[Ifreann]

A part of me says it should, another says it shouldn’t. I fear a federated Europe would be detrimental to the preservation and independence of Europe’s multitude of cultures and peoples. The status and power of states like Germany and France have over the EU in its current form makes me fearful for them being favoured over, say, the Silesians, the Bretons, and so on. Only if every native culture was treated equally and properly, then yes.

Sounds like you want some people to receive unequal and improper treatment. Which sounds bad.

Ideally, Europe should unite into a single monarchic polity not unlike a kind of reborn HRE (but not German-dominated). Crowns and thrones should be revived in order to cement ourselves strongly in our collective European heritage.

And ignore our heritage abolishing the monarchy in favour of democratic republics?

[New haven america]

That would be like North and South America uniting into one country.

It’s stupid, I’m happy with the living standards in my nation, and I don’t want them to get worse because other more corrupt nations get mixed with mine.

After all, it's not like Europe had been united multiple time in history or anything.

... Wait a second!

[Latvijas Otra Republika]

Yes but at least I’ve got the delusion of at least living by my flag. Hope for a better country, independent and free.

Why can't a united Europe be better, independent, and free?

Europe is not a monolith, it never was. It’s not a continent of a singular assimilated language, culture or ethnicity. The reigns of power would be placed in the West, all power wielded would be by the Germans or the French. The end result would be massacre and war.
Handing over power to an elite in Brussels brings no human benefit, European politicians leave their national/regional positions after a scandal or not enough pay to go work there. Whole thing is meant to make a quick buck and rub shoulders with other EU coffee makers.

[The Islands of Versilia]

A part of me says it should, another says it shouldn’t. I fear a federated Europe would be detrimental to the preservation and independence of Europe’s multitude of cultures and peoples. The status and power of states like Germany and France have over the EU in its current form makes me fearful for them being favoured over, say, the Silesians, the Bretons, and so on. Only if every native culture was treated equally and properly, then yes.

Sounds like you want some people to receive unequal and improper treatment. Which sounds bad.

Ideally, Europe should unite into a single monarchic polity not unlike a kind of reborn HRE (but not German-dominated). Crowns and thrones should be revived in order to cement ourselves strongly in our collective European heritage.

And ignore our heritage abolishing the monarchy in favour of democratic republics?

What people? All Europeans should be treated equally.

Monarchs are unifying figures that work best with parliamentary systems of government and can use their royal powers to dismiss elected figures that are threatening to the democratic institutions of a united Europe. Monarchs should be protectors of democracy when the people are too charmed to realise their mistake.

[The Blaatschapen]

Sounds like you want some people to receive unequal and improper treatment. Which sounds bad.


And ignore our heritage abolishing the monarchy in favour of democratic republics?

What people? All Europeans should be treated equally.

Monarchs are unifying figures that work best with parliamentary systems of government and can use their royal powers to dismiss elected figures that are threatening to the democratic institutions of a united Europe. Monarchs should be protectors of democracy when the people are too charmed to realise their mistake.

Monarchs are unifying figures?

Ah yes, when we all rise up against them perhaps

[Alvecia]

Conceptually sounds great. Timing is a little bad.

Also, where was the OP copied from, cause that's some interesting kerning you got going on there.

[Vivolkha]

Why can't a united Europe be better, independent, and free?

Europe is not a monolith, it never was. It’s not a continent of a singular assimilated language, culture or ethnicity. The reigns of power would be placed in the West, all power wielded would be by the Germans or the French. The end result would be massacre and war.
Handing over power to an elite in Brussels brings no human benefit, European politicians leave their national/regional positions after a scandal or not enough pay to go work there. Whole thing is meant to make a quick buck and rub shoulders with other EU coffee makers.

While I disagree with most of this post (especially the "massacre and war" part) I do have to say that, at least in Spain, the politicians we send to the EU are those who are so incompetent as to be extremely unpopular so we kick them out to the EU (e.g. Josep Borrell). This way they don't bother us. But needless to say, this is another issue that the EU faces.

[Vistulange]

Assuming that a political consensus that grants legitimacy to the federation is reached, yes. I believe that it would - again, under the assumption that it is perceived as legitimate by the population - make for a good superpower to counterbalance China and Russia, and I don't see anything bad in a multi-polar world where two out of three superpowers are liberal democracies, as opposed to being illiberal regimes.

Also, where was the OP copied from, cause that's some interesting kerning you got going on there.

For some reason, he's made the font size 110 as opposed to the default 100.

[The Islands of Versilia]

What people? All Europeans should be treated equally.

Monarchs are unifying figures that work best with parliamentary systems of government and can use their royal powers to dismiss elected figures that are threatening to the democratic institutions of a united Europe. Monarchs should be protectors of democracy when the people are too charmed to realise their mistake.

Monarchs are unifying figures?

Ah yes, when we all rise up against them perhaps

7 of the 11 full democracies are monarchies and a non-politically biased monarch is more than a boon to the protection of democracy, in contrast to elected presidents who - even when ceremonial - are elected based on popular vote, which can be wrong. Presidencies like in America attract power-hungry people unlike monarchies.

[Latvijas Otra Republika]

Monarchs are unifying figures?

Ah yes, when we all rise up against them perhaps

7 of the 11 full democracies are monarchies and a non-politically biased monarch is more than a boon to the protection of democracy, in contrast to elected presidents who - even when ceremonial - are elected based on popular vote, which can be wrong. Presidencies like in America attract power-hungry people unlike monarchies.

Why should people who get lucky on birth be handed such power and responsibility. That’s a ludicrous concept.