As it marks its 60th birthday, the European Union is in poor shape. It needs more flexibility to rejuvenate itself,
argues John Peet

http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21719188-it-marks-its-60th-birthday-european-union-poor-shape-it-needs-more?fsrc=scn/fb/te/bl/ed/creakingat60thefutureoftheeuropeanunion

I'm not a fan of the "economist" but what do you Yuropeans think?

Big question so many facets.

Quote"ever closer union"

That imho is the biggest problem with it. As it has got steadily closer, the leadership more dictatorial, and the country Govts had less power.

We have now a budget that cannot be audited, and it has leaders that are unelected, and a bureaucracy that thinks its duty is to fiddle with everything.

If we went back to a basic trade deal, that had a few "goals" written into it, we would be fine.

Not sure what to do with the med countries.  They have never had the need to store food for winter they way the north has, so don't understand the Presbyterian approach we have.

Good place to go on holiday though, but not a place to sell a boat load of Porsches now.

This says it all.

QuoteThe Danes and the Irish are famous for having to be asked to vote twice to produce the desired result.

I keep expecting Britain to be asked again.  If they do, I will change my vote to "out".

So, Skim read, and I need to go back to it when the sun is no longer out, but yes, there is some sense there to me. We certainly need an answer, and both sides are moving forward with no clear answer in sight yet, that I can see.


Interesting times