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Well, that's not going to happen unless the EU adopts a single official single language not just in terms of bureaucracy but when it comes to everyday business

Well, that's not going to happen unless the EU adopts a single official single language not just in terms of bureaucracy but when it comes to everyday business (hint: that language is neither going to be French nor German) The language differential is by far the most eminent obstacle standing in the way of a closer integration or even nationhood. Ironically, the UK leaving might've opened up an opportunity here since that hypothetical official language now indeed could be English, with no dominant country having that language as its own official language anymore.

rayiner 6y ago
I don’t think the lack of a single language will be an impediment to integration on policy issues that will cause strain. Once the EU starts taking on debt people in Paris and Berlin are going to feel a lot more entitled to tell Athens and Warsaw what to do and how to live. The language differences will only make the problems worse than they are in the US.
- BjoernKW 6y ago
  Politicians in Paris or Berlin feeling entitled to tell their counterparts in Warsaw and Athens what to do is one thing, which probably is happening today already anyway. Sliding towards becoming a single country is a wholly different matter, though, because that involves the people. Even citizens in most staunchly pro-European countries such as Germany, France, or the Netherlands culturally still see themselves as citizens of the respective country rather than Europe or the EU. The most relevant factor in that respect is language. Most Germans don't speak French. Most of the French don't speak German. Hence, cultural and economic exchange might happen at the upper echelons of society but as for everyday life citizens of EU member states still pretty much keep to themselves, for the simple reason that they don't understand each other.
  - rayiner 6y ago
    When I say “becoming a single country” I mean politically and economically. In the US we used to identify as citizens of individual states first, until the civil war. In the US, this means people in New York weighing in on what should be taught in schools in Alabama. And it’s a state of affairs nobody finds particularly satisfactory. But once you unify the finances there is a tremendous push toward that kind of political integration. For example, consider refugee policy. I suspect folks in Spain and folks in Hungary don’t see eye to eye. Now, they get to have their own immigration policy. Further integration could change that.

rayiner 6y ago

I don’t think the lack of a single language will be an impediment to integration on policy issues that will cause strain. Once the EU starts taking on debt people in Paris and Berlin are going to feel a lot more entitled to tell Athens and Warsaw what to do and how to live. The language differences will only make the problems worse than they are in the US.

BjoernKW 6y ago
Politicians in Paris or Berlin feeling entitled to tell their counterparts in Warsaw and Athens what to do is one thing, which probably is happening today already anyway. Sliding towards becoming a single country is a wholly different matter, though, because that involves the people. Even citizens in most staunchly pro-European countries such as Germany, France, or the Netherlands culturally still see themselves as citizens of the respective country rather than Europe or the EU. The most relevant factor in that respect is language. Most Germans don't speak French. Most of the French don't speak German. Hence, cultural and economic exchange might happen at the upper echelons of society but as for everyday life citizens of EU member states still pretty much keep to themselves, for the simple reason that they don't understand each other.
- rayiner 6y ago
  When I say “becoming a single country” I mean politically and economically. In the US we used to identify as citizens of individual states first, until the civil war. In the US, this means people in New York weighing in on what should be taught in schools in Alabama. And it’s a state of affairs nobody finds particularly satisfactory. But once you unify the finances there is a tremendous push toward that kind of political integration. For example, consider refugee policy. I suspect folks in Spain and folks in Hungary don’t see eye to eye. Now, they get to have their own immigration policy. Further integration could change that.