5 ms·
I'd like to counter the notion the EU today is first and foremost an economic union. The EU can not simply be replaced by "a bunch of free trade agreements". He
by madballster 4y ago
I'd like to counter the notion the EU today is first and foremost an economic union. The EU can not simply be replaced by "a bunch of free trade agreements". Helmut Kohl has always maintained the EU was also founded to finalize borders and forever rule out another war between member states. Today, it is a union of common values and peace first and foremost. No one (in their right mind) is discussing border disputes between France and Germany - although at least three bitter wars were fought in the last 150 years. Or between other countries for that matter.
It does not matter much on what side of the border one lives. And if it does to someone, they're free to move. Borders are now settled once and for all. If a nation joins the EU this is an accepted fact - and no, an exception like a nationalist, populist Hungary publically dreaming of access to the Adriatic Sea does not invalidate the line of thought.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- tremon 4y agoBorders are now settled once and for all Not necessarily. For example, The Netherlands and Belgium exchanged parts of lands in 2017 to make their border align again with the Meuse river: https://nos.nl/artikel/2112869-nederland-krijgt-belgisch-schiereiland https://nos.nl/artikel/2112869-nederland-krijgt-belgisch-sch... For context: the border originally followed the flow of the river, but a few decades earlier the river was straigthened by dredging to enhance the traffic on the river; the border was left as-is though, leaving both countries with hard-to-reach peninsulas on the "wrong" side of the river.
- jeroenhd 4y agoThe Netherlands and Germany are even in a border "conflict" about the exact way the Ems estuary is divided (DE refers to an old document, NL claims the border goes down the middle of the water). It's not much of a problem in practice because of agreements made decades ago and there is no (or very little) actual land involved, but the borders are still technically disputed by both side.
- chii 4y ago> it is a union of common values and peace first and foremost. this video explains (or interprets) quite succinctly the EU - it's a post-imperialism union. I really like that idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtymaSR3T48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtymaSR3T48
- pestatije 4y ago> Borders are now settled once and for all. Not for external ones...it'll be interesting to see what happens to Kaliningrad when Russia collapses later this year.
- flohofwoe 4y agoYou mean Královec, Czech's new baltic sea port? ;)
- pestatije 4y agoAs far as I know there are historical claims from Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and now found out about the Czech one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kr%C3%A1lovec_Region https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kr%C3%A1lovec_Region
- flohofwoe 4y agoGermany has formally waived any claims of its former territories east of the Oder-Neisse line with the 2+4 treaty leading up to the reunification in 1990, so we can't be bothered anyway. A Czech Kralovec really makes the most sense ;) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Final_Settlement_with_Respect_to_Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Final_Settlement...
- jacooper 4y agoA bit too optimistic
- int_19h 4y agoIf Europe is smart, it will turn Kaliningrad into Russia's Taiwan.
- ulfw 4y agoOh Helmut Kohl, yea sure... What values does Orban's Hungary share with most of the rest of Europe? Come on please...