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> huge display of how ineffective it is to run europe without a central trustable government. Thank our friends in Westminster who first bullied their way in a

> huge display of how ineffective it is to run europe without a central trustable government. Thank our friends in Westminster who first bullied their way in and then have been blocking further European integration for the last 40 years.

return0 14y ago
> Thank our friends in Westminster who first bullied their way in and then have been blocking further European integration for the last 40 years. I wouldn't assume the spanish, italians, french are very much in favor of it either (given that they will have to accept a de facto german authority)
- claudius 14y ago
  With a proper democratic parliament based on population size, Italian, Spanish and French could easily outvote German delegates. I don’t know about Italy and Spain, but the impression of Germany in France and the other way around is one of the best[0]. [0] http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2013/01/22-Elysee-JointArticle-st.html http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2013/... > Recent surveys confirm that over 85 percent of citizens in each country have a good or very good image of the other. or http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/europe/france-and-germany-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-elysee-treaty.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/europe/france-and-ge... .
  - return0 14y ago
    You 're assuming that these nations trust their own leaders / nationals only. If you were an italian having to choose between Berlusconi and Merkel based on their track record what would you choose?
    - claudius 14y ago
      Well, Berlusconi just got back into the Italian parliament together with that other clown, so I prefer not to take guesses at the outcome of Italian votes. My point was that there wouldn’t be such a thing as a ‘German authority’ to accept in a united and democratic Europe and that at least the French don’t appear to be entirely opposed to the idea of working closely with Germany. (Oh, and Merkel isn’t all that popular in Germany – (un)fortunately, her social democract contender is the guy (not necessarily seriously) suggesting to send the cavalry into Switzerland[0] and pirates to Cyprus.) [0] http://www.euractiv.com/elections/outspoken-spd-chancellor-candida-news-515100 http://www.euractiv.com/elections/outspoken-spd-chancellor-c... [1] http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/spiegel-gespraechsreihe-steinbrueck-droht-zypern-mit-stoertebecker-a-885530.html http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/spiegel-gespraechsreih...

return0 14y ago

> Thank our friends in Westminster who first bullied their way in and then have been blocking further European integration for the last 40 years. I wouldn't assume the spanish, italians, french are very much in favor of it either (given that they will have to accept a de facto german authority)

claudius 14y ago
With a proper democratic parliament based on population size, Italian, Spanish and French could easily outvote German delegates. I don’t know about Italy and Spain, but the impression of Germany in France and the other way around is one of the best[0]. [0] http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2013/01/22-Elysee-JointArticle-st.html http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2013/... > Recent surveys confirm that over 85 percent of citizens in each country have a good or very good image of the other. or http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/europe/france-and-germany-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-elysee-treaty.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/europe/france-and-ge... .
- return0 14y ago
  You 're assuming that these nations trust their own leaders / nationals only. If you were an italian having to choose between Berlusconi and Merkel based on their track record what would you choose?
  - claudius 14y ago
    Well, Berlusconi just got back into the Italian parliament together with that other clown, so I prefer not to take guesses at the outcome of Italian votes. My point was that there wouldn’t be such a thing as a ‘German authority’ to accept in a united and democratic Europe and that at least the French don’t appear to be entirely opposed to the idea of working closely with Germany. (Oh, and Merkel isn’t all that popular in Germany – (un)fortunately, her social democract contender is the guy (not necessarily seriously) suggesting to send the cavalry into Switzerland[0] and pirates to Cyprus.) [0] http://www.euractiv.com/elections/outspoken-spd-chancellor-candida-news-515100 http://www.euractiv.com/elections/outspoken-spd-chancellor-c... [1] http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/spiegel-gespraechsreihe-steinbrueck-droht-zypern-mit-stoertebecker-a-885530.html http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/spiegel-gespraechsreih...