PeteEU

Well, technically "France" invaded the UK first in 1066. France and the UK were at each others necks for hundreds of years on the European continent. BUT, the main reasons they were at each others necks, was political reasons.. aka the royals on both sides. Because of the UK's royals could not always make male children, they often married off thier female children to... french nobles under British control, and when that control was lost, well.. the french suddenly had a claim to the British thrown. This in turn pissed off the Brits and so on. I know its very simplistic, but thats one of the basics. On top of that there was economic considerations world wide. Both are irrivelant to a point these days because of the EU.

The EU has been good for Europe and the world. It has not only held Europe together during the cold war, but it has also provided an alternative economic power to the US, something the world needed.

As for expansion.. well. The new countries have been good and bad to the EU. Poland has been mostly bad due to its pro Bush neo con religious right wacko goverment (now not in power anymore). Poland was the single biggest blocker of progress in the EU for years. On the other hand countries like Slovenia and similar have given the EU a nice boost.

Oh and btw, Solvenia's GDP was always bigger than Serbia's. In Yugoslavia, Slovenia was the economic and industrial heartland of Yugoslavia basicaly.

Could have fooled me with the "US is not a Union". Considering how many republicans are for as much power to the states as possible.. well when its politically benificial that is. As for being one country. Come back to us when you have the same laws on all issues in all states.. then you will be one country.

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PeteEU

Red_Dave

The only reason Turkey hasnt been let in is its failure to do anything about it appaling human rights record. I,ld rather a country where you can be jailed for "insulting turkishness" wasnt given a say on what laws i have to live by.

mikhail

Im in favour of the EU however there is problems there is more voices on the left then on the right.From my point of view the expansion has been good because its added more voices from the center right.

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The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.

new coup for you

Using a global scale, Turkey hardly qualifies as "appaling"

In Europe in many places you can be jailed for denying the Holocaust.

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And why does your tone suggest that you do not care about children?

mikhail

Its that Turkishness you talk of that stops turkey falling into Islamic extremism.The reason for not letting Turkey in is we dont want to border the middle east.

new coup for you

exactly. It's easy for "I'm ok, you're ok, we're all ok, here in humanist Europe" EUcrats to forget that there are things more dangerous then nationalism.

Red_Dave

Its also "that turkishness" i talk of that allows writers and journalists to be put in prision for telling the truth [be it accepting that the armenian genocide existed or questioning turkish policy towards the kurds]. What we need to ask ourselfs is if we really want this government and its mainly uninformed population making our laws.

mikhail

The things is the media is always quoting statistics about the UK compared to the rest of europe highest violent crime rate worst transport system most teen pregnancies etc.But then when it comes to the question of joining Europe its somekind evil force trying to make us worse off.

Red_Dave

im sorry?

new coup for you

London's metro is way better then any other European capital