DrTeeth
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Warning, European content inside?
As you all might know, the 15 current members of the European Union (EU) are presently having talks in Copenhagen with candidate-members about the terms on which these countries might join the EU. These countries include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia (entering in 2004), as well as Romania, Bulgaria and (Greek-) Cypress (entering 2007). I was wondering what people over here at interference might think about the expansion of the EU and if you agree on the terms on which the candidate-members are allowed to join (and the ones on which they want to join). I would especially be interested in what people from those countries think about the entire situation (U2girl?).
Personally, I am slightly worried about the entire expansion drift. I don?t think it?s a very good idea to start expanding such a young organisation at this point because even the current members are far from operating together as a well oiled piece of machinery. I also have my doubts about the candidate?s ability to tackle their problems concerning regulation reforms, corruption and the judicial system (to name but a few?) before 2004 and/or 2007. And we all know how any union which has too many members, i.e. different interests, becomes unworkable (for instance UN and NATO).
On the other hand, the expansion of the EU opens new pathways for companies to invest in these relatively underdeveloped countries (underdeveloped in the sense of the economical situation), creating more jobs and spreading wealth. And a fulltime membership would mean more cooperation with the current members which would make it easier to handle the aforementioned problems with regulation reforms etc. It would also fulfil the dream a lot of people are having about one Europe.
Any thoughts...?
As you all might know, the 15 current members of the European Union (EU) are presently having talks in Copenhagen with candidate-members about the terms on which these countries might join the EU. These countries include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia (entering in 2004), as well as Romania, Bulgaria and (Greek-) Cypress (entering 2007). I was wondering what people over here at interference might think about the expansion of the EU and if you agree on the terms on which the candidate-members are allowed to join (and the ones on which they want to join). I would especially be interested in what people from those countries think about the entire situation (U2girl?).
Personally, I am slightly worried about the entire expansion drift. I don?t think it?s a very good idea to start expanding such a young organisation at this point because even the current members are far from operating together as a well oiled piece of machinery. I also have my doubts about the candidate?s ability to tackle their problems concerning regulation reforms, corruption and the judicial system (to name but a few?) before 2004 and/or 2007. And we all know how any union which has too many members, i.e. different interests, becomes unworkable (for instance UN and NATO).
On the other hand, the expansion of the EU opens new pathways for companies to invest in these relatively underdeveloped countries (underdeveloped in the sense of the economical situation), creating more jobs and spreading wealth. And a fulltime membership would mean more cooperation with the current members which would make it easier to handle the aforementioned problems with regulation reforms etc. It would also fulfil the dream a lot of people are having about one Europe.
Any thoughts...?