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Sunday, December 14, 2003
France and Germany have tried, separately, for centuries to rule Europe in one way or another. Military conquests have failed, or have been short lived. Such attempts would be, needless to say, not well received in the 21st century.
So, what should they try instead? How about political pressure directed towards a voluntary alliance of European countries? It seems that France and Germany would prefer to have a pure democracy in Europe, where (duh) they get more votes on EU policy, taxation, and laws, than other, less populous Euro-states.
As expected, Spain, and Poland, objected to this stance. Neither wants to lose its sovereignty to a European conglomerate. Given history, who can blame them?
So, there is a rift in the EU. On the one side is the old Europe, fresh from dictatorship, and Communist rule. On the other is new Europe, with visions of socialist, confiscatory, and bureaucratic grandeur. Where shall the two meet?
Well, they could not agree on a common constitutional document. So France and Germany have decided to take the reins of leadership, and go ahead on their own. France's Chirac calls the move a "pioneer group" who wish to integrate faster than the other states.
Why do France and Germany want more weight given to their votes than other states? Fairness? Hardly. This is the only way the two can ever gain true control of the Euro-continent. This is the only way they can ever compete with the British-American alliance. This is their last shot at some world identity.
It's a shame common sense allies like Spain's Aznar, and Poland's Miller stand in their way. The UK's prime minister, Tony Blair, calls the idea of a European super state "an idea whose time has come and gone." Unless the French/German/Benelux faction amends their position, Blair will likely be right.Labels: Archives_2003
.: posted by
Dave
4:04 PM
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