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Originally Posted by Allfather
Cant see why we should bother joining the union, and i cant see why they let poor eastblockcountries inn either :|
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Economically speaking, the "poor east block countries" fit better in the European union than a large share of it's current members (let's say Italy here). So, if we put it down to pure economical thinking, letting in "poor east block countries" which already have a large share of their foreign trade (a larger share here than a multitude of EU countries have) with the excisting Eurozone, have steadily rising growth prospects, low budged decifits, and low inflation rates (in compared to their growths, that is), they're all profit for us - it's perhaps them who will have to take a knock or two financially for the initial descision to join the European Union's common market, which is frankly the meaningful part of the EU. The rest of the integration, constitution and so on, and for the meaningful part the integration of financial markets, are just tidbits to support the Eurozone. It's not like Europe was, or unlikely ever will, be integrated into a single "nation" for what it's worth - there are too many too highly nationalistic parties involved, so it'll likely remain as a primarily monetary and legistlative union for the next couple of centuries.
Hell, Poland's better for the European Union than the Uk. What you all should be asking, is who the **** let the inflatory, debt-ridden, mafia-infested maccaroni boys join anyways.
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Originally Posted by Appocomaster
The cultural and economic differences are still too different to have anything more than very broad ideals passed down without breaking everything.
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Cultural yes, economic No. The evidence points out that they fit in better than a lot of others. While editing this, I can as well refer to something. (Paul De Grauwe, Economics of Monetary Union, citing European Comission's
European Economy as source). Rough estimates dug from a table.
Exports goods/services towards EU-15 as percentage of GDP (2003):
Italy: 11%
UK: Less than 10%
Spain: 13-14%
Netherlands: 32%
Estonia: 43%
Poland: 23%
Slovakia: 53%
The correlation of demand and supply shocks isn't very different for the accession countries. Again, Italy for example represents a total opposite.
Government Budget Decifits (2003):
Italy: 6.5%
France: 4.1%
Spain: 4.5%
Netherlands: 1.8%
Estonia: -3.2%
Slovakia: 3.8%
Poland: 4.1%
Government Debts 1996, as percentage of GDP:
Belgium: 130%
Italy: 122%
Spain: 68%
Netherlands: 67%
Same for the accession countries at 2003:
Estonia: 5%
Poland: 45%
Slovakia: 42%
One more edit, excuse me.
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Originally Posted by furball
as will the Ukraine if it chooses West
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Seriously. Who wants to let those faggots with their cheap (through better resources for the case) agricultural products enter the EU? Bloody hell, whatever you do,
don't let them get past the tariffs that protect our dear Finnish pigfarmers!