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We're May, 1st. From now on, there will be 25 countries in the European Union. What's your feeling about it ?

PS: Please notice the effort made to simplify the question

I'm still in April 30....

The EU is giving a great opportunity to those countries that have suffered economically from wars, Communism... etc.
And I hope that now they are members, they would keep up with such countries as Germany and France.

I think it's great that this Union has grown so much! IT comes to be seen if they pull these worn down countries out of the dust and back on track.

EU is a thing I think will crumble, some countries aint willing giving up their currency for one.
It is bound to end in havoc

well we should start forcing all laws and ideas onto all members, not I want to accept this but I don't want to accept that (the currency as best example) if a rule is based everyone should accept it if not they can bugger off.

personaly G.P I think it came a bit too soon, the EU still has to work out a lot of problems as it was they should have focused on that first

how do i feel about it?...hmm..dgee.,.....i think i have a worm fuzzy feeling inside...how am i supposed to feel?

we're probably joining in 2007....if we do ok.
i don't see an end to this union too soon, as to what you said..

I think it's great, if things work out, we'll finally have a good, strong opponent for the US. The US will have to consider the EU, before just attacking countries like Iraq. Ofcourse, this will only work if the EU will be one, strong block, and this could take a while. It's important not to form a leading group though, and also countires such as France and Germany shouldn't be so dominant. All problems where still need to be worked, but I'm confident that in the end everything will turn out fine.
It's great for the new countries to join the EU, ofcourse esspecialy for the economy, but also the living cicurmstances will certainly improve..

I don't live in the new EU countries, so I can't give their opinion... but with this ... I don't see it positively ...

those new countries... no euro, all new european politicians (making it too large to let it actually work), no Schengen, etc.
The EU is not about being social (as the first priority), it's about money and I'm not sure if their economy is that good. Sure, it went a lot better since the fall of communism, but imho it still didn't go well enough to include them already

if it was in, lets say, 2015, sure, than they had more time to organise and such, but now ... too early I guess

to be honest, I couldnt care less

I didn't expect less from you Finti.

That seems quite normal to me...

Europe is gonna end up like USA if this keeps going...

all the rich countries are gonne be poor!!!!!don't you see that...

NO TO EU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On what are you basing your opinion Mujaffa ?

in EU or not.. big deal

Help the ignorant american bastard...what good does it do if you're in the EU or not, not counting the Euro? What are the other benefits?

uhm.. really? I don't have any idea... i think we can travel without passports.. and stuff... but really.. i don't care. It's just another oportunity for higher taxes and stuff.

Finantial help mostly. And hopefully prevent another WW.

Where are you from, Dexx?

Who can name all of the EU members from memory?

Me: Italy, Luxemburg, Germany; France, Belgium,the Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden and Finland.

and now : Chyprus, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary

This one was easy...

you had a cheat sheet

poland.. heh.. i can't see why on earth.. ech...

At First it was an answer to economic and peace concerns : Build a power, a free-trade zone with common trade tariffs. Putting everyone's resources together could helped the whole thing work better (economically speaking). It also avoided another war to happen, by binding many European countries.

Now the EU is economically and financially prosperous, it is attractive to many countries, for which it is considered as a 'democracy Certificate' and as much helpful economically.

Ermn no I have to know them for my studies; If I didn't my history teacher would just kill me...

o.O poor thing.

Ain't this just great. United Europe ! GO EU!!!!!!! Europe will WIN!!!!

Who do you think will be next to join the EU??
Which countries are left?

Theoretically Romania and Bulgaria are likely to join the EU in 2007 (even if Bulgaria currently has problems that call the date of 2007 into question).

Plus nothing is really opposed to the fact that Turkey join the EU sooner or later. Talks might begin in the next few years.


PS: Can a mod do me the favour of correcting the title of this thread by adding an article... that's would look a bit more serious.

By adding what?

Well Turkey has the Cyprus problem to resolve But yeh, it will join (most likely)

and other things kes

Kes => an article, "the", for I think the title is gammatically incorrect, but since no one never corrects me I'm not a 100% sure.

hey, I'm more than willing to correct you... just ... grammar, spelling, and all the other mess never was my thing, certainly not when it's in another language

25 in the EU

judging by the title ... they knew

Better?

Thanks a lot Kes

yeah with all the cultural diffrences and language barriers that would be a walk in the park 25 members in EU is 26 too many

At last, someone who understands me. EU will only cause more problems. I really can't see any sense in it.

Well it made sense...when there were a few countries. Now we'll see.

just don't include turkey, ex-yugoslavia (oops, too late), russia, ...

you see the sickest thing in EU is that they have the impossible desire to make every country equal. As we all know e.g. Poland is poorer than e.g. France. When you make higher taxes, cuz they are like that in France, it will only cause more trouble, cuz Polish ppl have to pay more, but they don't earn more. The financial problems that were supposed to be solved are only bigger, for poorer countries. Like Czech republic, Hungary, Poland and lots of others.

Indeed. But it can also help. Financially and raising the minimum wage. Also preventing WW and battling US economy.
But like GP said, when they were just a few countries it made sense now, the poor countries get less help because there are a few more poor countries to help. Lets face it...this is only good for France, UK and Germany.

all i know is i wasn't able to go into town yeterday because of most if it being closed because of it.

didn't matter much here, everything is closed on may 1th

Do you think they'll change the EU flag. The americans changed the number of stars on their flag every time it got new states in it, so do you think that the EU will do the same with it's flag.

What do you think the new flag will look like?

if they do it (I doubt it) it will just be the one they have but with 25 stars ...creativity was never europe's best side

poland in EU.

i live in the poorest region of united europe.
great.

move

i'm planing to as soon as i can.

see, things are looking better already

but now i can't!!!
and it really sux....

judging by your age... can't you just go as exchange student to another uni?

i'm not ine the uni yet....

next year than

(just saw the birthyear)

yep.... if only i'll pass entrance exams... i'll goooo *dreams*

you mean to enter uni? cause the program I know off with exchanging doesn't have any exams

i poland they does!!!
and i'm gonna go to medical school
and there are some terrible and very stupid and hard tests

*goes offtopic*

I wouldn't call it offtopic, it's about the educational system of poland, one of the new EU members, I think talking about the differences is an important aspect

well, if you study hard and pass, you can leave your country

yeeees...
and my problem is that i;'m here and i'm not studying hard
i'm pathetic...

there's thread for that in the OTF y'know

well, make yourself the ultimatum:
study hard or get stuck in the poorest region

They just won't. It had been decided in 1995 to keep the 12 star-flag - twelve being a symbol of unity (lol), and not the number of states (anyway there have been 15 countries for 9 years, remember ? ), etc...

but they can always change that, no?

really? i haven't seen it....

yes.
nice sollution
from tomorrow i'll limit the amount of time spending on here

not on here, internet in general, and the time that comes available could go into studying

i'm trying to learn..
but i'm just thinking about sth else..
and biology is soo boring...
and i'm getting into conclusion, that if i'm not learing anyway i can do sth pleasant

Biology is not boring

pleasant now, boring later (damn, sound like a parent now)

after learning it through whole year almost all the time it becomes boring trust me

CLovie, I was reading some of your posts and you say that you want to leave Poland, to which country do you want to go/

parent would say otherwise....

come to England

i'm not sure
i was thinking about scandinavia..
denmark, norway..

but also maybe canada..

i'mnot sure..
adn the most probably fact is that i;ll stuck here 4ever


england?? do any1 want me i there?

well, from what I hear norway is ace (want to go there myself too one day) and canada... depends where exactly you want to go to... but both times I've been there it was one of the best holidays I had

Canada, sound great
I would like to go there myself

you see i have good ideas, but i can;t make them work...

I envy you You went to Norway, twice
Do you travel a lot/

concentrate

i was in norway too.
and i liked it

erm, I ment it the other way around: canada twice

i think he was to canada

Ok, Canada

and still don't know their anthem

Did you know that European legislation takes priority over UK law

canada sounds nice. As long as you dont go anywhere too cold. Toronto sounds like a nice place.

it is... at some points of course

here too

I can't say what I think... I got told off last time... all I can say is bring back EFTA and (close your eyes, europhiles) we're not European....

leave the country than

come to poland
u'll see how it is to live in stupid country.


(i'm sorry i left yesterday)

Heyy... I kinda LIKE poland! It's not that bad, just poor...

sorry but you do live in the west of poland.

what's the difference? It's not, like USA, Poland is a small country.

come here and u'll see.

oh NO! I'll see...




what?

dobra, nie chce mi sie tlumaczyc ci po ang.
ulice sa dziurawe
politycy sa zaklamani
rywina skazali na 2 lata co to ma byc?
dalej
wez sobie wyobraz ze ja za tydzien zdaje mature i ze nie mam pozniej totalnie zadnych perspektyw
bezrobocie ma ponad 20%
itd.

chcesz wiecej powodow?

Ne znam sto vie zboruvate ...
Poland is necer then Macedonia ... where I live , I'm also thinking to move

gaca -> ja nie chce zeby go prezydentem zrobili cry


unicorn -> i dunno.... maybe ur right..... but i'm not offering moving here

lol... Nobody would like this, Clovie.. If they do.. we're all gonna end up as fcuking farmers...

I doubt that, tho I think your farmers will be happy with the EU in the long run

have u seen lat polls....
and there is even no contra-candidate...

ok...

you know much bloody money they will get from the EU?

biggest portion of the EU budget is agriculture

well... actually we will get SOME money but i doubt that it's gonna manage to repair the HOLE IN OUR BUDGET.

Trust me, Fire.. if you knew that guy you'd be as terrified as me and Clovie. Tell him, Clovz...

but ppl have no idea how to ask for money, so they won't get it

there is one guy.. and there is possibility that he'll boceome a president.
and he is so stupid and he knows really nothing
i'mnot even sure if he finneshed any highschool..
anyway.. it'll be a nighmare

lol

they don't have to ask for money, they will get it in anywayz, and ofcourse the EU will not fix your budget problems, we're not a charity organisation but we do look like it lately. and after taking a look at the budget of the EU you will notice that poland, atleast the farmers, will (within a few years, cause you guys dont get as much as we get right away) get A LOT of money not just SOME

ok.. and when i'm not farmer i won't get any money...
and right now i'm living in the poorest region of europe.. it's pathetic.

well your countries will get aid in other ways, but it won't be as huge as the agriculture

and politicians will steal all the money....

well that's not the EU's fault

i'm not saying it is.
i'm saying that nothing will help us.

btw... you seem to be very close to EU...

(i gotta go. bye)

I'm greatly for it yes, and politics has always interested me, might be better of studying politics instead of history

well EU is not just getiing staff u also gota give, like 70% of ur national VAT! and fire , without "this farmer countries" there will not be united Europe, with Russia and Turkey the circle will be closed

I never said anything about the farmer countries not being included ofc they should be included like they are now just not yet IMO (EU still has too much things to work out before accepting 10 new members but hey it aint up to me)

I don't think Russia will ever join, Turkey well they might but I think as it now stands they will let turkey know wether or not they can join in 2007(?) could be a bit earlier or later and I think they're not gonna do it there gonna pull out that special-status-rabbit again. Maybe it gets through the commission this time

I totally understood bits of that!!

good is the same as in my language, so are streets The others look like Russian, and some more like my language, so i kinda uderstood all that!!

wooptidoo I found it

The Common Agricultural Policy is the largest budget item, accounting for approximately 45 % of the total budget

from http://www.riksdagen.se/english/eu/eufacts/budget.asp

now I only need to find out how big the percentage of ppl working in the agriculture is in poland and if possible getting a ranking of that within the EU

just wait til Russia goes communist again

that'd be cool

The difference from the way it is now will be?

Another polarization of the world! weapon's compettition (russians have the brain)! Tensions in asia, and most likely final solution oto middle east issue, because it is just about time some one to put a stop to the US imperialistic foreign politics (nothing against the Americans or America-In fact I like the states most of any country)!

There are activitists, analytist, researches who think that EU will represent balance in the world's domination, even India is about to get a permanent seat in the security council, this is endorsed by EU, why u think is so?

... and "Fire ". one doesn't need to study politics, cause is the same princips repeating in a row, u just need to keep ur self updated.

where r u from milla?

i dunno but i think that about 40% maybe 50 or even more......

refering to Polybius?

Sorry Unicor I do think that studying politics at the university is a great help to understanding the complex world of both international and domestic politics

you forgot to mention Fire, that it's partly more complex in Belgium due to the four governments we have

(heeft de franse gemeenschap der ook zelf nog een of valt da nu ook same me walonie?)

well yerss to be totaly honnest we have 7 governments

the belgian government
the flemish government
the wallon government
the brussels government
the flemish community
the french community
the german community

to be totaly correct the flemish government and the flemish community have been united.

we have one govement and it is enough....

Ok Fire , I think politics is just a tool to achive ur goals, or common goals and objective, to be a good politician u need to understand the needs and the capabilities, and the rosources of ur country, and the most importat to have a vision where u wanna drive them , and why!

then we disagree on what politics is

damn forgot brussels and french

ok that's an EASY question on your law exam for next month

Clovie you should also note that they all have their ministers and members of parliament who all get a big fat paycheck

and how much r the taxes?

in belgium, it depends on your income, the more you have the more you pay, varying from 35 to close to 50 percent

same here...

for me politics is similar to management. Tell me what u think politics is about? except moderm form of ruling that has replaced the old ones!

well Clovie I don't mind the taxes, what they do with my money (or most of it, are things I or a lot of other ppl benefit from)

Unicor for me politics is everything that has to do with the way ppl live together and making sure the less fortunate in society aren't forgotten, it's hard to explain in english, but politics affects me from the moment I leave my house, it even affects me within my own house.

and here the taxes goes no1 knows where coz you have to pay for everything extra anyway..
and we have some taxes paying 3 times
for example the driving tax..
it's in petrol, and in sth else, and they wanted to make viniettas as well.
it's sick.

well in belgium we have to pay VTA and some extra taxes on petrol, if you use LPG (or what ever the english term is) you have to pay a lot less taxes and ofcourse a lot less already. (to make more ppl buy it)
you have to pay VTA on your car, you have to pay taxes for owning a car and probably one more as well

Clovie in belgium ppl also dont always know the reason, but the government is FINALY getting it and trying to explain it to the public

and problem in here is that the govement is mailny stealling public money and they don't explain anything.

and for example they mada a change yesterday..
and we have from today new prime minster..

i hate them...

well in belgium that could happen too, tho it wouldn't happen in one night

of coz it didn't happened in one night.but still it's annoying..

well you install your political parties that gives them the right to do these things, not the prime minister but about every other post in our federal government gets changed around a lot

i haven't voted for them, coz i was too young that time...

and ppl here seems to be blind... they're always voting for wrong parties...

IT will get matured soon, u will see, it is a process, as the time will pass ppl will start relaizing the power of their vote.

i hope so...

Fire, I hadn't studied yet

same here yerss, I just know that from class (three years ago)

anywayz Clovie I know how you feel the liberals are the biggest party in belgium Yikes

Welcome!

Ok. Europe will help new members development, and that development will depend of the way the newbies apply economical and social aid. Dont worry for now, you will receive economical aid for at least 15 years before stops but until there you must develop yourselves, and the the $ aid will not stop completely .And there are some handicaps. Remember that part of yours sovereigns will be lost bcs the european law has a supranational nature. After a primary aid to the new members, they shall submit their own objectives to the common european ones. In all ways, economics, industry, agriculture, etc. Ofc this is not happening with most of the current members - before May 1. There are always some countries, with more power of decision than anothers, who subvert the spirit of EU managing with their votes on European Conseil the aplication of the Comission directives, wich are the basic and principal rules that members governments shall apply in their own countries.
Ofc, Portugal has a politicaly corrupted government and corrupted local admnistration too. As the most of all, got his money and didnt apllied a lot of directives. Well...I cant see where is been applied a big slice of the money we got. I hope you - new members - have more luck with your governments than me with mine.