What Is The European Union For?

[Khandro]

It can't be about 'peace' because as far as I can see no one is threatening us, but of course, they continually try to vilify Russia as if it were some sort of fearsome enemy, because they need a justification for the creation of a European Army, - can you imagine what that would be like?- what a joke.

[Zacs-Master]

As with another thread. I’ll leave you to your speculations.

[youngmafbog]

"*** off!", says Mr Davis.

If only he would say that to Barnier.

The EU is there for power. The EU 'elite' are the front for Germany which is achieving through stealth what it failed to do through two world wars. The EU army will be run by the Germans.

"The EU gives peace" Well there will be peace if you give the aggressor everything they want anyway.

[Davemano]

All our negotiators should go with the post by 10CS in mind.

[New Judge]

"‘So it’s our fault that the mania for a Federal State with all its trappings goes unchecked?’

It patently hasn’t helped."

So the reasoning goes something like this:

"I'm going to vote to leave because (among many other things) I don't like the EU's proposal for a European Army. I want the UK to have no part of that idea"

"Ah, but the UK is an ardent opponent of such an idea. If we leave the proposal may well get through"

"Ok then. I'll vote to remain".

Are you seriously suggesting that a good reason to remain in an organisation which you want your country to leave because of the excessive and unpalatable ambitions of its leaders is to moderate er...the excessive and unpalatable ambitions of its leaders?

[Khandro]

Ha ha, bring in Sir Humphrey.

[ichkeria]

It is easy to forget that Europe was torn apart by ways for centuries. The union is all about keeping its two major powers France and Hermany on the same side.
As for russia, that gangster state where espionage and state propaganda is practised on an industrial scale, try telling the Baltic states they aren’t an enemy

[Gromit]

// as far as I can see no one is threatening us //

That is good news. Maybe the £40 Billion defence budget can be better used, like on building new housing, the NHS or getting the homeless off the streets - just a thought.

[Jackdaw33]

Nice one, 10 Clarion. Got it in a nutshell.

[jourdain2]

Yes, well said, Clarion. Thanks.
I do hope the new EU army lets the Italians design the uniform. Sweet memories of ''Allo 'Allo' and the lovely plumed hats. :)

[tonyav]

^^^^

And tanks with more reverse gears than forward gears ;-)

[RobNorth]

It would be interesting to see how British Army officers and men fitted in with some of the other outfits in a European army, like those in the Balkans for example, which a recent trial in the Hague found were stilI recently practicing genocide, even with the UN around and tv cameras rolling.
I guess our blokes would have to learn to gaffer-tape several magazines onto their weapons al la Rambo and shoot them into the air like them...oh and also how to treat prisoners - that is, how to identify soft ground...

[Kromovaracun]

The EU is, ultimately, for peace. It's an organisation designed to engineer inter-dependence between member states so as to prevent war from breaking out between European countries as has happened so reliably in the past four centuries. That was the original justification for the ECSC - peace through economic interdependence, which ultimately required political institutions to house and manage competing interests.

Fundamentally, Europe has a choice about whether to go on trying to secure peace on the continent through economic and political interdependence, or whether to go back to the bad old days of "every power for itself." Whether or not the EU is a perfect organisation for doing that, or whether or not everyone who leads the EU is a saint, is a very different question to whether that goal is worth pursuing or not.

[ToraToraTora]

""*** off!", says Mr Davis." - exactly what we should have said whilst triggering A50 on June 24th 2016

[Zacs-Master]

Wonder why we didn’t (hand on chin, looking slightly upwards)

[ichkeria]

Well said Kromo. The EU certainly needs to change if it is to be effective in what it was designed to do and what it needs to do in future. A great chance was missed by both sides with the threat of Brexit. Britain spinning away into the sidelines is not the answer.

[Khandro]

Ah now I understand, as soon as the UK leaves the EU, they will be able to declare war on Denmark.

[Zacs-Master]

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?

[Khandro]

Those bloody Danes need teaching a lesson for what the Vikings did.

[hellywelly4]

Prudie has put into words what I have thought all along. Saturday post at 13.15.