Comments on Global Power Europe: Towards a ‘Greater Europe’?

I don't believe in a European Commonwealth: an int...

2009-04-07T16:25:00.780+01:00

I don't believe in a European Commonwealth: an international organisation like the Commonwealth is based upon a partnership between the motherland and its empire. The relationship between an empire and a homeland resumes in an international organisation because they do not have the same administrative structures. This is only meant for colonial imperialism.

However, superstates are an

I want to make two responses as a Europhile yet re...

2008-06-05T03:29:00.000+01:00

I want to make two responses as a Europhile yet realist Belgian, this to both this article as to the comments posted here

Firstly: the attack on the democratic status of the EU and more specifically, the European Commission. And I am afraid I have to agree. The European Union more closely resembles the middle age institutions of powerbalance than it does to more democratic institutions.<

Wow. It’s been a while, but I couldn’t resist answ...

2008-04-21T03:58:02.414+01:00

Wow. It’s been a while, but I couldn’t resist answering idiotic anon on 17 March. The Commission is appointed by elected governments (and it mostly functions as a civil service ). Power is exercised democratically by the elected ministers in the Council of Ministers, and by the European Parliament. The EU may not be as democratic as a village council, or Switzerland, but, institutionally, it’s at

Everyone who supports the EU is an enemy of democr...

2008-03-17T22:02:00.000Z

Everyone who supports the EU is an enemy of democracy and a totalitarian.

The EU is centralizing all executive and legislative power with unelected commission and council, taking these powers away from elected parliaments and governments.

As such, the EU is a direct attack on parliamentary democracy. Only elitist love this.

mark77mee@yahoo.com

A European Commonwealth seems like an excellent id...

2008-03-16T22:43:00.000Z

A European Commonwealth seems like an excellent idea to me, but its main function, I think, would be to provide a place for Turkey.
The problem with Turkish membership of the EU: the average Turk does not feel European, not even a little bit. In Britain, even Eurosceptics cannot deny their European culture, but Turks are...just Turks. It is this lack of identity, together with strong

When talking about the origins, you shouldn't forg...

2008-03-13T01:29:45.674Z

When talking about the origins, you shouldn't forget the contribution of Arthur Salter and his "United States of Europe" which he published 1931, and the effect it had on Jean Monnet, which was basically one of the most important architects of the early European unity. The aim ever since was to be more then just a free trade zone. (http://ann.sagepub.com/cgi/content/citation/174/1/200 I am not

My opposition towards Turkish accession is simply ...

2008-03-06T16:29:00.000Z

My opposition towards Turkish accession is simply that by all likelihood, it would mean an end to further integration. If The EU were to first reach a "final stage of integration" and after that both the Turkish and European public would be consulted, then and only then would I support Turkish accession.

James, Thank you for a well written article. Only ...

2008-03-06T14:59:00.000Z

James,

Thank you for a well written article.

Only one additional thought: You almost never see or hear what I guess is perhaps the most compelling reason against the accession of Turkey among prime ministers and foreign ministers of the greater EU members, namely the fear of diminished influence within the EU.

It is much easier for them to hide behind popular