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Old 11-19-2007, 08:49 AM   #72 (permalink)
crooks
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Very interesting snippet, thanks Pari (and Tarek for posting it originally) .

The decline of France's importance in European affairs is visable every day, Germany under Merkel isn't content to be the lackey anymore, and the new members (as well as a couple of the old 'uns) are losing faith in the Union's ability to work, or that it can work but it requires to much effort.

IMHO the EU is going to change gradually over the next 10-20 years, those who want out will leave, and either form a new, smaller union, or simply work together to garner trade agreements out of the ROE without any formal alignment - we've reached a breaking point, something's got to give (I want Ireland to stay in the union, but only if the EU's say in our affairs is drastically REDUCED, not increased).

The only real barriers for countries leaving right now is the possible collapse of Schengen if it happened, CAP still benefits many and EU transfers which many otherwise Euroskeptic countries (particularly in E Europe) benefit from.
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