EU to enlarge as countries queue up to join.

[Tommy Tainant]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

 

[Decus]

The biggest mistake the EU made was moving from an economic union of countries to an agenda that sought to influence social and cultural values within member nations.

Both Albania and Macedonia have little to offer other EU member states in terms of industrial, financial or consumer ability. Ukraine would be a much better candidate in terms of economic potential.

.

 

[fncceo]

50,000 free infections for the first ten countries that sign up.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

The biggest mistake the EU made was moving from an economic union of countries to an agenda that sought to influence social and cultural values within member nations.

Both Albania and Macedonia have little to offer other EU member states in terms of industrial, financial or consumer ability. Ukraine would be a much better candidate in terms of economic potential.

.

The longer term benefits of bringing these countries on board outweigh the downside. Every country that has joined the EU has seen their standard of living improve. And as their wealth increases they create markets for goods we want to sell them. Its all good stuff.

The downside is that membership can be seen as legitimising deviant behaviour like we see in Poland and Hungary.

 

[Tijn Von Ingersleben]

Oh boy...Albania, and NORTH Macedonia...what...did the rest of Macedonia think your little club was a bit controlling? Good on em. EU...what a joke.

 

[theHawk]

LMAO, Albania. Of course Tammy would be giddy about a Muslim shit hole trying to join the EU.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Both of these countries are fairly poor. What do they bring to the table? To me, it sounds a kin to making Puerto Rico a state

 

[Likkmee]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Both of these countries are fairly poor. What do they bring to the table? To me, it sounds a kin to making Puerto Rico a state

Don't look toward anything other than possible natural resources. Thats part of the reason that idiocracy of Ukraine is vital. ." Da vreadbahzket uv Roozhia. KIller soil and farming.
Pooty Poots boat access is just a bonus

 

[Olde Europe]

The longer term benefits of bringing these countries on board outweigh the downside. Every country that has joined the EU has seen their standard of living improve. And as their wealth increases they create markets for goods we want to sell them. Its all good stuff.

The downside is that membership can be seen as legitimising deviant behaviour like we see in Poland and Hungary.

I agree on principle, and oppose at this time.

The EU has problems to solve on a whole host of issues ranging from a common refugee policy, common foreign policy, common fiscal and monetary policies, up to and including internal transfer mechanisms for weaker countries (same as between regions within a state) and, not least, a common, coordinated pandemic response system, since none is safe if not all are safe. More urgent, and pressing, would be to develop ways to deal with deviants - such as Poland and Hungary, as you note - trampling all over what would be considered European minimum standards of democracy, rule of law, and just common decency, which would require, for consistency's sake, a significant strengthening of the EU parliament. Fewer, if any, decisions in these realms should be subject to a single member state's veto, paralyzing the whole body.

Once all that's accomplished, and only then, should new members be welcomed, and only once they've really and clearly demonstrated a persistent willingness to live up to the standards as mentioned above.

 

[Correll]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Long term, is your goal to see the EU as a federal nation able to be bigger and better than the US?

 

[EvilCat Breath]

LMAO, Albania. Of course Tammy would be giddy about a Muslim shit hole trying to join the EU.

Like that muslim shithole Turkey.

 

[Correll]

LMAO, Albania. Of course Tammy would be giddy about a Muslim shit hole trying to join the EU.

Like that muslim shithole Turkey.

More muslims to flow into Europe and increase terrorism, I mean, diversity.


I've asked TOmmy, in the past, why the EU, never admitted Turkey. He never answered.

 

[Tom Paine 1949]

I agree on principle, and oppose at this time.

The EU has problems to solve on a whole host of issues ranging from a common refugee policy, common foreign policy, common fiscal and monetary policies, up to and including internal transfer mechanisms for weaker countries (same as between regions within a state) and, not least, a common, coordinated pandemic response system, since none is safe if not all are safe. More urgent, and pressing, would be to develop ways to deal with deviants - such as Poland and Hungary, as you note - trampling all over what would be considered European minimum standards of democracy, rule of law, and just common decency, which would require, for consistency's sake, a significant strengthening of the EU parliament. Fewer, if any, decisions in these realms should be subject to a single member state's veto, paralyzing the whole body.

Once all that's accomplished, and only then, should new members be welcomed, and only once they've really and clearly demonstrated a persistent willingness to live up to the standards as mentioned above.

Interesting thoughts. Strengthening European Parliament in the areas you mention is a big task at this conjuncture, but may be made easier, in the long run, by Brexit. it seems to me European identity would be helped immensely if Europe adopted strong measures against manipulation of world financial institutions so the U.S. could not arbitrarily impose "secondary sanctions" against companies involved in Nordstream2, for example, or trading with other countries (including Cuba and Iran and China). Foreign policy and defending economic and political independence are at the heart of sovereignty, as is having a stronger European Central Bank, but only a huge crisis and popular anger could move Europe's leaders to more openly defy Washington's increasingly irrational demands. Finally, the popular sentiment to break with U.S. military adventures is already strong and should be acted upon by the now syncophantic leaders of Europe, who need to develop their own independent military capacities and basically kick the U.S. out of NATO, or thoroughly rework its rules. What does "Old Europe" think?

 

[Unkotare]

The OP knows the EU is on its way out. Just a matter of time.

 

[theHawk]

Say Tommy Tainant , how did the EU help little old Italy? Oh that’s right, they didn’t. The other countries all withheld medical supplies for themselves and imposed travel restrictions on them.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Long term, is your goal to see the EU as a federal nation able to be bigger and better than the US?

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Both of these countries are fairly poor. What do they bring to the table? To me, it sounds a kin to making Puerto Rico a state

A lot of EU countries were poor when they joined. Look at the advances made by Spain,Portugal, Eire and the Baltic states. The EU will give them a path to prosperity. That benefits all of us.

 

[Correll]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Long term, is your goal to see the EU as a federal nation able to be bigger and better than the US?

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Both of these countries are fairly poor. What do they bring to the table? To me, it sounds a kin to making Puerto Rico a state

A lot of EU countries were poor when they joined. Look at the advances made by Spain,Portugal, Eire and the Baltic states. The EU will give them a path to prosperity. That benefits all of us.

Long term, is your goal to see the EU as a federal nation able to be bigger and better than the US?

 

[Olde Europe]

Interesting thoughts. Strengthening European Parliament in the areas you mention is a big task at this conjuncture, but may be made easier, in the long run, by Brexit. it seems to me European identity would be helped immensely if Europe adopted strong measures against manipulation of world financial institutions so the U.S. could not arbitrarily impose "secondary sanctions" against companies involved in Nordstream2, for example, or trading with other countries (including Cuba and Iran and China). Foreign policy and defending economic and political independence are at the heart of sovereignty, as is having a stronger European Central Bank, but only a huge crisis and popular anger could move Europe's leaders to more openly defy Washington's increasingly irrational demands. Finally, the popular sentiment to break with U.S. military adventures is already strong and should be acted upon by the now syncophantic leaders of Europe, who need to develop their own independent military capacities and basically kick the U.S. out of NATO, or thoroughly rework its rules. What does "Old Europe" think?

At this time, I don't even know what "economic and political independence" or even "sovereignty" mean in a world as intertwined and interdependent as ours. All I would add is, in case one would like to be heard at the negotiation table, it's better not to fit between the other participants' jaws all that easily.

And yes, succumbing to U.S. secondary sanctions without the ingenuity to thwart them and to keep up trade relations with Iran is an embarrassment that should have EU leaders scrambling for some rocks to hide under. What a catastrophe that is...

NATO rules are mostly fine as they are. Going along with the aggressive U.S. designs (in Eastern Europe, for instance), not exactly covered by NATO rules, is yet another occasion to kick some fat arses in high places in Europe.

Finally, I have no hope - none - that popular sentiment, for the time being, points to anything other than re-nationalization, looking inward, becoming more parochial and bone-headed. Also, becoming easier pickings by the empire. So yeah, I don't think any of what I outlined is going to come to pass.

 

[Tom Paine 1949]

Thanks. I appreciate your thoughtful opinions, and mostly agree. May I ask in what way you are, or consider yourself, an “Old European”? : )

 

[Unkotare]

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Long term, is your goal to see the EU as a federal nation able to be bigger and better than the US?

EU agrees to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia

Member state ministers unblock way for Western Balkans to join bloc

www.independent.co.uk

The EU has agreed to open accession talks with two countries with a view to them joining the bloc.

Ministers from member states gave the green light to negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on Tuesday.

The two countries have been candidates since 2005 but progress has stalled amid opposition from some member states.

This is good news. Countries obviously see their futures as being aligned with the west rather than Putins gangster state. The worry with these Balkan states is that they will turn into something like Poland or Hungary. But long term its positive.

Both of these countries are fairly poor. What do they bring to the table? To me, it sounds a kin to making Puerto Rico a state

A lot of EU countries were poor when they joined. Look at the advances made by Spain,Portugal, Eire and the Baltic states. The EU will give them a path to prosperity. That benefits all of us.

At the low, low price of freedom and Democracy!

Spoken like a well and fully tamed subject.