Hey Europe Buffs,

[true_notes]

Why is the current EU referendum causing such a stirrup in the national governments?

[evlbstrd]

1. Basically,

National Sovereignty. They fear an overstrong centralized authority.
Now, why would that be a problem?

[Maple]

2. You've heard of the British talent for understatement?

Well the French have a talent for overstatement.

They once called the European DisneyWorld, a 'cultural Chernobyl'

The EU will continue to function under the treaty of Nice, and do some re-writes.

Modernizing a little bit wouldn't hurt either, but you can't have everything. :D

[true_notes]

3. When I was in France

The discontent was high (surprise) :). But the locals were telling me they didn't want to loose the dignity they have as Frenchmen, and a broader Europe means a more homogenous Europe.

[MrModerate]

4. Well, they DO need a constitution . . .

If they're going to operate as a quasi-federalist state.

One of the big problems is the constitution itself. As it was drafted by successive committees of otherwise out-of-work europols, it grew longer and longer and longer, with more and more specific and often silly provisions in it, until the whole thing ended up being over 400 pages long. The average guy on the street doesn't feel comfortable voting for such a behemoth, believing (quite rightly) that there's bound to be some new law in there that screws him.

Also, governments and peoples are queasy about seeing their sovereignty leak away and with what's been happening vis-a-vis the dollar/euro exchange rates, aren't a 100 percent convinced that the euro is such a good idea.

The recent defeats in France and the Netherlands, though, have more to do with distrust of the sitting governments in those countries and the very real fear of Western Europe being flooded with workers from further east (like Turkey and Romania) who will work for nothing and throw current workers out of their jobs.

At least the derailing of the constitutional effort gives the US a few more years to be stupid about trade policy before the EU gets its act together and begins to kick our butts in Europe as the Asian countries are doing in their part of the world.

[lebkuchen]

8. I'm still amazed that so many countries agreed to one currency

It makes it a hell of a lot easier on the traveler, though the local national's basic sentiment is that it's made products more expensive for the cost-conscious Europeans.

I enjoyed your post. Thanks.

[Bouncy Ball]

5. Last night you posted some website.

Asked if there was a left wing equivalent. Yes, it's called DU.

There are tons of others, too.

Now tonight the EU stuff.

What are "Europe Buffs?"

[true_notes]

9. funny you're the only one with problems....

[Bouncy Ball]

10. Exactly what does that mean?

Care to elaborate?

I asked you a question and you didn't answer.....

[CHIMO]

6. Berlusconi minister wants Italian vote on return to lira

The cause of European unification yesterday suffered another swingeing blow when one of the parties in Silvio Berlusconi's governing coalition threw its weight behind a campaign to pull Italy out of the euro.

Roberto Maroni, Mr Berlusconi's social security minister and a joint acting leader of the Northern League, said his party would start collecting signatures for a referendum on the issue later this month. He also appealed for the process of ratifying the EU constitution to be halted.

Days after it was reported that senior German ministers had discussed the disintegration of the single currency, Mr Maroni pledged to start collecting signatures for a referendum later this month. He branded the euro a "disaster" which was product of a "European model whose failure we are witnessing with concern".

Joaquin Almunia, the European monetary affairs commissioner, dismissed Mr Maroni's criticism of the euro, which fell to an eight-month low against the dollar at one point in the week. "I think nobody is going to succeed in eliminating ," he told Spanish radio.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1499165,00.html

[Selatius]

7. Why not draft an EU Constitution more along the lines of a confederacy?

Most of the power would still be held with independent states, but there would be a readily available framework for mutual cooperation both economic and military (should the need ever arise). Why aim for a federation instead of a confederation?