Ireland in a Federal Europe and the end of National Vetoes

Oh look.. German politician taking advantage of the situation to push their Federal Europe fantasy again.

There's a very good reason why the "selfish blockades" occur and are indeed essential - there IS no European Union in a cultural or societal sense. There is a collection of Nation States with their own domestic and foreign priorities, differing cultures, histories and values, and different economic strengths, weaknesses and exposures - many of whom have historical distrusts or resentments of others in the club that are never too far from the surface.

The EU will never succeed as a political or federal entity for this reason, and attempts to force it through will only hasten its dissolution into probably a smaller collection of alliances. For all the abuse and derision it received in the MSM, the UK's Brexit may ultimately turn out to have been the wisest option, especially with the effects European citizens are now feeling from EU mandates on climate, migration, economic and currency rules etc.

I reckon the EU won't exist by the end of the decade. It was almost at the point of collapse during the Financial Crisis (before the rewrote the rules and bullied the weaker cohort to save the rest), and anti-EU sentiment has been building across the continent ever since.

Only in Ireland do we remain steadfastly Pro-EU, but then we have a historical dislike of making our own decisions. After we finally won Independence, we couldn't hand control off to the Church fast enough. When that started to loosen in the 80s and 90s, we handed it over to the EU.

Sure we got investment and jobs, but we gave up a lot too, are now a net contributor, and those jobs are largely the result of tax loopholes and entirely subject to the whims of the US economy.

Will it be worth it in the end? I remain sceptical.

If the EU decided to block ALL Russia oil gas and coal imports, I’d say Scholz would be quick to exercise the German veto.

There’s loads of articles and discussions about the lack of European demos , hence there not being possible a Europe-wide democracy. Here’s one found quickly.

https://www.lse.ac.uk/european-institute/Assets/Documents/LEQS-Discussion-Papers/LEQSPaper77.pdf

I don’t see a way around this in the next few decades.

Macron has always been pushing for a Euro military - certainly makes sense from a financial and organisational point of view, but ultimately what is that military for?

Looking at how France led the charge to destroy Libya in 2011, and has continued to use their military to police the African Francophonie, you can see where this could lead…

Looks to me that there's a fairly significant negative sentiment that has eaten into the Pro-support anytime there's been challenges. It's easy to be positive in the good times.

The neutrals are a big problem for the EU too. A consistent 35-40% don't seem to give a toss either way, and that's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the "project" either.

This is one of the most brief rational articulate summarizations of the EU state of affairs as I've ever read on this site.

I was just listening to an obituary commentary on Boris Johnson today, and in it it was said that Johnson did not have a problem with economic alignment with Europe, it was the political alignment that he had the problem with. For all the reams of chatter about Brexit over the last few years, the whole problem with the EU is simply down to political alignment. It's not in the slightest bit complicated what the problem with the EU is, it couldn't be more simple.

And what kind of political alignment?... a left wing political alignment, which would chock out dissent. That can only end in tears, because it's essential not based on democracy. And if one would argue that is not the case then do you think there could ever be a right leaning EU, if the EU is democratic? Not a hope. That is not to say I'm arguing for a right wing EU, just that I'm saying if it's not possible then it's not democratic.

When citizens of Europe in the EU say they feel they are 'European' what they really mean is they are left wing Europeans in solidarity with other left wing European countries. If Germany went Nazi again, they'd hardly say they are still European at heart. No they are only European when they feel their political views are in charge and would drop the idea they are European if they weren't getting their way.

New energy proposals to be rushed through.

Yeah it kinda took an internal war in the 1860s to cement that relationship.

Neutrality would be possible if taken seriously like a country such a Switzerland which has impressive military units and infrastructure.

That horrible terrain as you call it has built in bunkers and aircraft caverns bridges and mountainsides wired with explosives and high tech gear like the upcoming F-35. And historically before NATO they were neutral and playing off very aggressive regimes with a very robust defence system. Huge gun ownership amongst the general pop without mass shootings.

If Ireland wants to take neutrality seriously, it should look at the Switzerland model.

But that sounds like you're going on about conscription? Why would there be conscription? People who want to fight can go fight and those who wouldnt can not. We gain a defense force (which we currently have nothing) and lose nothing.

The older I get, the more in favor of a federalized EU I'm getting. The half in half out approach simply doesnt work.

Yet again, there is no conscription and joining the military would be voluntary as it is now. Dont like it dont join.