How do you stop a new EU treaty?

[Spiffor]

Heresson:
So, what will the Lichtenstein do? I didn't understand in your previous post what they intend to do...

[PLATO]

Chirac to Europe: "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

As Europe begins to speak with one voice, the vast variety of opinion and people that made the western world great will begin to fade. Actually it is already. Europe has decided that it can't compete with the US so they have decided to be the US. Sad really, Europes diversity added so much to the world and now the EU begins its slow dissolution of this.

[Spiffor]

I don't think a unified power structure will hurt our diversity, except that the political elites will have to speak English at work.

OTOH, I think a unified power structure will actually make us strong enough to defend our diversity against the international tide of homogenity. Or at least, it'll allow us to defend it (it is very possible our politicians won't bother to use this power)

[Heresson]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Heresson:
So, what will the Lichtenstein do? I didn't understand in your previous post what they intend to do...

Well, as long as I can remember, they can somehow stop financial help for new members of EU

[HershOstropoler]

OMG, this thread....

[Gangerolf]

the story about liechtenstein, czech rep and slovakia

http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/031014173558.eq1bnhzy

[Gangerolf]

"In a statement, the Liechtenstein delegation said it could not sign the accord expanding the EEA since they do not recognize the Czech Republic and Slovakia so long as Prague and Bratislava refuse to annul the Benes Decrees. "

[Spiffor]

[The Stinger mode]
Liechtenstein is perfectly right to defend its interests by blocking the entry of the central European countries in the EEA. The articulation of national interests is the only way for Europe to work properly.
[/The Stinger mode]

[Gangerolf]

it's quite funny actually that liecht doesn't recognise the czech rep and slovakia as countries.

but it seems liechtenstein deserves some kind of compensation

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I don't think a unified power structure will hurt our diversity, except that the political elites will have to speak English at work.

OTOH, I think a unified power structure will actually make us strong enough to defend our diversity against the international tide of homogenity. Or at least, it'll allow us to defend it (it is very possible our politicians won't bother to use this power)

The pierre elliot trudeau strategy. Create a multilingual federal structure to keep out the cultural pull of the US. Hasnt worked out too well in Canada, where anglo-Canadians are none too thrilled about having the federal state used to preserve French culture, while Quebec discriminates against English. Can France, Germany, Italy use the EU the way Quebec has attempted to use canada, without either offending the british or the small states? Not clear.

[Bereta_Eder]

EU baby.

[HershOstropoler]

"the international tide of homogenity"

What is that supposed to be?

[Drogue]

Everything being Americanised. Taking our culture. Things like kids going to MacDonalds instead of regional fast food. Or watching American films/programs, listening to American music. It seems the whole West is becoming far more alike culturally, and some smaller nations are losing their culture somewhat. If the EU was stronger, there may be more European culture kept going. That is the theory anyway.

[Bereta_Eder]

and some smaller nations are losing their culture somewhat.

Actually social studies have shown that the countries who are most in danger of "losing" their cultures to "american cultural imperialism (sic)" are those already culturally adjacent to it. Britain, Australia, Canada etc.

For more you can turn to the "bible": Cees Hamelink, Cultural Autonomy in Global Communication.

[Drogue]

I agree. By smaller nations, I mean't smaller (or to be more exact, less influencial) than the US. Like US culture being more powerful, rather than actual nation size.