European Union -1st of May, Uniting even more people

[yaroslav]

Originally posted by JimmyCracksCorn
Conquest or not, things will inevitably get ugly, at least in some way. They already are with the UK to some extent.

Can you explain that to me?

[ceroomaster]

Estonia
Poland

Living in Wales, it would be mad for me to disagree with the EU (it's where all our money comes from...)

[The Vagabond]

Good. The larger the EU becomes, the sooner it will desintegrate.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
You don't think that the EU driving up to Russian borders, but not even making conciliatory gestures to Russia and instead taking a hardline stance will make Russians feel secure? Economically, politically, or militarily?

Well said.

[Spiffor]

Could a Russian here tell us what is hardline in our stance toward Russia? I am not informed of any.

[The Vagabond]

Let me just mention two points for the moment:

1) New visa barrier. Not only to the new members, but also to Kaliningrad. Nothing is offered to offset this huge setback for Russia.

2) Utter hypocricy in what concerns human rights. Two countries (Latvia and Estonia) have been admitted despite their blatant violation of human rights.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by The Vagabond
1) New visa barrier.

Is it the same visa regime than the old EU one, but merely extended to new members, or is there a whole new visa system, designed by the EU, that makes your entry in the EU more difficult than before?

Not only to the new members, but also to Kaliningrad. Nothing is offered to offset this huge setback for Russia.

I admit this completely sucks for access to Kaliningrad. This should be changed, but I guess the new members won't be easily convinced to give in.

2) Utter hypocricy in what concerns human rights. Two countries (Latvia and Estonia) have been admitted despite their blatant violation of human rights.

What are they?

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Is it the same visa regime than the old EU one, but merely extended to new members, or is there a whole new visa system, designed by the EU, that makes your entry in the EU more difficult than before?

Well, it's basically that before we didn't need visas to those countries, but now we need them.

I admit this completely sucks for access to Kaliningrad. This should be changed, but I guess the new members won't be easily convinced to give in.

It's not only the new members who need to be convinved. Brussels needs to be convinced too.

What are they?

No citizenship rights for the Russian minority, denying the right for the basic education in their mother's language, to name a few.

[Pekka]

Estonia and Latvia are huge bastards! We know it! Comparing to other countries, they are saints however. Is the Russian minority with these citizenships? Besides, in many countries you don't get the education in your native language. Even inside the Finnish borders you might be in a situation where you can't get it.

I see 0 problems with the visas. Except for the situation in Kaliningrad, that kind of sucks and should be dealt with. I don't see anyone complaining having to apply visas visiting the US. Or other countries. This is the EU. Take it up to the man. Are you suggesting EU should pay you for it? Why are you not offering anything, it's Russia that wants something from the EU (visa issue), so you have to make the offer.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by The Vagabond
Good. The larger the EU becomes, the sooner it will desintegrate.

I think that only works if you unify by force of arms.

[ErikM]

Originally posted by Lonestar
I think that only works if you unify by force of arms.

We'll think about it, Lonestar

[ElTigre]

Originally posted by The Vagabond

1) New visa barrier. Not only to the new members, but also to Kaliningrad.

Wrong. Simplified Kaliningrad Transit

Nothing is offered to offset this huge setback for Russia.

Wrong again. EU support to Kaliningrad

So far the EU has paid about €40 Million to support your precious Baltic port.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Pekka
Estonia and Latvia are huge bastards! We know it! Comparing to other countries, they are saints however. Is the Russian minority with these citizenships?

A large part of the Russian minority is denied the citizenship.

Besides, in many countries you don't get the education in your native language. Even inside the Finnish borders you might be in a situation where you can't get it.

That's because in Finland you don't have any considerable minority other than Swedish.

On the other hand, one of the official languages in Finland is Swedish. And how large is the Swedish minority? 10%? Or perhaps even less. The Baltics should follow your excellent example in this particular respect too.

I see 0 problems with the visas. Except for the situation in Kaliningrad, that kind of sucks and should be dealt with. I don't see anyone complaining having to apply visas visiting the US. Or other countries.

The visa regime with the US has always been there. Visas to the new EU members have been introduced just recently, 'thanks' to the EU enlargement.

This is the EU. Take it up to the man. Are you suggesting EU should pay you for it? Why are you not offering anything, it's Russia that wants something from the EU (visa issue), so you have to make the offer.

Because it was the EU that created troubles (visas in particular) for Russia by its enlargement, not the other way around.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Lonestar
I think that only works if you unify by force of arms.

Marriage can fail.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by ElTigre
Wrong. Simplified Kaliningrad Transit

So what? First you cut it off completely, and then throw a small handout. And now we should be eternally thankful to you.

Wrong again. EU support to Kaliningrad

So far the EU has paid about €40 Million to support your precious Baltic port.

Thanks for your help. But if you think that this amount can compensate for the damage caused by the EU expansion, you are mistaken. Moreover, part of this money will go to setting up "efficient" border controls, which were not needed before in the first place.