Only in Europe...

[Roland]

Define it.

[rah]

Source....Dictionary.com

Since there are definitions for country that include things like "country music" or "rural areas" I'll do it a bit different and more definative.

United States
Abbr. U.S. or US or U.S.A. or USA

A COUNTRY of central and northwest North America with coastlines on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It includes the noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and various island territories in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

European Union
Abbr. EU
An economic and political UNION established in 1993 after the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty by members of the European Community, which forms its core. In establishing the European Union, the treaty expanded the political scope of the European Community, especially in the area of foreign and security policy, and provided for the creation of a central European bank and the adoption of a common currency by the end of the 20th century.

One is a COUNTRY the other is a UNION.

Please find a definition of the US or EU that disputes the above listed definitions.

[MikeH]

He can't.

[rah]

Of course he can't, but since he's a lawyer, I'm sure he'll find another dog to wag.

[Roland]

Originally posted by rah
One is a COUNTRY the other is a UNION.

Well I asked for a definition of "country", not for dictionary entries for US or EU,

I fail to see the destinction between "Union" and "Country" that you seem to emphasize.

"in order to form a more perfect union"
"the several states which may be included in within this Union"
"new states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union"
"The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union".

Etc. You know the source.

Also, the United Kingdom is a Union. So I assume it is no country, then ?

[Roland]

Originally posted by MikeH
He can't.

Huh ?

[MikeH]

http://www.maildropnet.com/maildrops/International%20Drivers%20License.htm

IMPORTANT NOTE: The "United States" is NOT a country within any legal definition of the word..... It is a Corporation and a legal fiction. America and the "United States" do NOT mean the same thing. America is a country, the "United States" is NOT! Acceptable names for the "COUNTRY OF ISSUE" Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Philippines, Australia, Panama, Japan, etc.

http://software.design.tripod.com/bankruptusa.htm

United States Defined

Few Americans realize that there are three definitions for the "United States." Most have been misled to believe that the term "United States" has a single meaning and is a generic term referring to the country as a whole The Second definition states "United States" (D.C.) has its own citizens (see United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542) who are generally referred to as United States citizens. The yellow fringed flag signifying this jurisdiction is not for decorative purposes. It signifies the jurisdiction of the District, also known as CORPORATE U.S. FEDERAL that has been extended into the Union states by the 14th Amendment.

[TheStinger]

Countries have their own foreign policy and despite what they may think the EU doesn't.
Countries (99% of them anyway) have a seat at the UN the EU doesn't
Countries have their own armed forces the EU doesn't

[MikeH]

Roland: X-Post, I was saying Rah couldn't define country.

This site is so damn slow! Can't do anything.

Stinger: I think the point is not to show that the EU is a country but that it's equivalent in terms of immigration to the US. Basically Rah has made one of those stupid Americancentric claims but can't actually back it up with any real evidence. Roland's being annoyingly laweristic and wanting proof and having access to all kinds of great facts.

Oh and I know those links I posted are ****.

[Roland]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Countries have their own foreign policy and despite what they may think the EU doesn't.
Countries (99% of them anyway) have a seat at the UN the EU doesn't
Countries have their own armed forces the EU doesn't

If you equate "country" with "sovereign state" as defined under international law you are correct that the US is one, the EU is not. Although there is an EU foreign policy. Well, actually there are two...

[Roland]

Btw, there is a growing opinion that EU member states are post-sovereign states (esp MacCormick), or that sovereignty can only be seen as vested in the Union and its member states together (various concepts of european constitutionalism, eg Häberle).

[TheStinger]

The EU may have a foreign policy in name, but it only matters when Germany, France and The UK all agree at the same time which is not exactly common.

[Roland]

That's the CFSP, yes. Although agreement is quite common, it's just not spectacular and gets little media attention.

The other part of foreign policy consists of the parallel powers of the Community, especially trade policy.

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by Roland
That's the CFSP, yes. Although agreement is quite common, it's just not spectacular and gets little media attention.

The other part of foreign policy consists of the parallel powers of the Community, especially trade policy.

I know they do agree, but its on issues such as Zimbabwe, however if they come up against a difficult one such as Iraq and they are hopelesley divided.
Trade is what their good at if you ignore agriculture which is run purley for the benefit of farmers in france and the club med countries

[Roland]

"X-Post, I was saying Rah couldn't define country."

Oh.

Well I'm just having a bit of fun. You know I finished that manuscript yesterday and I'm "reorganising" my office now, so my brain has way too much spare capacity...